Asylum Research
Asylum Research, a division of Oxford Instruments, is a technology leader in the development and manufacture of state-of-the-art atomic force microscopes (AFM) for academic research and industrial research and development (R&D). Its instruments stand out for their innovative design, extremely high resolution, and unrivalled measurement speed. AFM systems from Asylum Research are designed with an emphasis on maximum performance, absolute measurement accuracy, and ease of operation.
https://afm.oxinst.com/Product overview
- Cypher family (Cypher S, ES, VRS 1250): Ultra-high-resolution AFM microscopes offering video-rate scanning (up to 1,250 lines per second) and fully integrated environmental control for temperature, gases, and liquids.
- Jupiter series (Jupiter XR / Discovery): Large-format AFM systems for samples up to 200 mm in diameter, combining high-speed scanning, a large scan range, and full automation within a single instrument.
- Vero family: Microscopes featuring patented Quadrature Phase Differential Interferometry (QPDI) technology for measuring the true displacement of the probe tip, providing unprecedented measurement accuracy and reliability.
- MFP-3D series (Origin, Origin+): Versatile, flexible, and cost-effective systems supporting a broad range of measurement modes for both routine and highly advanced applications.
- AFM accessories and modules: Expansion modules for measurements in liquids and controlled atmospheres, precise heating and cooling, and specialised probes.
Typical uses and applications:
- Semiconductors and microelectronics: Failure analysis, wafer roughness measurements, and characterisation of the nanoelectrical properties of thin films.
- Advanced materials: Analysis of graphene, 2D materials, and piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and magnetic materials used, for example, in data storage technologies.
- Polymers and thin films: Investigation of morphology and phase transitions, as well as detailed nanomechanical testing, including adhesion, friction, and elastic modulus measurements.
- Energy and batteries: Research into materials for solar and photovoltaic technologies, thermoelectrics, fuel cells, and advanced energy storage systems.
- Biology and life sciences: Imaging of cells, tissues, membranes, and isolated biomolecules, as well as real-time monitoring of biological processes under physiological conditions and in liquid environments.
- Nanomechanical and nanoelectrical characterisation: Comprehensive mapping of local mechanical, electrochemical, and thermal properties of samples with nanometre-scale resolution.
