In July 2025, a workshop celebrated the inauguration of the IONMASTER laboratory at the University of Konstanz and the availability of a state-of-the-art ion microscope equipped with Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS).
Hands-On Insights: Presentations and Lab Tours
The IONMASTER SIMS system was developed by RAITH and has been installed in the university’s Core Facility. It is expected to play a key role in supporting both biological and physical science research. The workshop was organized to introduce the local user community to the unique capabilities of the IONMASTER. Representatives from RAITH delivered a series of presentations highlighting the system’s cutting-edge technology and its wide range of applications in both analytical science and nanofabrication.
In addition to the talks, participants attended guided lab tours to take a closer look at the system and ask detailed questions about its functionality and potential for their research. These tours led to lively and productive discussions between users and the RAITH experts, with many researchers already planning specific applications for the new system.
Image courtesy: Dr. Gillian Kiliani, University of Konstanz
A Multidisciplinary Resource for Breakthrough Research
The IONMASTER at University of Konstanz will be available to researchers from biology, physics, and related fields. Dr. Matthias Hagner, physicist at the University of Konstanz, emphasized: “This is currently the only instrument on the market that meets our combined demands of high-resolution analytics and precise nanofabrication.”
Biologist Dr. Michael Laumann added: “This system is ideally suited for a core facility serving multidisciplinary research groups. I’m particularly impressed by the combination of lateral resolution and sensitivity of the SIMS detector especially for light elementsresolution - it opens entirely new opportunities for the characterization of biological samples.”
Expanding Capabilities with Complementary RAITH Systems
In addition to the IONMASTER, the University of Konstanz operates further systems from RAITH, including an Electron Beam Lithography (EBL) system and a direct laser writer. These tools complement the capabilities of the new ion beam system and underscore the university’s commitment to maintaining a cutting-edge research infrastructure.
The University of Konstanz acknowledges the groundbreaking technology delivered by RAITH and appreciates their ongoing collaboration in enhancing research capabilities. As the first IONMASTER user core facility worldwide, university researchers look forward to fully leveraging its advanced features for cutting-edge science.
