Researchers at Cornell University have developed a new imaging technique called ion microscopy, which offers high sensitivity for detecting isotopes of elements. This technique promises to open new avenues of cancer research by localizing anticancer drugs inside tumor cells.
The new microscope employs a scanning metal tip and infrared wave absorption to identify chemical composition on a nanoscale. The technique has potential for high-resolution imaging with 100 nm or better resolution, expanding its applications in electronics, materials, and biology.
The ASU-Led Project uses the scanning probe microscope to enable students in schools far from campus to operate the instrument remotely over the World Wide Web. Students can design their own experiments and manipulate the microscope with a mouse, getting results that are not yet available to most laboratories in the country.