From the 1st of January 2012, Cambridge Enterprise (CE) Ltd and easyLab have signed an agreement to commercialise the so-called “Patterned Anvils” technology for high pressure applications.

The technology has been developed by Dr Sven Friedemann and Dr Oliver Welzel, both affiliated to the renowned Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. The know-how involves the patterning and deposition techniques onto ceramic alumina (Al2O3) and single crystal moissanite (SiC) anvils which are used in high pressure cells. The objective is to facilitate the measurements of physical properties of materials under high pressure up to above 12 GPa (120 kbar).  The inventors have already demonstrated the principle of the technology by successfully carrying out electrical measurements up to 10 GPa.

Through this partnership, easyLab are extremely keen and enthusiastic to commercialise this technology.  It is intended that easyLab will implement patterned anvils in piston-cylinder pressure cells for electrical resistivity measurements initially.  This could potentially be broadened to magnetic and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements in a phased approach.

Dr Christophe Thessieu from easyLab commented: “The possibility of characterising macroscopic properties such as electronic transport under pressure is as attractive as it is challenging. Very often our customers have asked for this technique to become commercially available. However, the lack of reliability and the complexity of implementing such patterning and deposition techniques have been somewhat problematic.  Drs Friedemann and Welzel’s work seems to have unlocked part of the code and we are really looking forward to commercialising their technology for patterned anvils. This will enable the spreading of the technique in laboratories worldwide and should speed up a wider application of pressure studies in novel complex materials. The aim of easyLab is to significantly facilitate the use of high pressure techniques.  Therefore, we are very positive about bringing new products based on this technology together with our partners during the course of this year”.

easyLab’s core business is the design, development, manufacture and support of scientific equipment that extend the current boundaries of experimental science into the extreme condition of ultra-high pressures. easyLab are the de facto provider of instruments that enable science under pressure.

Cambridge Enterprise Limited was formed on 1st December 2006 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Cambridge.  It is responsible for commercialisation arrangements for University discoveries.  It works in three overlapping areas of Technology Transfer Services, Consultancy Services and Cambridge Enterprise seed funds.  See http://www.enterprise.cam.ac.uk/.