Newsportal - Ruhr-Universität Bochum

The light elements lithium, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen can be detected with a high sensitivity by D-NRA.

Nuclear Reaction Analysis (NRA) and Elastic Backscattering Spectroscopy (EBS) are two of the most commonly used techniques for the quantitative depth profiling of light elements. They are both least destructive and feature high accuracy and sensitivity. NRA additionally features high isotopic selectivity, increased sensitivity for many elements and the possibility of simultaneous analysis of several light elements in near-surface layers. However, these techniques rely on experimental cross sections for the investigated nuclear reactions or elastic scattering.

Gamma spectroscopy for material analysis and the study of nuclear reactions relevant to Nuclear Astrophysics.

High-energy-ion implantation

RUBION and the rubitec GmbH carry out ion irradiations in the MeV range on behalf of the customer. There is a wide range of different ions available. The available energy and dose range depends on the respective species and the wafer size. The possibilities are determined by us depending on the application on request.

We are certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001: 2015

Ion implantation is a versatile method for the modification of materials and is used in various fields of research and application.

Depth Profiling of Hydrogen using the 15N Method:
This method allows the absolute measurement of the H-concentration as a function of the depth.

Rooms for the education of students, laboratories (vapor deposition laboratory, semiconductor laboratory). Those located inside the control area are excluded according to Radiation Protection Ordinance (StrlSchV).

PIXE is a nuclear analytical technique, ideal for trace element detection and quantification. It is the most commonly used method for the bulk analysis of geological, biological, environmental and cultural heritage samples.

Long-time recordings of living cells allow to investigate physiologic processes that occur in the range of minutes to hours. Typical examples are cell migration, differentiation and growth. In combination with multicolor fluorescent recordings, it additionally allows to investigate the changes in the distribution of cellular proteins.

Rutherford backscattering spectrometry allows to examine the chemical composition of sample materials. RBS is a widely-used method in various fields.

Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy (SICM) is a contact-free scanning probe technique that allows to map the surface of a sample in electrolyte solution at room temperature. In SICM, the probe is a glass micro- or nanopipette and the ionic current through the opening of the pipette is used to determine the distance between probe tip and sample. 

Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy circumvents the diffraction limit of light by utilizing the physico-chemical properties of the fluorophor. It allows to record fluorescence images with a higher level of detail compared to diffraction-limited techniques such as confocal microscopy.

Unstable isotopes are used in a wide variety of scientific fields, from life science to material science. However, using unstable isotopes requires special safety and administrative measures. We offer lab space that allow working with unstable isotopes and support in the administrative tasks. 

XPS and AES are sensitive analytical techniques, which are complementary to the ion beam supported analytical methods.