Materials Analysis and the Environment

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Subject: Materials Analysis and the Environment

The Bridge | Materials Analysis eNewsletter

July 2023, ISSUE 120

WELCOME

Pink is the color of the week, thanks to a newly released film that has people dressing in that color while attending it. A wildlife photographer recently captured an image of an unusual sight in the waters off Corpus Christi, Texas. The dolphin he photographed breaching in front of a boat had a pink belly. This phenomenon is apparently caused by vasodilation, a way for the mammals to dump excess heat during summer months in warm waters. Blood near the surface of the skin causes the pink coloration.

Everyone's talking about heat these days, as the planet experiences a series of record high temperatures. June 2023 was the hottest June ever, and July 4th was, according to some metrics, the globe's hottest day ever, a record that was overtaken by July 5th and again by July 6th. The old saying is, it's not the heat—it's the humidity. It turns out that it's not just the humidity—it's the dew point that best describes the atmosphere's ability to hold moisture. The dew point is the temperature at which the atmosphere is saturated—where relative humidity reaches 100%. The temperature and relative humidity can fluctuate wildly over the course of a day, particularly in southeast Texas, whereas the dew point is much more consistent. When the dew point exceeds 65 degrees, our bodies can definitely feel the extra moisture in the air. And there's little relief in sight.

In the midst of this onslaught of heat, Applied Rigaku Technologies in Austin relocated their offices. The new address is 1405 Arrow Point Drive, Suite 1301, Cedar Park, TX 78613.

This month, we present talks from our semiconductor forum, introduce the CQL Max-ID Raman analyzer and celebrate the longevity of Rigaku instruments, as well as providing links to videos, application notes and news items of interest.

RIGAKU FORUM

2023 Semiconductor Forum: Metrology tools from Lab to Fab.

We want to thank all the attendees of our first-ever Rigaku Semiconductor Forum 2023. Our exceptional speakers made the forum informative and engaging, providing valuable insights and perspectives. We appreciate your support and active participation throughout the event. Your expertise and dedication to advancing knowledge in the semiconductor field have significantly contributed to the growth and vitality of our community. The two-day hybrid event was organized by Rigaku Europe SE and Rigaku Semiconductor Metrology Division. We hope that you found the forum valuable and enjoyable. To access the presentations, please visit our 2023 Semiconductor Forum Content Hub For further information, kindly email us at rsmd@rigaku.com

Dr. Abner Bello

Lab to Fab: The Metrology FOUP (M-FOUP)

Metrology from Lab to Fab at the Rigaku Semiconductor Forum from June 20-21, 2023 online and in-person at Frankfurt, Germany.

PRESENTATION ABSTRACT

The speaker, Dr. Abner Bello, is the head of the Specialty Measurements Group at Corning. His role involves designing and integrating custom metrology equipment to support research and development as well as manufacturing. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Science from the University of California at Davis/Livermore.

During his presentation, Dr. Bello guided the audience through a discussion on the process of transferring metrology techniques from the laboratory to the production facility. He presented three case studies, namely Therma-Wave Thermaprobe, Rudolph Technologies, and VDP/TXRF. Additionally, he discussed the Fab Schematic layout and introduced his approach to transitioning a tool to the production facility, highlighting the benefits and drawbacks of this application.

The metrology-FOUP (Front Opening Unified Pod) is an instrument found within a standard wafer carrier system. It eliminates the need to transport the FOUP with wafers to a separate metrology tool, as wafers can be measured directly within the FOUP during loading. This saves time in transporting wafers, which is especially important in a semiconductor lab where the metrology-FOUP may be stationed at a process tool being serviced. Multiple measurements from a set of samples define a design of experiments that may be required. The metrology-FOUP is a more cost-effective solution compared to a Fab-ready ellipsometer. This report describes how the Metrology-FOUP is integrated into a semiconductor Fab.

VIDEO OF THE MONTH

Principles of Protein Crystallization

Since 2015, Professor Andrew. H.-J. Wang has been working with a team from the National Taiwan University (Professors, students, assistants, and volunteers) to develop a suit of biochemistry education animation movies, supported by the Biochemical Technology Education Foundation (Founder). Prof. Wang has dedicated these movies to IUBMB.

Watch the video >

This video is a part of the Biochem. iLab® educational program.
Produced by Biochem. iLab® Studio, Center for Biotechnology, National Taiwan University
Supported by the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica
and sponsored by the Biochemical Technology Education Foundation.

FEATURED PRODUCT

CQL Max-ID

Rigaku Analytical Devices announces the launch of the CQL Max-ID handheld 1064 nm Raman analyzer, offering features and benefits that maximize chemical threat analysis in safety and security applications. With an on-board library of over 13,000 items, the CQL Max-ID provides first responders, border security, and the military with a device that can identify narcotics, explosives, toxic industrial chemicals, chemical warfare agents (CWAs), and more–without the concerns of fluorescence interference.

Based upon the award-winning Rigaku 1064 nm Raman-based platform, the CQL Max-ID reduces sample induced fluorescence interference, ensuring a result within less than one minute. With the ability to select the analysis mode, the CQL Max-ID has the unique capability of providing situational analysis based on the user’s needs:

1. Identification of an unknown

2. Priority listing of a substance (utilization of ThreatAlert hazard targeting)

3. Detection of an unknown (with optional QuickDetect)

Additional features available on the new CQL Max-ID include:

Automatic mixture analysis of up to five components
Addition of notes and pictorial evidence using an on-board camera
Adjustable nose cone to scan through different thickness and types of packaging
Integrated Chemwatch SDS information
Pre-configured setting selections based on application
CommandSuite integrated fleet management capability
Long battery life of over five hours (also hot swappable)
Connectivity to desktop or mobile device via USB, Wi-Fi or Peer-to-Peer
Three years of warranty coverage

“With the integration of the Rigaku CQL Max-ID into our portfolio of handheld Raman analyzers, we are expanding chemical analysis solutions for our end users that truly fit their needs,” said Chris Langford, VP Marketing & Product Management. “We’re excited to continue to develop based on feedback from the field, as we want to ensure our customers are equipped with the most advanced tools for everyone’s safety.”

Built upon the updated CQL platform that has been accepted as part of the U.S. DoD JPEO DR SKO System Modernization Program, the CQL Max-ID joins the existing CQL Gen-ID–for more general hazardous analysis–with the ability to offer more targeted CQL variations in the future.

The Rigaku CQL Max-ID is supported by Rigaku’s global sales and distribution channels, offering 24/7 reachback support and access to spectral library and software updates. For more information on the CQL Max-ID, please visit: www.rigakuanalytical.com.

Follow Rigaku Analytical Devices on LinkedIn!

RIGAKU NEWS

LabCri has the oldest XRD Rigaku system in operation in Brazil.

We had an interesting email recently from Prof. Dr. Carlos Basílio Pinheiro, current user of a Rigaku Geigerflex X-ray diffractometer that was installed at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in 1977 (featured in the 2019 issue of The Bridge and on LabCri's Instagram page, where it is billed as the oldest Rigaku XRD system in operation in Brazil). This 46-year-old system, a θ-2θ type system configured in Bragg-Brentano geometry, has undergone several upgrades and adaptations over the years, and is still in use for student training (alignments, tube spectra) and for measurements with special wavelengths. It is also used to align large crystals using the Laue technique.

We love hearing about these vintage systems in operation, so if you know of any others, please let us know.

Discover the power of materials science
Rigaku's Live Demonstrations at FEMS EUROMAT23

FEMS EUROMAT 2023, the leading international conference on the latest advances in materials science and technology, will be held September 3-7 in Frankfurt, Germany. Rigaku plans to captivate the audience with live demonstrations of the MiniFlex at its booth. By seeing the instrument in action, attendees will have a unique opportunity to see firsthand how our cutting-edge technologies can help them gain valuable insights into the materials they work with. From crystallographers to metallurgists or other materials-related disciplines, everyone will find something of interest at the Rigaku booth.

FEATURED APPLICATION NOTES

Quality and Process Control Analysis of Natural and Processed Iron Ores by the Pressed Powder Method

Rigaku Corporation

For powder samples in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, the pressed powder method is the best solution in terms of speed and simplicity. Since iron ores have complex matrices owing to their varied mineral compositions, appropriate corrections for these matrix effects are required in XRF analysis. The conventional correction technique for total iron is a method using Compton scattering as an internal standard, but it has not been rigorous enough to meet the requirements of the iron ore industry. Rigaku developed an improved Compton scattering method by integrating theoretical alpha corrections to significantly improved analytical results. This note demonstrates an improved method to determine total iron in natural and processed iron ores by the pressed powder method using the new ZSX Primus III NEXT.

XRD Application to Pharmaceuticals
This webinar series explains concepts of component analysis and standardless quantitative analysis in the pharmaceutical space.

Episode 1: Component Analysis and Standardless Quantitative Analysis for Pharmaceutical Applications
Traditional quantitative analysis of solid form content in a solid sample is challenging. Most notably in the production of representative standard calibration samples covering the concentration range of interest. In addition to weighing, mixing and homogeneity errors, the resulting boutique standards will likely be not representative of the unknown material being analyzed.

The ideal solution has always been a Standardless Quantitative approach that is representative and relevant to the materials being studied. Component analysis using equal area scaling can make this ideal quantitative analysis solution a reality.

Watch the Recording >

PODCASTS

The Opioid Matrix is a podcast for anyone looking for the latest information in the illegal drug supply chain—beginning to end. Each episode will feature a discussion with industry experts about the current opioid crisis, including drug trafficking, drug manufacturing, drug identification, drug addiction, as well as the role of government, law enforcement, new health and social programs, and more.

Listen to New Episodes >

Understanding Semiconductors: Modern Metrology from Lab to Fab, is a podcast for engineering leaders in characterization, metrology, process, and analytics, looking for discussion around semiconductor metrology challenges. Each episode will feature a conversation with technology experts about problems facing the semiconductor metrology industry.

Listen to New Episodes >

The Battery Lab is a podcast empowering the researchers powering the future. Every episode features insights from the industry experts, leading academics and cutting-edge research advancing batteries — and society — to the next level of safety and efficiency. From raw materials to analysis to state-of-the-art designs, if you care about fueling the future, you’ve come to the right place.

Welcome to the Battery Lab!

Listen to New Episodes >

The Pharma Lab Show is a podcast exploring the technologies, analysis, and innovation that goes into bringing the pharmaceuticals that allow humanity to live longer, fuller, healthier lives.

Each episode features interviews with industry leaders and experts who share how they are working tirelessly to bring these life-changing products into the world.

Listen to New Episodes >

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Subject: Materials Analysis and the Environment

This video is a part of the Biochem. iLab® educational program.Produced by Biochem. iLab® Studio, Center for Biotechnology, National Taiwan UniversitySupported by the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinicaand sponsored by the Biochemical Technology Education Foundation.

This video is a part of the Biochem. iLab® educational program.
Produced by Biochem. iLab® Studio, Center for Biotechnology, National Taiwan University
Supported by the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica
and sponsored by the Biochemical Technology Education Foundation.