Nanotechnology leader, Ionscope Ltd, announces the appointment of Dr Ward Hills as CEO and Dr Andy Richardson as CTO. Both joined the company last month as product shipments were being made to Mexico, China and the UK.

Ionscope manufactures Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopes (SICMs) for imaging living cells. SICMs are used by neurological and cardiac scientists to understand fundamental processes associated with diseases and therapeutics, because of the unique combination of nano-scale topographical and physiological information they provide.

“Ionscope has built a user base in laboratories around the world, and we are committed to building on this base as we expand into new areas,” says Ionscope Chairman Dr David Cleevely.

Material scientists are also using Ionscope’s products to see nano-scale changes in battery electrodes during charging and discharging. Understanding this charging cycle is highly important for increasing the battery capacity and lifetime in mobile phones and electric vehicles. As in living cells, the ability of SICM to monitor changes whilst the battery is operating has attracted the attention of top European and American researchers.

“I have been involved in nanotechnology and analytical instrumentation for over 20 years now,” says Dr Hills. “It’s clear to me that Ionscope’s products have real potential to become an important part of surface science in very difficult environments.”

Dr Hills trained as an analytical chemist with early experience in instrument development, electrochemistry and the energy sector working for both the US and Japanese governments. He co-founded networks dedicated to the advancement of stem cell and micro-nanotechnology, and has gone on to lead several companies to win business internationally.

“Nanotechnology is a hugely exciting industry that is expanding rapidly. I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute in the R&D of current and future Ionscope products and to become involved in this industry with one of its leaders,” says Dr Andy Richardson

Dr Richardson has a background in telecommunications having set up and run several companies and is expert in the development and running of IP portfolios. He brings with him a solid understanding of the R&D of sophisticated products which combine mechanical, electronic, embedded software and FPGA components.

Ionscope will demonstrate its latest generation of ICnano SICMs to research scientists and developers in the US and China from January.