Handheld XRF, LIBS & Portable Benchtop Analyzers for EV & Strategic Metals
The battery and EV supply chain runs on lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earths – and on knowing exactly what you have, fast. SciAps covers that chain end to end: the world's only handheld lithium analyzer, the only 55 kV handheld XRF for rare earths, in-field brine analysis from 1–2 mL, and an 80 kV portable benchtop for the heavy REEs no handheld can reach.
Why EV & Strategic-Metals Teams Choose SciAps
No single technique measures every element the energy transition depends on. SciAps pairs X-ray and laser across one portfolio, so teams move from raw ore to brine to recycled feedstock without changing vendors:
Handheld XRF
Rare earths and battery metals (Mn, Co, Ni) in ore, concentrate, and recycled feedstock – light and heavy REEs at up to 55 kV.
See detailsHandheld LIBS
The only handheld that measures lithium – in hard rock, ores, powders, and brines – plus the light elements X-ray cannot reach.
See detailsPortable Benchtop
The PowerHouse X reaches 80 kV for the heavy rare earths that defeat conventional handhelds.
See detailsHandheld XRF for Rare Earths & Battery Metals
X-ray is the fastest route to rare earths and the transition metals at the heart of every cell chemistry, from exploration through black-mass recycling.
The 55 kV Flagship for Rare Earth Elements
The world's only handheld XRF with a 55 kV tube, the X-555 is the superior option for REE analysis. The higher voltage effectively analyzes all light REEs (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) plus heavy REEs europium and gadolinium, and an additional beam optimizes yttrium – a key pathfinder for heavy REEs like Dy, Tm, and Yb.
Battery Metals at a Value Price
The X-505 measures battery metals (Mn, Co, Ni) plus a general mining suite of 30+ additional elements at a lower price – a strong all-rounder for grade control, feedstock checks, and recycling streams where 55 kV REE performance isn't required.
Handheld LIBS for Lithium & Light Elements
Lithium is invisible to X-ray. SciAps Z-Series LIBS is the only handheld technology that measures it in the field – in hard rock, ores, powders, and brines.
World's Only Handheld Lithium Analyzer
The Z-901 Li is the only handheld analyzer that measures lithium in rocks, ores, powders, and brines for instant, in-field results, a breakthrough for battery-metal and pegmatite exploration.
Extended-Range Brine Analysis
When brine work requires B, Na, Mg, Ca, K, and other elements alongside lithium, the Z-902 extends the element range for more complete battery-metal and brine characterization.
Flagship Full-Range Coverage (H to U)
The three-spectrometer Z-903 spans 190–950 nm to measure every element from hydrogen to uranium – including beryllium, boron, carbon, fluorine, and sodium – for teams that require full elemental coverage across the supply chain. On board, the Geochem App delivers quantitative bulk analysis, while the Geochem Pro App adds in-field micro-analysis of minerals, veins, and inclusions.
In-Field Brine Analysis from 1–2 mL
Paired with the Z-903 LIBS, the Z-9 Liquidator analyzes brines in the field or lab from just 1–2 mL of sample with no dilution – atomizing the liquid into a fine mist the Z-903 reads in seconds. It simultaneously measures Li plus B, Na, Mg, K, Ca, and more, replacing lab methods that take days, weeks, or months.
Portable Benchtop XRF for Heavy Rare Earths
80 kV Benchtop for Heavy Rare Earths
The PowerHouse X uses an 80 kV miniature X-ray tube to efficiently excite the K-shell lines of both light and heavy REEs – avoiding the spectral overlaps that defeat conventional handhelds and delivering unprecedented detection limits. It measures heavy REEs (Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, Lu) and light REEs (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu), calibrated across 48 elements, all in a battery-powered, field-portable, fully-shielded package.
OneBox Packages forEV & Strategic Metals
SciAps OneBox packages pair an XRF and a LIBS analyzer that share batteries, charger, and accessories – an economical route to complete coverage for the strategic and EV metals driving the green economy.
- EV + Strategic Metals OneBox: Z-901 Lithium (or Z-902 for brine elements) + X-555 for complete REE and battery-metals analysis. Don't need REE performance? Substitute the X-505 or X-550.
- Battery Metals OneBox: Z-901 Lithium (or Z-902 for brines) + X-555 for the widest transition/heavy-metal range down to Mg, or X-505 for battery metals Mn/Co/Ni plus a 30+ element mining suite.
Which Analyzer Is Right for You?
| Model | Technology | Best for | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Z-901 Lithium | LIBS | Lithium in hard rock, ores & pegmatite | The only handheld that measures lithium at all – X-ray cannot see it |
| Z-9 Liquidator | LIBS | Lithium brines (with the Z-903) | 1–2 mL with no dilution – seconds instead of weeks |
| Z-902 | LIBS | Brines needing B, Na, Mg, Ca, K | Extended range covers brine elements alongside lithium |
| Z-903 | LIBS | Full elemental coverage, H to U | 190–950 nm across the entire periodic table |
| X-555 | XRF | Light & heavy rare earths | The only 55 kV handheld – all light REEs plus Eu, Gd, and Y |
| X-505 | XRF | Battery metals (Mn, Co, Ni) | Battery metals plus a 30+ element suite at a value price |
| PowerHouse X | Benchtop | Heaviest REEs (Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, Lu) | 80 kV excites K-shell lines no handheld can reach |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which handheld analyzer measures lithium in the field?
The SciAps Z-901 Lithium is the world's only handheld analyzer that measures lithium in rocks, ores, powders, and brines. For brine work needing additional elements (B, Na, Mg, Ca, K), the Z-902 extends the range, and the Z-9 Liquidator + Z-903 analyzes brines directly from 1–2 mL of sample.
How do you measure heavy rare earth elements in the field?
Handheld XRF tops out around 50–55 kV, which covers light REEs and the first heavy REEs (Eu, Gd, Y). For the heaviest REEs (Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, Lu), the portable-benchtop PowerHouse X runs an 80 kV tube to excite their K-shell lines and avoid spectral overlaps – reaching detection limits no handheld can.
Why can't XRF measure lithium?
Lithium is too light for X-ray fluorescence – its characteristic X-rays are too low in energy to escape the sample and reach the detector. LIBS reads light emitted from a laser-induced plasma instead, which is why the SciAps Z-Series can measure lithium, beryllium, and boron while X-ray cannot.
Can one field kit cover both lithium and rare earths?
Yes. A SciAps OneBox pairs a Z-901 Lithium (or Z-902 for brine elements) with an X-555, sharing batteries, charger, and cables in a single case – lithium and light elements from the laser, REEs and battery metals from the X-ray.