RAITH and LIST announce partnership to establish a joint lab and to commercialize MagSIMS technology

March 11, 2024

On February 22nd, we signed an agreement with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) to join forces and bring the cutting-edge MagSIMS (Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry) technology to the global market. This is a major step forward in the advancement of nano analysis.

Photograph of RAITH and LIST colleagues at the ribbon cutting ceremony of collaboration on MagSIMS

The collaboration between RAITH and LIST was officially unveiled during an event at LIST’s Belvaux campus, marking the commercial launch of this groundbreaking technology.

Introducing the magSIMS: a revolution in nano-analytics

At the heart of this collaboration lies the magnetic sector SIMS, an award-winning nano-imaging and -analytical instrument developed by LIST researchers. Unlike conventional electron microscopy, the MagSIMS not only provides unparalleled visualization of nanoscale structures, but also simultaneously provides chemical composition information. This technological breakthrough opens new frontiers in fields such as batteries, electronics, semiconductors, biology, materials science, and more.

The SIMS magnetic field has a wide range of applications. In materials science, it facilitates nano-characterization, enabling the analysis of complex 3D architectures. In photovoltaic, it plays a critical role in understanding the composition of thin films, which is essential for the performance and longevity of solar cells. Life sciences benefit from high-resolution chemical SIMS mapping of biological samples, while applications extend to soil science, geology and cultural heritage analysis

Photo of Dr. Ulrich Mantz signing the SIMS cooperation contract with LIST

Photo of people getting a demo of the SIMS unit

SEM Micrograph of one of the fabricated nanogratings: a) overview, b) close-up view

A decade-long journey from innovation to global commercialization

Dr. Tom Wirtz, Head of Unit, Scientific Instrumentation and Process Technology at LIST, reflects on the MagSIMS journey. “Our initial exploration focused on the feasibility of obtaining chemical information with highest sensitivity at the nano level,” he says. “This led us to consider ion and electron microscopy combined with mass spectrometry as a key aspect.” The goal was to visualize the appearance of a sample on the one hand, and on the other to simultaneously determine its chemical composition.

The technology garnered national and international acclaim, finding its way into various industries. However, large-scale manufacturing remained a challenge until now.

RAITH and LIST: A global partnership for commercialization and beyond

The licensing and partnership agreement between LIST and RAITH signifies a pivotal moment for LIST’s SIMS technology.

Dr. Ulrich Mantz, CTO at RAITH emphasizes the perfect fit of the newly announced cooperation: “LIST and RAITH are a perfect match. Both of our missions include the idea of enabling our customers to create results which make a difference. The combination of RAITH as a world-leading nanotechnology provider and LIST as a top research and technology organization will lead to a new level in nano-analytics.”

The collaboration between RAITH and LIST brings forth a new era in nanotechnology. The MagSIMS, with its revolutionary capabilities, is set to make a lasting impact across various industries worldwide, thanks to the commitment and expertise of both RAITH and LIST in advancing scientific innovation.

More news