Peabody, Mass., December 7, 2005 – The USA subsidiary of JEOL Ltd., an international supplier of electron microscopes and analytical instruments, has entered into a partnership agreement with Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN).
The mission of the ISN, a research collaboration between the United States Army and MIT, is to develop innovations in outfitting soldiers with equipment and apparel to dramatically improve their survivability and mobility. The use of nanotechnology will transform heavy equipment and bulky clothing by miniaturizing devices and fibers, resulting in lightweight protection and the potential for unprecedented means of monitoring vital signs, maintaining communications, and integrating a vast array of new functions into the soldier’s battlesuit.
As a “Major Industrial Member” of the ISN Industry Consortium, JEOL USA will provide applications support and service for its instruments used to image the new fibers and devices at the nanoscale. A nanometer is equal to one-billionth of a meter, or is roughly ten times the size of an atom. The ISN is currently using a JEOL Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to image new nanometric materials and a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) system to prepare and manipulate the samples for imaging on the SEM.
“Our electron optics and ion beam enabling technology offer a wonderful synergy for both our organizations,” said Robert Santorelli, president and CEO of JEOL USA. “Today’s mission of survivability touches upon many important projects, both away from home – in the battle theater – as well as in our local neighborhoods. We hope to develop new capabilities in nano-instrumentation as we work with ISN towards this goal.”
The ISN is located on the MIT campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and comprises 44,000 square feet of space at Technology Square. The ISN is under the direction of Professor Ned Thomas, a well-known polymer scientist. “Our ultimate goal is focused on the soldier, and the soldier system of the future,” said Thomas. ISN partners and researchers are working on new explosives sensing technology and have been studying the nanostructures of naturally tough materials to borrow design principals for synthetic composite armor materials.
“JEOL USA’s relationship with MIT as well as Professor Thomas dates back decades and has resulted in many significant contributions to science and technology,” said Santorelli. “Our global staff recognizes this great opportunity and is committed to advancement of development in nanotechnology.”