Page 12 - Shimadzu Journal vol.10 Issue1

Understanding and trusting relationships based on the idea of contributing to each other INSIGHT from CUSTOMER

Mr. Keiji Sumiya

A Shimadzu scanning probe microscope (SPM) with a manufacturer to offer such a diverse line of instruments and
variety of measurement modes is typically used to analyze Shimadzu has a completely different market presence than
negative-electrode material surfaces by a combination of other broad-line instrument manufacturers. Showa Denko
multiple methods. The LiB charging and discharging pro- Materials is organized based on having “analytical general-
cess forms a layer of reaction products, called solid elec- ists” that can operate a variety of instruments depending on
trolyte interface (SEI), on negative-electrode material the given objectives and giving each analyst the freedom to
surfaces that can affect battery performance. To analyze use all the instruments. That means analysts can personally
the factors that influence the effectiveness of heat treat- analyze phenomena from multiple perspectives. Shimadzu
ment on the negative-electrode materials intended to im- can offer total solutions for comprehensive analysis based
prove battery performance, standard and heat-treated on a variety of approaches. Another attractive aspect of
samples were compared. The results visually showed a Shimadzu is its ability to propose new products or other
combination of information, including that the heat- solutions from a broad perspective, rather than from a par-
treated samples tended to have a thinner and smoother ticular specialized field, which has stimulated us as well. In
SEI layer, the presence of hard precipitates visible in addition, Shimadzu responds efficiently to questions or re-
phase-contrast images, and differences in surface poten- quests for advice. This spirit of seeking mutual understand-
tial values. Such combined information is considered diffi- ing and making a contribution during that interaction
cult to obtain with SEM or TEM systems. process has resulted in a relationship of trust.
Those analytical results enabled understanding the
connection between battery properties, the reaction state Thank you again for your time today.
and electrode structure of negative-electrode materials, Finally, could you share any requests that you
and material parameters, which contributed to a major im- have with respect to Shimadzu or analytical
provement in battery properties and differentiating our and measuring instruments manufacturers.
products from competitors.
People tend to assume “visualization” refers to simply I want Shimadzu to offer solutions that only
observation, but it has also enabled new imaging meth- Shimadzu can offer, but from different per-
ods not possible by regular observation, such as visual- spectives than others. If Shimadzu intends to
izing the hardness properties, electric potential, material further capitalize on its strength as a broad-
composition, distribution of chemical reactions, or inter- line analytical instrument manufacturer,
nal structures, so that entire phenomena can be evalu- I sincerely hope you realize that goal. For
ated from multiple perspectives. example, I think it
would be great if
What do you think are Shimadzu’s Shimadzu offered a
strengths compared to other analytical variety of analytical
instrument manufacturers? instruments that
could be interlinked.
The fact that Shimadzu offers such a broad range of analyt-
ical instruments. it is quite rare for an analytical instrument

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