IGTS Driving Innovation in Battery Research at LIST’s AINA Group

Our long-standing partnership with the AINA group at LIST brings together world-class analytical microscopy and Ferrovac’s UHV sample transfer technology. This collaboration has been instrumental in developing protective close-looped workflows for both cryogenic and inert gas environments. The success of this synergy is best exemplified by the npScope Project (https://www.npscope.eu), through which our Ferroloader Network has become a crucial resource for the scientific community. Our products contribute significantly to the correlative microscopic analysis of highly air- and temperature-sensitive materials, delivering reliable and reproducible results. In recent years, these workflow solutions have gained importance as global interest in next-generation battery technology continues to accelerate

The Challenge: Environmental Degradation

To develop high-energy-density materials with robust cyclic stability and interfacial integrity, scientists must analyze batteries under operando, post-mortem, and/or interrupted cycling conditions. These studies are essential to reveal the chemical and morphological evolution of the cell, yet they present a universal challenge: transferring these highly reactive samples without environmental degradation.

The Solution: IGTS and Ferroloader Network

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By facilitating the transfer of battery assemblies from the glove box to advanced analytical equipment - including SEM, EBSD, SIMS, and XPS- within a strictly controlled atmosphere, it allows LIST researchers to:

• Trace Li-Pathways: Visualizing Lithium movement in Si-C/Gr electrodes.
• Analyze Solid-State Interfaces: Investigating LLZO-based batteries without Li2​CO3​ contamination.
• Reveal Damage Mechanisms: Identifying the root causes of failure at the nano-scale.

We gratefully thank Dr. Olivier De Castro and the AINA group at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) for their continued trust and for allowing us to share these significant scientific contributions.

2026 New Upgrades of IGTS:

• Vacuum Breaker: A new knurled screw for direct venting, allowing quicker removal without pressure shocks to delicate samples.
• Enhanced Lid Design: Now featuring float toughened glass for increased longevity and "carefree" handling.