News & Events

  A Winning Team: SEM + FIB, the "Golden Combination"   CIQTEK brings SEM and FIB together as a powerful team, providing critical support for PCB process optimization, reliability verification, and root cause determination of failures. SEM High-Resolution Imaging: The "Microscope" for Surface Details The SEM uses a high-resolution electron beam to capture crisp images of PCB surface morphology. It reveals solder pad plating, intermetallic compounds, micro-cracks, tin whiskers, and foreign particle contamination with exceptional clarity. Coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), the SEM also performs elemental analysis on microscopic regions. This combination lets engineers identify the chemical signature of defects, making it straightforward to spot issues like short circuits, open circuits, corrosion, and plating anomalies. FIB Nanoscale Cutting: The "Scalpel" for Internal Structures While the SEM excels at surface imaging, the FIB takes over when you need to see what is happening inside the board. Using a nanometer-precision ion beam, the FIB performs targeted cross-sectioning at the exact defect location. It prepares ultra-thin slices through multi-layer boards, blind vias, and buried vias, exposing internal structures that mechanical sectioning simply cannot reach. Think of the FIB as a microscopic surgical tool. It removes material with nanometer accuracy, leaving a clean cross-section ready for imaging and analysis.   CIQTEK Semiconductor Showcase: See It in Action   The Beauty of the Microscopic World, Revealed in Every Detail. Here are real examples of CIQTEK electron microscopes in PCB cross-section observation: Solder Joint Interface Panorama Low magnification observation of capacitor overall morphology, viewing the real microscopic structure of the capacitor solder joint interface from the inside IMC Layer Evaluation Evaluating interlayer bonding, measuring IMC thickness and uniformity, detecting voids, cracks, and interface defects Multi-Layer Board Inner Structure Clear observation of IMC layer morphology, thickness, continuity, and density at the solder pad and solder interface Process Reliability Evaluation Evaluating trace pattern, thickness, etching quality and copper-to-substrate bonding, detecting line shift, etch defects, delamination, voids, and analyzing plating layer quality for PCB process control and reliability assessment   Built for Labs That Demand Reliability   CIQTEK develops its electron microscopy platforms from the ground up, covering core algorithms through hardware design. This vertical integration ensures consistent performance and long-term supply stability, which matters for labs running continuous production or multi-year research programs. The company backs its instruments with responsive technical support and regular software updates, helping users keep their systems running efficiently over time.   Get in Touch If you are evaluating SEM or FIB systems for ...

CIQTEK, a leading manufacturer and supplier of advanced Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) instrumentation, will participate in the “France-Belgium-Netherlands-Luxembourg joined Magnetic Resonance Conference (FBNL-MR 2026)” in Lille, France. The event will bring together leading researchers, instrument scientists, and application specialists from across Europe and beyond to exchange the latest developments in EPR and NMR spectroscopy.  Event Details Date:  June 2–5, 2026 Location:  Lille, France CIQTEK Sponsor Talk:  Tuesday, June 2, 15:50–16:00 (10 min), Amphi A Talk Title:  Next-Generation EPR: Combining High-Performance Q Band Instrumentation with Artificial Intelligence Enhanced Spectral Processing   Advancing EPR Through Hardware and AI Integration As research moves toward increasingly complex biological and material systems, CIQTEK addresses these challenges by developing high-performance hardware alongside the first dedicated AI model for EPR. This presentation will focus on how CIQTEK’s integrated approach enables: • Higher sensitivity and spectral resolution with Q-band pulsed EPR systems using Solid-State Power Amplifier technology, deciphering complex metal hyperfine couplings and extracting dipolar information for high-resolution DEER distance mapping • Automated spectral analysis through a three-layer AI EPR model trained on over 100,000 real and simulated datasets — achieving 99.9% precision for simulations and 92% for real-world samples • Streamlined workflow from raw data to publication with automated spectral fitting, component characterization, and experimental report generation, plus predictive guidance suggesting follow-up experiments • Lower technical barriers for researchers in chemistry, biology, and materials science, driving EPR toward a more impactful and accessible technology   Talk Abstract Advancing EPR requires a dual focus on robust hardware and intelligent software to bridge the gap between complexity and discovery. Our Q-band system enhances sensitivity and resolution, deciphering complex hyperfine couplings and richer dipolar data for precise distance mapping. Meanwhile, the AI assistant automates fitting, characterization, and reporting with 92% precision for real-world samples, providing predictive guidance for further sample verification. This unified approach lowers technical barriers and maximizes scientific output, empowering the community with higher efficiency and greater data reliability.  Visit the CIQTEK Booth  In addition to our sponsor talk, CIQTEK is a proud sponsor of FBNL-MR 2026 with a dedicated exhibition booth at the conference venue. We warmly welcome all attendees to visit our booth for more in-depth discussions about our EPR and NMR solutions. Our team will be available to provide: • On-site technical discussions with CIQTEK engineers to answe...

Temperature is not just an environmental setting in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. It is a core experimental parameter, right up there with microwave power and magnetic field range. Choose the right temperature, and you unlock sharper signals, stronger sensitivity, and structural details that room-temperature measurements simply cannot reveal. Choose wrong, and your signal may disappear entirely. This guide walks through the physics of variable-temperature EPR and helps you pick the right setup for your samples. Why Temperature Matters So Much in EPR Every EPR experiment involves three questions. How does temperature reshape the microscopic spin environment? How does it affect spectral interpretation? And which systems absolutely require variable-temperature measurements? Let us break it down. Cooling: The Simplest Way to Boost Sensitivity The EPR signal comes from a simple fact. Unpaired electrons occupy two spin energy levels, and the difference in population between those levels is what we detect. In an external magnetic field B0, electron spins undergo Zeeman splitting, creating two levels with ms = +1/2 and ms = -1/2. The energy gap between them is: The Boltzmann distribution governs how electrons populate these levels. The population ratio depends on temperature in a very direct way: Here is what this means in practice. The EPR signal intensity is proportional to the population difference between the two levels. That difference scales as 1/T. In other words, lower the temperature, and your signal gets stronger. Period. Temperature is an independent, fully controllable variable, so cooling your sample is the most fundamental and direct way to boost absolute sensitivity in EPR spectroscopy.   EPR spectra of a weak coal sample measured at different temperatures. Lower temperatures deliver dramatically stronger signals. (Measured on CIQTEK EPR system.) Cooling Slows Relaxation, Revealing Hidden Signals Temperature does not just affect signal strength. It also controls spin relaxation, which determines whether you can detect a signal at all. Relaxation in magnetic resonance falls into two categories. Spin-lattice relaxation (T1). This is the process where excited spins exchange energy with the surrounding crystal lattice. It is highly temperature-sensitive. At room temperature, lattice vibrations are vigorous. Excited spins dissipate their energy quickly, so T1 is short. Cool the system down, and you effectively "freeze" those lattice vibrations. T1 lengthens dramatically. Spin-spin relaxation (T2). This arises mainly from magnetic dipolar interactions between neighboring spins. It is less directly affected by temperature.   Spin-lattice relaxation rate as a function of temperature. The strong temperature dependence shows why cooling is essential for short-relaxation systems. (Ref: Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020, 22, 15751-15758) T2 controls the spectral linewidth. The homogeneous linewidth is inversely proportional...

CIQTEK CAN400 NMR Spectrometer Becomes a Trusted Research Partner at China Pharmaceutical University Some NMR labs are busy. And then there are labs like the one at China Pharmaceutical University, where the instruments run around the clock, bookings stretch past midnight, and the sample queue fills every available slot. In that kind of environment, the instrument at the center of it all has to deliver. Clean spectra, day after day. No downtime. And it has to be simple enough for graduate students to run on their own during those late-night shifts. At China Pharmaceutical University (CPU), the CIQTEK CAN400 NMR spectrometer has met all of these demands. After nearly a year of continuous, high-volume operation, it has become a workhorse in the university's testing platform. It handles over 100 samples per day. It has maintained a zero-failure record. And perhaps most importantly, the researchers who rely on it say the data looks great. In this article, we will walk through how CPU selected the CAN400, how it has held up in one of the busiest academic NMR labs around, and why the day-to-day details matter just as much as the numbers on a spec sheet. Why NMR Spectroscopy Sits at the Heart of Pharmaceutical Research To understand why CPU needed a dependable NMR system, it helps to know what kind of institution this is. China Pharmaceutical University sits at the foot of Zhongshan Mountain, along the Yangtze River in Nanjing. It was founded over eighty years ago, and it has built a reputation as one of the top schools for pharmaceutical research and education in China. The university's pharmacy program earned an A+ rating in China's most recent national discipline evaluation. Its medicinal chemistry program has been ranked first in China and third globally, with a long history of producing influential research in drug design, molecular synthesis, and bioactive compound modification. At the heart of all this is organic chemistry. Every new drug candidate starts as a molecule that someone has to design, synthesize, and then characterize. That is where NMR spectroscopy comes in. For medicinal chemists, NMR is not a nice-to-have tool. It is the primary method for confirming molecular structures, assessing purity, and collecting the analytical data that supports publications and patent filings. So it is no surprise that the NMR lab at CPU is one of the busiest places on campus. The spectrometers run twenty-four hours a day. Students and faculty carry NMR tubes in and out of the lab at all hours. For countless research projects, the NMR spectrum is the first real data point that tells a researcher whether their synthesis worked. It is the bridge between an idea and a verified result. Given this workload, the university needed an instrument that could keep up. Solid technical performance. Continuous operation without issues. And it had to be easy enough for anyone to use, from first-year grad students to senior faculty.  The College of Science building ...

CIQTEK, a global leader in precision measurement and advanced scientific instrumentation, announces that its EPR product line has reached a significant milestone: the 300th global delivery. The landmark 300th unit — a CIQTEK EPR300 Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectrometer — has been officially delivered to Vanderbilt University in the United States, underscoring the growing global adoption of CIQTEK's EPR technology.   CIQTEK EPR Team at the EPR300 Installation Site   Inside Vanderbilt University — CIQTEK's EPR Technology Supports Advanced Research Founded in 1873 and located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University is a world-renowned private research university recognized for its strong academic and research excellence in chemistry, materials science, biomedical engineering, and nanotechnology. The research group receiving the EPR300 — the 300th unit in the CIQTEK EPR series — is dedicated to cutting-edge investigations in bioinorganic chemistry and advanced molecular materials, demanding the highest standards in electron paramagnetic resonance technology. With its superior sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio, the CIQTEK EPR300 provides the critical data foundation that drives the group’s advanced research forward. Performance That Speaks for Itself — Client Proactively Publishes Delivery News Following installation and commissioning, the EPR300's outstanding spectral quality and the professionalism of CIQTEK's engineering team exceeded the client’s expectations. The research group published a dedicated news article on its official platform, celebrating the installation and offering high praise for the EPR spectrometer. “The performance of the EPR300 has been truly impressive,” said Assistant Professor Mengshan Ye, a lead researcher in the group. “And the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by the installation engineers have given our entire team tremendous confidence.”   X-Band Continuous-Wave Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectrometer The EPR300 leverages a state-of-the-art microwave system and ultra-high-performance signal processing unit to push detection sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio to unprecedented levels. Capable of precisely capturing and analyzing unpaired electron signals at extremely low spin concentrations, the EPR300 opens new methodological pathways for studying low-concentration free radicals and investigating the deep-level physical and chemical properties of metal ions and other microscopic systems. In addition, the EPR300 supports the upgrade to Q-band operation, enabling higher g-value resolution critical for detecting anisotropic samples. From life sciences and materials science to chemistry and physics, the EPR300 lays a robust experimental foundation for frontier research across multiple disciplines — empowering scientists to reach new milestones of discovery.   300 Deliveries and Counting ...

At the 16th ASEM Workshop in Austria, CIQTEK demonstrated that researchers no longer have to choose between imaging speed and high resolution. Our latest breakthrough in High-Speed Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) allows for incredibly detailed imaging at low voltages, making massive-scale projects faster and more accurate than ever before.     A Gathering of Great Minds in Austria The 16th ASEM Workshop recently wrapped up at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), and what an event it was! Held from April 20th to 21st, this workshop is the place to be for anyone serious about electron microscopy in Europe. The air was buzzing with talk about the next generation of imaging, and the CIQTEK team was right in the middle of it.   The Talk Everyone Was Discussing One of the most talked-about moments of the event was a technical session led by CIQTEK’s own Dr. Fenfa Yao. His presentation, titled "Unlocking the Power of Unique High-Speed Scanning Electron Microscopy with No Compromise of Superb Imaging Resolution at Low kV for Large Scale Volume Microscopy Applications," hit a nerve with the crowd for all the right reasons. Dr. Yao tackled a problem that has frustrated scientists for years. Traditionally, if you wanted to scan a large volume of a sample, you either had to go slow to keep the quality high or speed up and lose the fine details. By focusing on "Low kV" (low accelerating voltage) imaging, Dr. Yao showed how CIQTEK has cracked the code. We can now produce crystal-clear images at high speeds without damaging sensitive samples.     Why "Low kV" is a Big Deal For many in the audience, the real "aha!" moment came when seeing the results of CIQTEK’s high-speed imaging. Imaging at low voltages is crucial because it helps protect samples from beam damage, especially in life sciences or delicate material research. Dr. Yao explained how our technology maintains superb resolution even when the clock is ticking, which is a total lifesaver for large-scale volume microscopy.   More Than Just Technology: It is About People While the technical sessions were a hit, the highlight for our team was at the CIQTEK booth. It felt like a reunion! We were thrilled to see so many familiar faces: long-time partners and loyal clients who came by to say hello and see what we have been working on lately. The conversations were not just about specs and numbers. We talked about real-world challenges, shared ideas for future research, and got some fantastic feedback on our HEM6000 series. It is these human connections that drive us to keep innovating.     Looking Ahead As the ASEM Workshop comes to a close, we are heading back to the office with a lot of inspiration. The positive energy from the attendees and the great response to Dr. Yao’s talk confirm that we are on the right track. We are committed to making high-performance microscopy tools that are not only powerful but also practical for sci...

CIQTEK and SciMed Redefine EPR Possibilities at the 59th RSC ESR Meeting The Future of EPR is here. At the 59th RSC ESR Meeting in Colchester, CIQTEK and SciMed successfully demonstrated how accessible benchtop hardware and AI-driven Q-band technology are breaking traditional barriers in spectroscopy research. From April 13 to 16, 2026, the University of Essex played host to one of the most prestigious gatherings in the world of spectroscopy: the 59th Annual International Meeting of the RSC ESR Spectroscopy Group. For the team at CIQTEK, in partnership with our UK distributors at SciMed, it was an incredible week of sharing ideas, showing off new gear, and discussing where the industry is headed.     A Powerful Partnership in the UK Our presence at the event was a joint effort with SciMed, our trusted partners who help us bring high-end scientific instruments to the UK and European markets. Together, we met with researchers, physicists, and chemists to discuss the practical challenges they face in the lab. It is always rewarding to see how our technology fits into real-world workflows, and the feedback we received was invaluable. Hands-on with the EPR200M: Precision on Your Desktop One of the biggest highlights at our booth was the EPR200M benchtop EPR spectrometer. We brought a demo unit along so attendees could see it in action. The reaction was fantastic. Most researchers are used to EPR spectrometers being massive, floor-standing machines that require their own dedicated rooms. The EPR200M changes that. It offers: High Sensitivity: Don't let the size fool you; it delivers research-grade data. Compact Design: It fits right on a standard lab bench, making it perfect for multi-user facilities or individual research groups. Ease of Use: With an intuitive interface, it lowers the learning curve for students and new users. Seeing scientists realize they can get high-quality ESR data without a massive footprint is exactly why we do what we do.     Dr. Jingwen Xia on the "Next Generation" of EPR It wasn't just about the hardware at the booth. CIQTEK’s very own Dr. Jingwen Xia took to the stage to deliver a compelling presentation that got a lot of people talking. Her talk, titled "Next Generation EPR: Combining High-Performance Q-Band Instrumentation with AI-Enhanced Spectral Processing," dove deep into how we are using modern tech to solve old problems. Dr. Xia explained how Q-band EPR provides better resolution for complex samples, but also acknowledged that analyzing that data can be a headache. That is where the AI comes in. Dr. Xia showcased how CIQTEK is integrating AI-enhanced spectral processing to: Automate Data Fitting: Saving researchers hours of manual work. Improve Signal-to-Noise Ratios: Extracting clear results from even the "noisiest" samples. Predict Molecular Parameters: Using machine learning to interpret complex spectra with much higher accuracy than traditional methods. The takeaway was clear: by combini...

CIQTEK made a strong and memorable appearance at the 67th Experimental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Conference (ENC 2026), held from April 12–16, 2026, in Asilomar, Pacific Grove, California. Throughout the event, we welcomed a steady flow of researchers and industry experts to our Evergreen Suite, where we shared our latest developments in both EPR and NMR technologies. From advanced instrumentation to AI-powered spectral analysis, and from technical discussions to cultural exchange, ENC 2026 became a key moment for presenting a broader, more complete picture of CIQTEK MR solutions to the U.S. community.     CIQTEK IN FULL SPIN: A Unique Evening Blending Science and Culture On April 14, CIQTEK hosted a special evening event in the Evergreen Suite: "CIQTEK IN FULL SPIN – Experience the Eastern Spin on Resonance." Instead of a standard networking session, we created a more immersive and interactive experience by combining science with Eastern cultural elements. The evening included: A short MR-themed presentation A traditional lion dance performance Tea tasting Interactive games such as pitch-pot (Touhu) The suite quickly filled with guests, and the atmosphere stayed lively throughout the night. Visitors were not just watching but actively participating. From technical discussions to cultural interaction, the feedback consistently reflected curiosity, interest, and genuine appreciation. Many attendees described it as one of the most refreshing and memorable moments of ENC 2026.     Engaging the MR Community with Both EPR and NMR Solutions ENC is a core event for NMR professionals, and this year, CIQTEK brought not only EPR innovations but also clear and structured introductions to our NMR technologies and product capabilities. Many NMR experts who visited our suite shared that this was their first in-depth exposure to CIQTEK's MR portfolio. Through face-to-face discussions and on-site explanations, we helped attendees better understand: CIQTEK's approach to magnetic resonance instrumentation Our expanding NMR capabilities and product roadmap How EPR and NMR can complement each other in real research scenarios These conversations helped reshape perceptions and sparked renewed interest in CIQTEK as a growing MR solution provider in the U.S. market.     Next Generation EPR with AI-Enhanced Processing During the conference, CIQTEK Senior MR Solution Manager, Dr. Jeff Sun, presented: "Next Generation EPR: Advanced X, Q, and W Band Instrumentation with AI Enhanced Spectral Processing." The poster attracted strong attention and led to many in-depth technical discussions. Topics that resonated most with attendees included: Multi-band EPR systems (X, Q, and W bands) Instrument stability and performance optimization AI-assisted spectral analysis workflows It became a natural gathering point for researchers interested in improving both hardware performance and data interpretation efficiency.   Global Launch o...