In recent years, artificial intelligence has begun to change not just how we think about science, but how we do it. Materials discovery, traditionally a trial-and-error process of hypotheses and incremental progress, is being reimagined as a dynamic cycle where algorithms propose new compounds, automated systems synthesize them, and analytical instruments test them to keep AI models on course. The results are then fed back into a closed loop to be enhanced and refined. This approach should speed up development dramatically, allowing researchers to move from ideas to validated discoveries in a fraction of the time once required.
By pairing computational models with automated synthesis and high-throughput analysis, scientists are uncovering materials that might otherwise have taken decades to find.An article about the Berkeley Lab, where AI and robotics are being integrated to explore vast chemical spaces with unprecedented efficiency, reveals the potential for this approach. This trend is challenging analytical instrument manufacturers like Rigaku to adapt our instruments so they can be part of the AI-driven discovery process.
The potential impacts are wide-ranging: designing safer and longer-lasting batteries, identifying catalysts that make hydrogen production more efficient, developing lightweight but durable alloys for aerospace, and uncovering exotic quantum materials that could be the basis for future developments in computing, to name just a few examples.
Upcoming Events
Analitica Latin America | São Paulo, Brazil |Sep 23 - 25, 2025 |Website
We are pleased to announce that we will be holding our annual two-day user meeting at our Rigaku Europe HQ in Neu Isenburg near Frankfurt Airport.
The meeting will start at noon on Tuesday, October 7, running until Wednesday, October 8 at 5 p.m. Please join us to discover the latest developments at Rigaku in single crystal diffraction and to chat about your research, experiences, and issues.
We will assemble the program and speaker list closer to the time and post it on this page.
Please note that this is an in-person-only meeting, so places will be limited. Please register early to save your seat.
You’re not alone. Due to the perceived high cost of a single crystal diffractometer, many crystallographers and chemists have put off purchasing one, relying on third-party labs for structure analysis.
In this webinar, we’ll walk you through the hardware and software of the XtaLAB mini II. You might think a benchtop diffractometer might not be up to the task. You can decide for yourself after seeing real-world data and published examples that demonstrate its capabilities.
We are excited to announce that Applied Rigaku Technology and Rigaku Americas will be exhibiting at the Gulf Coast Conference 2025. This premier event brings together professionals from the petrochemical, environmental, and analytical science communities to share knowledge, discover innovations, and explore solutions shaping the industry.
You’ll find us at Booths 100 and 102, where our teams will be available to discuss how Rigaku technologies can support your research and analytical needs. Whether you are seeking advanced solutions for elemental analysis, environmental monitoring, or quality control in petrochemical applications, we invite you to stop by and learn how we can help advance your work.
Don’t miss the opportunity to secure your spot at this year’s conference. Early Bird Registration closes on October 13, 2025.
In a move to bring lab-quality performance to the manufacturing floor, Rigaku introduces the MiniFlex XpC, a manufacturing-optimized powder diffractometer for fast and accurate quality control measurements. It is extremely easy to operate using Rigaku’s new EasyX quality control software, which requires minimal clicks to run. A minimal interface means there will be no accidental error variance from operator to operator. The MiniFlex XpC can be configured with a conveyor belt or robot for automated sample processing and collaboration with other instruments. With an 800 W X-ray source and a short-diameter goniometer, the system has the performance of a lab unit, and thus can greatly improve throughput for quality control measurements.
The world’s smallest footprint for an online diffractometer
Utilizes newly developed, compact 800 W generator and compact X-ray tube
High-resolution, high-speed 1D detector with a wide detection area
EasyX software: Touch panel operation, Runs within 3 taps from measurement to data analysis, Based on SmartLab Studio II, Languages include Japanese, English, Chinese
100% compatible with sample holders of major online system vendors
Join us for the next MiniFlex Office Hour on October 14, 2025, at 10:30 AM CDT, a LinkedIn Live session where we’ll answer your real-time questions about the MiniFlex X-ray diffractometer. Hosted by Akhilesh Tripathi, X-ray Diffraction Application Manager, and Aya Takase, Head of Global Marketing Communications at Rigaku, this interactive session is your chance to connect, ask questions, and explore all things MiniFlex. Whether you're new to XRD or a longtime user, we welcome your insights.
This is just the beginning of a recurring series, so stay tuned for more opportunities to join the conversation. You can alsobrowse all previous episode recaps here. Drop your questions in the chat, and let’s talk XRD!
See how Rigaku and Herzog deliver fully automated solutions for cement and mining quality control (QC) and process control (PC). This demonstration, filmed at Herzog’s facility in Columbus, OH, shows how the Rigaku MiniFlex XpC X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Rigaku ZSX Primus IV X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) systems integrate seamlessly with Herzog’s HP-MP grinding and pellet press.
September 4, 2025: Lawrence Livermore researchers developeda new polymer “ionomer” coating (a kind of “polymer ink”) for CO₂ electrolyzersthat balances water and gas flow to copper catalysts. When applied to the catalyst surface, the ionomer reduces flooding or dehydration by holding just the right amount of water — this lowers the voltage needed and boosts ethylene production. The work combines polymer chemistry with modeling and experiments, pointing toward cheaper, more efficient CO₂-to-ethylene conversion.
September 10, 2025: Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have developeda thin, glass-like aluminum-oxide coating for solid electrolytes used in solid-state batteries. Using atomic layer deposition, they deposited just a few nanometers of coating, which not only provides a physical barrier against humidity and oxygen, but also modifies the surface’s electronic structure. The treatment greatly reduces degradation in ambient air and could enable cheaper manufacturing under less stringent environment controls.
September 11, 2025: A team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has developed a semi-wet carbonation method to treat recycled concrete aggregate. Instead of fully immersing RCA in water, they apply a fine water mist with a CO₂ flow, achieving ~10.6% carbonation in just 30 minutes. This method reduces water usage, lowers porosity and water absorption, and accelerates formation of calcium carbonate. Adding sodium bicarbonate further enhances reaction rates. The process offers a practical, more sustainable way to improve RCA while capturing CO₂.
September 17, 2025: A study from UMass Amherst shows that water density in lithium-rich salares salt flats) strongly influences environmental impact. Extracting dense brine has much less effect on groundwater levels compared to pumping out freshwater. The researchers modeled 200-year scenarios and checked satellite data in the Lithium Triangle. They found that pumping near fresh-water zones harms wetlands faster. The takeaway: sustainable lithium mining needs to avoid freshwater zones and prioritize water from briny, denser parts of salares..
Featured Application Notes
Accurate Quantitative Analysis of Ferrosilicon by the Fusion Method
Ferrosilicon is one of the most basic materials used in the steel making process. The iron alloys with the content of silicon between 15% and 90% are called "ferrosilicon", and are used in the reduction of the iron, removing oxygen and adding silicon when cast iron or steel alloys are produced. As part of controlling the steel making process, analyses of slag and raw materials such as quicklime are also required. X-ray fluorescence spectrometers are the most common analysis tools to analyze ferroalloy, slag, steel and added materials owing to the rapid analysis and the ability to measure both bulk metal and powders. This application note describes accurate ferrosilicon analysis using ZSX Primus III NEXT, which is optimized for process control of steel making and ferrosilicon production.
Regulations around the world have limited the amount of sulfur in various fuels oils with particular attention to diesel fuel. For many years, road diesel has been limited to a maximum sulfur concentration between 10 – 15 ppm, depending on the global region. Now, these limits are expanded to all diesel fuel, including use in large engines and off-road diesel engines.
This application note demonstrates the analysis of sulfur in ULSD (ultralow sulfur diesel) and the measurement of ultralow sulfur in gasoline using NEX QC+.
By Atsushi Ohbuchi, Takahiro Kuzumaki, Miki Kasari and Tetsuya Ozawa
X-ray diffractometry is widely used for quality control and process control in cement. This article presents an accurate and precise quantification method for free lime in a clinker material and an accurate quantification method of the admixtures in a blended cement.
The Opioid Matrix is a podcast for anyone looking for the latest information in the illegal drug supply chain—beginning to end. Each episode will feature a discussion with industry experts about the current opioid crisis, including drug trafficking, drug manufacturing, drug identification, drug addiction, as well as the role of government, law enforcement, new health and social programs, and more.
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