Imago sells microscope to Iowa State

Madison, Wis. - The Madison-based Imago Scientific Instruments has sold one of its atom-probe microscopes to Iowa State University's College of Engineering for use in the new W.M. Keck Laboratory for High Throughput Atom-Scale Analysis.

The lab will be the primary research center of ISU's Institute for Combinatorial Discovery, which is led by Balaji Narasimhan, an associate professor of chemical and biological engineering.

Scientists can use the atom-probe microscope for semiconductor, magnetic data storage, and advanced materials analysis. The data obtained from the microscope can determine how a material's atomic structure affects its mechanical and electrical properties.

The microscope provides materials scientists with three-dimensional images of their specimens, and with the ability to identify and measure each unique sample.

Mark Kushner, dean of the ISU College of Engineering, said the microscope could lead to advances in energy, healthcare, and anti-terrorism, among other areas. ISU researchers will use it for combined analysis of organic and biological materials. The microscope was acquired through a grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation of Los Angeles.

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