With the DRY SMAL (SMAL AIR) lens from LIG Nanowise, users can unlock ultra-fine imaging and improve their research and inspection workflows. This immersion-free, non-contact, and non-destructive super-resolution solution provides astonishingly refined images in real time.
The DRY SMAL redefines clarity at the sub-100 nm scale, whether in semiconductor labs or materials research and development.
LIG Nanowise's DRY SMAL is a super-resolution, non-contact, and immersion-free microscope objective.
Key Benefits
- Sub-80 nm resolution: Overcome conventional diffraction constraints by using white light to resolve details smaller than 80 nm. Features as small as ~60 nm become apparent on some samples and particular settings.
- Exceptional magnification: The system's optical magnification of about ×200 is substantially higher than that of normal lenses, which cap at ×150.
- Non-destructive and immersion-free: No liquids or oils are required, making the DRY SMAL lens a good choice for delicate samples or settings where immersion is not practical.
- Minimal working distance: The system provides an extremely small working distance of about 1.7 µm, allowing for extremely tight focusing without coming into contact with the sample.
- Seamless integration and robust design: Designed to work with the NANORO M and the future Nanoro Generation system, the DRY SMAL lens is compatible with common microscopes such as Nikon. Optional refurbishment is included to compensate for inadvertent damage.
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Applications at a Glance
- Biological samples
- Materials science and advanced materials (e.g., graphene)
- Semiconductor inspection (fabrication, R&D, and QA)
- Geological and mineralogical analysis (e.g., polished samples)
- Any situation where immersion techniques are not an option, yet ultra-high resolution is needed
Why DRY SMAL Stands Out
- Real-time, full-color imaging: The system provides live, colorful, super-resolution visuals with standard white-light lighting.
- Non-disruptive to sample integrity: DRY SMAL is perfect for delicate, valuable, or moisture-sensitive materials because of its non-contact design, which maintains sample integrity.
- Cost-effective super resolution: When combined with the NANORO M, DRY SMAL provides high-resolution capabilities with less overhead and complexity than specialist microscopy systems.
Example of Super-Resolution Imaging
137 nm features imaged with DRY SMAL lens mounted on the Nanoro Generation microscope in white light (left) and 90 nm features images with DRY SMAL lens mounted on the Nanoro Generation in blue light (right):
