Magnetic field cancellation for optimal TEM performance - Cataler Corporation in Japan

Today’s transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) offer high resolution and magnification capabilities but, to maximise an instrument’s performance, external interferences – such as vibrations arising from sounds or motion and magnetic fields created by other electronic equipment – must be eliminated. Researchers at Cataler Corporation have turned to Spicer Consulting to help them to optimise their equipment for investigations into non-homogeneous catalysts. 

Cataler Corporation specialises in the development and manufacture of catalysts and activated carbon products for the automotive industry. Masanao Sato worked for several years building up expertise in TEM technology, and is now applying his knowledge as an engineer in the analytical electron microscopy (TEM/SEM) department at the company. The department is working on the development and analysis of catalysts for exhaust purification, as well as materials for next generation vehicle batteries.  Masanao described the work carried out by his group, and how they rely on accurate TEM imaging: “The catalysts we are investigating are non-homogeneous, and their performance is often affected by their ultra-fine structures. It is very important to perform structural analysis using high-end TEM during the research phase, so that the results can be fed into the development plans for new products.”

“It was important for our work that we maximised the performance of our TEM by removing any interferences, including external vibrations and stray magnetic fields from other electronic devices in the vicinity. We therefore installed the TEM in a seismic isolation structure that has an independent base, to guard against 

vibration, whether from nearby traffic or elevators. We then conducted an environmental survey, and decided to purchase the Spicer Consulting SC24 magnetic field cancelling system as a countermeasure to prevent the effects of external magnetic fields.”

The SC24 magnetic field cancelling system detects external magnetic fields with built-in sensors, and creates a new magnetic field, in an opposite direction, so that the two fields cancel each other out. Masanao is very satisfied with the system’s performance and how easy it was to integrate and use: “The SC24 had been in continuous operation since the TEM was installed and it still runs faultlessly. Since it is so compact, it was very easy for us to find space for it in our lab, and we could start using it straight away. Another thing that I 

really like about the instrument is how easy it is to operate; you do not need any knowledge about it in advance to start using it.”

About Spicer Consulting

Spicer Consulting magnetic field cancelling systems protect electron beam instruments, including Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM), Electron Beam Lithography tools, SEM-based metrology and inspection tools in the world's leading laboratories, universities, semiconductor manufacturing plants, as well as in the test facilities of electron and ion beam equipment manufacturers. Its magnetic field, vibration and acoustic analysis systems have been adopted as standard equipment for the conduct of site surveys by leading equipment manufacturers. Spicer Consulting is located in Stewartby, Bedfordshire, within the United Kingdom’s Golden Triangle of elite universities in London, Cambridge and Oxford.

Technolab Inc. is Spicer Consulting Limited’s distributor in Japan. They provide technical and sales support for Spicer’s products. Visit http://www.technolab.jp/ for more details.