Japans one of the leading diversified materials manufacturer Nitto Denko Corporation (Nitto Denko) achieved the worlds first-ever precise, contamination-free analysis service in the extreme, conventionally impossible -150-500 degrees Celsius range by utilizing its cutting-edge innovation, a biomimic dry adhesive or glue ("Gecko Tape") that has the similar adhesive strength as natural geckos foot. It is the first time Gecko Tape is put into practical use. Specifically, it is utilized for fixing specimens to analytical equipment.

This revolutionary-new analysis service is offered by Nitto Analytical Techno Center Co., Ltd. (NTC) a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nitto Denko. While Nitto Denko supplies Gecko Tape exclusively to NTC, the company will simultaneously seek for more possibilities of practical application in other business fields, targeting to identify some in 2015.

Exploring possibilities of the Gecko Tapes practical use

Since the development of Gecko Tape in 2010 , Nitto Denko has considered various possibilities of its practical use in a range of industries. Analytical equipment was one of the application possibilities Nitto Denko has been focusing on, in which Gecko Tapes advantages can be fully utilized.

Generally, electrical conductive tapes and metal pastes are commonly used for fixing a specimen to analytical equipment. These conventional fixation tools tend to malfunction under the extreme temperatures, such as under -30 or over 200 degrees Celsius. Due to such limitation, analysis services used to be available only in the certain temperature region only. In addition, said conventional tools often caused other problems, such as displacement of specimen during analysis because of their unstable fixation force prone to temperature changes, as well as contamination of specimen due to the solvent residue. Against such backdrop, there has always been a need for a better specimen fixation tool which allows more precise implementation of analysis.

Gecko Tape is the biomimic adhesive made of optimal carbon nanotube (CNT) array. Specifically, it takes a form of fiber-based structure with vertically aligned CNTs. The tapes good adhesion property remains unaffected under a range of temperature from -150 to 500 degrees Celsius. Gecko Tape can be used in the same way as an adhesive transfer tape^* to serve as an ideal specimen fixation tool for analytical equipment. The tapes stable fixation force does not allow specimen to displace during the analysis. After the analysis, specimen can be released without any contaminations because Gecko Tape is 100% solvent-free. In such a way, Gecko Tape can offer solution to the problems of conventional specimen fixation tools.

(^* ) Adhesive transfer tape: Double-sided adhesive tape without a backing material.

Advantages Gecko Tape offers for the analysis services

1. Unlike conventional adhesives, Gecko Tape does not melt or dissolve into the glass-liquid transition because of the temperature change. This property allows analysis services to be implemented in the -150-500 degrees Celsius range.
2. As Gecko Tape consists of carbon frameworks only, it is manufactured in a 100% solvent-free environment. In that Gecko Tape would not taint specimens after analysis.
3. Unlike common adhesives which include organic ingredients, Gecko Tapes fixation force remains considerably stable; therefore specimens hardly displace during analysis.