Learning Centre

X-Nuclei NMR Spectroscopy Part 1: Introduction to Broadband NMR Spectroscopy — Technical Article
Introduction When the first commercial NMR instruments were introduced in the early 1950s, they could analyse a single nucleus: hydrogen-1 (1H, proton). Only many years later would commercial multi…
Myeloid Therapy: High-Resolution Insights into Brain Rescue — Webinars
Many neurodegenerative diseases share a common driver: the failure of the brain’s immune system. This research uncovers a pre-symptomatic "interferon alarm" that triggers progressive decline and ide…
Extending SEM X-Ray Analysis with BEX: A Solution to X-Ray Shadowing — Application Notes
What is X-ray Shadowing and How Does It Limit SEM-EDS Analysis The study focuses on the chemical characterisation of particulate material captured by an in-line liquid chromatography filter, where …
Automation in Raman Microscopy – From Workflows to AI-assisted Solutions — Expert Insights
The future of Raman microscopy may depend as much on automation strategy as on optical performance. Automation is helping researchers standardise experiments, improve reproducibility, and implement…
SWIR Spectroscopy for Characterising Biosensors, Biomarkers, and Functionalised Molecules — Learning Articles
SWIR spectroscopy is a powerful tool for characterising functionalised molecules, biosensors, and biomarkers used in biomedical research. By combining sensitive detection in the second near-infrare…
Automated Raman, PL and SHG Imaging Workflow for 2D Materials Characterisation — Application Notes
Introduction: Automated workflow for correlative imaging of 2D materials Characterising 2D materials like graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) typica…
NMR Analysis of Battery Electrolytes: Detecting Electrolyte Decomposition — Application Notes
Abstract Battery electrolyte decomposition can alter chemical composition over time and produce by-products that impact battery performance. This Application Note demonstrates how the Oxford Instru…
NMR Analysis of Battery Electrolytes: Measuring Ionic Diffusion Across Temperature — Application Notes
Abstract Battery electrolyte performance is influenced by the mobility of solvents and charge-carrying ions, which varies with the molecular identity and is highly dependent on the temperature. Thi…
NMR Analysis of Battery Electrolytes: Quantifying Ion, Solvent, and Additive Composition — Application Notes
Abstract Controlling the composition of sodium- and lithium-ion batteries is important to ensure that solvents, additives and charge-carrying ions match the required formulation for effective batte…
NMR Analysis of Battery Electrolytes: Broadband Spectroscopy for X-Nuclei Characterisation — Application Notes
AbstractBattery electrolytes consist of a combination of charge-carrying ions, organic solvents, and additives, which can be analysed by NMR using different NMR-active nuclei. This Application Note d…
Electron Backscatter Diffraction Explained: Common Questions About EBSD — FAQs & Glossaries
Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) provides crystallographic and microstructural information from crystalline materials in the scanning electron microscope. This FAQ answers common questions a…
Element Mapping within Semiconductor Cross Sections — Application Notes
Focused ion beam (FIB) cross-sectioning is a critical process in semiconductor research and manufacturing. Through precise, site-specific milling, it exposes sub-surface structures and interfaces for…
Understanding Alloy Structure at the Nanoscale: Where BEX Gives Greater Efficiency — Application Notes
Understanding Precipitates and Grain Boundary Composition at the NanoscaleMany modern alloys rely on nanoscale precipitates and controlling subtle compositional gradients at grain boundaries to achie…
Characterisation of Glassy Carbon Fibres with Confocal Raman Imaging and Correlative Raman-SEM Microscopy — Application Notes
Introduction Glassy carbon, also referred to as glass-like carbon, is a disordered, non-graphitizing carbon material typically produced by the pyrolysis of polymeric precursors such as phenolic res…
Sensing Myelin: How a Mechanical Switch Controls Nerve Insulation — Webinars
Myelination is essential for CNS function, and its disruption drives debilitating neurological disease. Yet the mechanisms regulating myelination remain poorly understood. Julia Halford will prese…
NMR ProLab for MQC-R Tutorial: T₂ Distribution Workflow — Tutorials
Learn how to acquire and process T₂ distributions using NMR ProLab for MQC-R software, and discover how this workflow can be used to analyse structural changes in cake during storage in our applica…
Monitoring the Stability of Cereal Products During Shelf Life and Storage Time Using TD-NMR — Application Notes
1. IntroductionCereal products such as bread and cake are made up of different ingredients, including starch, proteins, fats, sugars and water, that interact during baking, cooling and storage. These…
Rapid Determination of Hydrochloric Acid Concentration using the X-Pulse Benchtop NMR Spectrometer — Application Notes
Introduction Hydrochloric acid is one of the most widely used reagents in chemical laboratories and industrial processes. Accurate knowledge of acid concentration is essential, as changes in concen…
Variable Temperature NMR: Analysis of Molecular Exchange Processes Using the X-Pulse Spectrometer — Application Notes
IntroductionNuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique that provides detailed information on molecular structure, dynamics, and intermolecular interactions. Conv…
How Microscope Design Affects Usability and Imaging Performance
The microscope chassis (body) defines the system's overall architecture and strongly influences sample compatibility, environmental stability, illumination setup, and workflow integration. Whil…
How to Choose a Benchtop Fluorescence Microscope: A Quick Buyer's Guide — Buyers' Guides
Why consider a Benchtop Fluorescence Microscope? Benchtop fluorescence microscopes can offer advanced imaging capabilities without the size, cost, and complexity of a traditional research micro…
The Applicability of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in the Semiconductor Industry — Application Notes
The Applicability of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in the Semiconductor IndustryIntroductionSemiconductors are an essential component in many electronic devices employed in critical industries includ…
Future-proofing your Microscope Investment: Quality Control, Upgradability and Service Support — Buyers' Guides
Selecting a microscope involves more than comparing hardware specifications and software features. Long-term stability and the ability to upgrade to future requirements can have a major impact on t…
Evaluating Benchtop Fluorescence Microscope Software: Acquisition, Analysis, and Automation Features — Buyers' Guides
Data acquisition and analysis software is as important as hardware functionalities in modern fluorescence microscopy. It determines how efficiently experiments can be configured, acquired, analysed…
Understanding Environmental and Vibrational Control Options for Benchtop Fluorescence Microscopes — Buyers' Guides
Fluctuating environmental conditions and vibrations can have a significant impact on image quality, reproducibility and experimental success in fluorescence microscopy. Especially long-term studies…
How Detector Specifications Affect Benchtop Microscope Performance — Buyers' Guides
Detectors capture emitted photons and convert them into electronic signals, making them one of the most influential components for microscope performance and image quality. Different detector techn…
Selecting Microscope Objectives for Fluorescence Microscopy: Key Specifications to Consider — Buyers' Guides
Objectives are one of the most critical optical components in any microscope. Their specifications strongly influence resolution, contrast, working distance, light transmission, and ultimately the …
Understanding Filters and Dichroic Mirror Configurations in Fluorescence Microscopes — Buyers' Guides
Fluorescence microscopy relies on precise optical control of excitation and emission light. Excitation filters, dichroic mirrors and emission filters work together to ensure that fluorophores are e…
LED vs Laser Illumination in Benchtop Fluorescence Microscopy — Buyers' Guides
The illumination source plays a central role in fluorescence microscopy, as it determines compatibility with different imaging modes, spectral flexibility, image contrast, and resolution. In fluore…
Microscope Stages in Benchtop Microscopy: Motorisation, Precision and Sample Compatibility — Buyers' Guides
The microscope stage determines how samples are scanned and revisited throughout an experiment. Stage size, motorisation, positioning precision, and compatibility with environmental control units d…
How to Perform High-Sensitivity EDS Mapping of Nanoscale Features with Ultim Extreme Infinity — Application Video
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Symmetry - Sample Acquisition Video — Application Video
In this Oxford Instruments Learning Centre presentation, Hui Jiang, EBSD Product Manager at Oxford Instruments, introduces Symmetry, the company's flagship Electron Backscatter Diffraction (…
Unity BEX - Sample Acquisition Video — Application Video
In this Oxford Instruments Learning Centre presentation, George Stonadge, Materials Analysis Product Scientist at Oxford Instruments, explains the capabilities of Unity BEX (Backscattered Electr…
Cypher - Sample Acquisition Video — Application Video
In this Oxford Instruments Learning Centre presentation, Kate Stokes, Product Scientist at Oxford Instruments, demonstrates the capabilities of the Cypher AFM (Atomic Force Microscope) and how i…
BC43 - Sample Acquisition Video — Application Video
In this Oxford Instruments Learning Centre presentation, Aishwarya Sivakumar, an Application Specialist at Oxford Instruments, demonstrates how to perform sample acquisition using the BC43 bencht…
Label-free biochemical analysis of organoids using confocal Raman imaging — Application Notes
Life Science research is increasingly using three-dimensional modelling systems such as organoids and spheroids to study cellular interactions, tissue organisation and disease mechanisms in physiolog…
Organoid Imaging Using Confocal Microscopy: Scaling 3D Workflows with BC43 and Imaris — Application Notes
Organoid imaging requires microscopy techniques that can capture complex 3D structures with sufficient depth, resolution, and throughput. Spinning disc confocal systems such as BC43 help overcome c…
Raman Imaging of Polymer Samples: Step-by-Step Workflow, Best Practices and Common Pitfalls — Tutorials
Confocal Raman microscopy is a non-destructive imaging technique for comprehensive analyses of organic polymer composition, distribution, and defects. This tutorial presents a complete step-by-step…
Wine Grape Analysis using TD-NMR — Application Notes
IntroductionOne of the main questions in the field of viticulture is "when are wine grapes ready to harvest?". Grapes that are harvested either too soon or too late in the ripening process …
Technical Cleanliness with AZtecClean and compliance with the new VDA19.1:2026 standard — Application Notes
IntroductionTechnical cleanliness is a crucial quality assurance and quality control process for several industries including aerospace, automotive and any others involved in the manufacture of mecha…
AZtec VDA19 Feature — Tutorials
See AZtec Clean in Action The demonstration begins with the acquisition of a filter image, where the system automatically identifies particles across the sample while simultaneously capturing mor…
Monochrome vs Colour Cameras for Microscopy: Which Should you Choose — Technical Article
Choosing between a colour and a monochrome camera for microscopy is one of the most important decisions in scientific imaging, and one that needs made before we consider different sensor formats and …
Step-by-Step Structural Elucidation of Ibuprofen Using NMR — Application Notes
Introduction Accurate structural elucidation is essential across all areas of chemical research and manufacturing, where confirming the identity, purity, and integrity of ingredients underpins prod…
Modern Benchtop NMR Spectroscopy: An Expert Perspective on Features and Trends — Expert Insights
Expert interview with Dr. Billy Hale, Product Manager for NMR Spectroscopy at Oxford Instruments Benchtop NMR spectroscopy is rapidly changing how researchers and industrial labs approach chemical an…
Comparing Imaging Modes in Benchtop Microscopes: Widefield, Confocal, Super-Resolution and Transmitted Light Options — Buyers' Guides
The imaging mode describes the method a microscope uses to generate an image, defined by its illumination approach, detection strategy, and contrast mechanism. As each imaging mode differs in contr…
Analyzing Solar Cell Material Properties with Confocal Raman Imaging — Application Notes
Analyzing Solar Cell Material Properties with Confocal Raman ImagingEnergy generation using photovoltaic devices is regarded as an important component in overcoming future energy shortages. This is r…
Forensic Investigations using Confocal Raman Imaging — Application Notes
IntroductionCrucial tasks in forensics include the microscopic analysis of very small objects in order to accurately verify the source of specific compounds of such sample, or to compare the characte…
Visualizing Growth and Etch at a Calcite Screw Dislocation- An Example of Liquid Perfusion on a Cypher ES AFM — Tutorials
This video highlights how the Cypher ES AFM enables imaging of fast surface dynamics in liquid as different solutions are perfused across the sample. Here, we monitor the growth and etching …
Decoding the Hidden Structure of Food: How TD-NMR is Supporting Plant-Based Innovation — Technical Article
The plant-based food boom has reshaped the priorities of food research. Yet despite rapid innovation, one challenge continues to define the category: replicating the structure of conventional foods u…
SEM Failure Analysis of a Diesel Turbocharger: Why BEX Succeeds Where EDS Struggles — Application Notes
Key Message: BEX enables failure analysis where shadowing inhibits EDS—allowing compositional analysis of pristine fracture surfaces that hold vital root cause evidence.Turbocharger turbine blades op…
TD-NMR vs NMR Spectroscopy and Other Complementary Methods — Technical Articles
Time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) is a low-field NMR technique that is commonly used in quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) across food, agriculture, petroleum, polymer and ot…
X-Nuclei NMR Spectroscopy Part 2: Broadband Nuclei analysis with X-Pulse — Technical Article
IntroductionNMR spectroscopy is most commonly used to analyse hydrogen-1 (1H, proton), carbon-13 (13C) and fluorine-19 (19F) nuclei. However, most modern NMR spectrometers can observe many more nucle…
Importing Objects into the Cell Module as a Workflow — Tutorials
Discover how to import objects into the Cell module within a Workflow to streamline cell-based analysis and maintain consistency across multiple datasets.
Object-Based Colocalization Options in Workflow — Tutorials
Learn how to use the Object-Based Colocalization options within a Workflow to analyze spatial relationships between detected objects and generate reproducible results across similar datasets.
Statistic Export Options — Tutorials
This tutorial demonstrates how to use the Statistics Export options in Workflows to efficiently save, organize, and review your analysis results for downstream processing and reporting.
Comparative Photometry with Marana CMOS and iKon-L CCD Cameras at the NGTS Facility — Technical Article
Recent laboratory and on-sky studies have shown that modern CMOS sensors can deliver high quality photometry across a range of astronomical applications [1, 2], with precision reaching the milli-magn…
Spurious Noise and the Limits of Photon Counting — Technical Article
Photon counting is a technique used to detect individual photons and minimise noise in a range of imaging and spectroscopy experiments that study extremely faint light sources:Reading the register of…
Annealing of a Polymer Thin Film in Controlled Toluene Vapor on a Cypher ES AFM — Tutorials
This video highlights a key advantage of the Cypher ES: its fully sealed, pressure‑tight sample chamber. Many AFMs allow gas purging during imaging—for example, using argon to prevent oxidation or …
Optical spectroscopy of organic molecules on metal surfaces and in solution — Application Notes
IntroductionPorphyrins are highly conjugated macrocycles, capable of coordinating metal ions at the central cavity. Owing to their tunable electronic structure and rich photophysics, they are central…
Thermomechanical Raman mapping of GaN HEMTs via temperature-induced phonon peak shifts — Application Notes
GaN-based high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) require accurate, spatially resolved temperature measurements to assess device thermal behavior and reliability. This Application Note presents …
AZtec software 'Tips and Tricks' for Quantitative Microanalysis Analysis — Tutorials
During our latest session from the EDS User Meeting, we shared practical guidance on: Reducing uncertainty in overlapped peak quantification Selecting the right process time…
Pharmaceutical R&D and Process Development with the witec360 Platform — Application Notes
Pharmaceutical research and process development require analytical techniques that deliver reliable chemical information quickly and non-destructively. The witec360 platform combines confocal Raman m…
Particle Analysis Pushed to its Limits Characterising Sub-Resolution Limit Particles with ParticleScout and AFM — Application Notes
While microplastic analysis has become an established field of research, the characterisation of nanoplastics - polymer particles typically smaller than 1000 nm - remains a major analytical ch…
Stable Imaging of Polymer Melt and Recrystallization Dynamics During Continuous Temperature Ramping on a Cypher ES AFM — Tutorials
This video demonstrates the exceptional performance and stability of the Cypher ES AFM during an experiment where a polymer blend wa…
Characterising and monitoring materials developed for use in extreme environments — Webinars
Table-Top Electron Microscopy as an Analytical Tool for Materials Characterisation — Webinars
Choosing the Right Benchtop NMR Spectrometer: A Practical Buyer's Guide — Buyers' Guides
This guide is intended to help navigate the key decisions involved in purchasing a benchtop NMR spectrometer. It is written for anyone involved in the evaluation or purchase of a benchtop NMR syste…
10 things you didn’t know about EMCCD Cameras — Technical Article
Charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras laid the foundation for modern scientific imaging and defined standards for sensitivity and image quality across microscopy and spectroscopy for decades. This incl…
Advanced EDS Elemental Analysis in SEM using BEX: Materials Science and Batteries — Webinars
This webinar will cover the latest advancements in EDS and the innovative BEX detector and will showcase their effectiveness through real-world applications, including functiona…
Exceptional Environmental Control on Cypher and Vero AFMs — Tutorials
The ES and VRS1250 models in the Cypher and Vero AFM families are designed from the ground up for exceptional environmental control. They are based on a fully sealed, pressure‑t…
Automated Workflow for Detecting and Characterizing Opaque Solid Inclusions in Transparent Mineral Separates — Application Notes
Executive Summary Solid inclusions within transparent host minerals such as zircon are known to record valuable information for geochronology, paleoenvironment, and provenance studies. Furthermore, …
Simplify Your Imaging: Complete Workflows from Acquisition to Analysis — Webinars
Join Megan as she walks you through the technologies she uses daily to help researchers overcome imaging challenges and accelerate their discoveries. With hands-on experience de…
Tabletop Automated Mineralogy: Increasing Accessibility without Compromising Speed — Application Notes
Automated mineralogy transformed the evaluation of ore mineralogy and texture by integrating the imaging capabilities of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with the rapid chemical analysis of energy‑…
Eu(III) Complex Formation with Organic Ligands in Artificial Cement Porewaters — Application Notes
Introduction The long-term storage of highly reactive nuclear waste from various applications has been a hot topic in the international scientific community for decades. The use of a multi-barrier…
RISE Microscopy for Charging‑Stable, Raman‑True Correlative Analysis — Webinars
This webinar demonstrates how conductive coatings, VP‑SEM operation, and the AZtecRISE navigator in the latest 6.3 release bring these conditions together. These improvements en…
Scanning Capacitance Microscopy — Tutorials
Scanning Capacitance Microscopy (SCM) is a powerful electrical characterization technique with broad applicability across a variety of fields such as semiconductors, failure ana…
Workflow for confocal Raman analysis of inclusions: What can we learn from inclusions in diamonds? — Application Notes
Inclusions – solids, liquids, or gases trapped within minerals during crystallization – are essential tools in geology. They act as natural “time capsules,” providing direct e…
AZtecCrystal 4.0 – New Features for In-situ Experiments and Quality Control — Webinars
This webinar introduces the new capabilities in AZtecCrystal 4.0, designed to make time‑lapse and in‑situ EBSD experiments faster, more synchronised and easier to analyse. With …
Fast Moiré Imaging with the Jupiter Discovery — Tutorials
Imagine doing AFM, only many times faster. In an hour, you could collect a complete dataset that would normally take a week with conventional AFMs. See the difference in speed with Oxford Instrume…
Inside Out: Unlocking the Hidden Apical Surface of Organoids for High-Resolution Imaging — Webinars
Discover how LPA and S1P flip organoids apical-out, enabling high‑resolution imaging, long-term studies, and ECM‑free culture for clearer insights into tissue biology.
Versatile Raman solutions for tomorrow's challenges: Semiconductors, Materials, and Beyond — Webinars
Explore how modern Raman spectroscopy and confocal Raman microscopy enable fast, precise chemical and structural analysis across semiconductors, materials, chemistry, and life s…
Asbestos Analysis in the SEM with AZtecAsbestos — Application Notes
Introduction: Why is asbestos analysis crucial?  Asbestos is a material that was widely used in the mid-late 20th century as an insulator (in buildings, boilers, pipes, roofing a…
Capture the Moment – Track Steel Transformations with Crystal Batch & Compare — Application Notes
Understanding how microstructures evolve during phase transformations is essential for optimising the performance of structural materials such as high-strength steel products. Electron Backscatter Di…
Maximising Raman Spectroscopy Performance: Why Optimised Grating Selection Matters — Technical Article
In Raman spectroscopy, the choice of diffraction grating is far more than a technical detail, it’s a critical factor in achieving meaningful results. To unlock the full potential of your Raman …
What is the difference between BEX imaging and EDS mapping? — Expert Insights
It’s been a crazy few months at Oxford Instruments. We have introduced many new products over the years, some of them very innovative and very revolutionary. However, we have not introduced a new pro…
Ultra-Sensitive Blue & UV Detection with the iXon Ultra Blue EMCCD — Tutorials
Join Colin Coates as he goes through the iXon Ultra Blue EMCCD, exploring its advanced design, ultra-sensitive blue and near-UV performance, and enhanced quantum efficiency. He explains how these c…
What Makes Vero AFMs Different? — Tutorials
What makes the Vero AFM different from most other AFMs? Unlike conventional AFMs that must infer height from angular changes of the cantilever, the Vero AFM uses an interferometric detector to di…
Comparative Performance of sCMOS and UV-Sensitive EMCCD Cameras for Advanced UV Imaging and Spectroscopy — Application Notes
High-sensitivity ultraviolet (UV) imaging and spectroscopy are essential for emerging applications such as optical characterization of high-bandgap semiconductors, photolithographic mask inspection, …
Ultrastructural Localization of Antigens in Tissues with Immunogold Labeling, Enzymatic Metallography and Elemental Analysis Using the BEX SEM Technique — Application Notes
Introduction Immuno‑electron microscopy (immuno‑EM) is a method for the fine localization and characterization of potential drug targets in tissues and for safety assessment studies of therapeutic …
Distribution and Identification of Nanoparticles in Cells using EDS — Application Notes
Aim To confirm the uptake and the subcellular localisation of thallium nanoparticles in cells and tissues for cancer therapy. Challenge When investigating the localisation of nanoparticles with el…
Rapid Failure Analysis of Structural Materials Using SEM-BEX: Ni-alloy Brittle Failure Case Study — Application Notes
Fast, Reliable Failure Analysis—Even with Large Unprepared Samples In industries where safety and performance are paramount, such as aerospace, automotive, and defense, understanding material …
Closing the Link: Resilient Free-Space Optical Communications with Transmissive Adaptive Optics — Application Notes
Global bandwidth demand is outstripping Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum capacity. Facing this “spectrum crunch”, operators are pivoting toward Free-Space Optical (FSO) communications. By ut…
RISE Microscopy for 2D Materials — Webinars
Due to their unique optical and electronic properties, two-dimensional (2D) materials have great potential for application in optoelectronic devices, sensors energy storage, cat…
Distinguishing ABA- and ABC-Stacked Trilayer Graphene with Atomic Force Microscopy — Application Notes
For few-layer 2D materials, stacking configuration can be an important degree of freedom for tuning physical properties. For example, trilayer graphene has two stable stacking sequences, ABA and ABC,…
Photonics and Optical Detectors - A to Z Glossary — Technical Article
What is Accumulation?Accumulation is the process by which data acquired from a number of similar scans are added together in computer memory.What is Acid Etching?Acid etching is a technique that unif…
KPFM Made Simple — Tutorials
Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) is an AFM imaging mode which maps the work function of a sample surface while simultaneously imaging its topography. Many users could benefi…
Resolving Angle-Dependent Properties of Twisted Layers of 2D Materials Using AFM — Application Notes
Since the discovery of the unique properties and exotic physics of graphene, interest in it and other 2D materials and their layered structures has flourished. Graphene has excellent electrical and t…
Electrolyte Analysis with the X-Pulse — Application Notes
Introduction There is a growing importance in the use of automation in laboratory environments, for example the use of Materials Acceleration Platforms (MAPs), automating both experiments and subseq…
Intensified Fast Gated CMOS Technology for Dynamic Imaging of Supersonic and Hypersonic Flow Dynamics — Application Notes
Turbulent flows around supersonic and hypersonic vehicles are necessary to understand as they can lead to the degradation of the walls of spacecraft and high-altitude aircraft. Thus, characterizing m…
Graphene Cutting Using Anodic Oxidation Lithography — Tutorials
Watch how easy it is to cut graphene with AFM using anodic oxidation lithography, a standard feature in our software. Graphene cutting can be used to make twisted bilayer graphe…