Johnson Matthey, the UK's leading speciality chemicals company, is today proud to announce the opening of the new electron Physical Science Imaging Centre (ePSIC) in Harwell's Science and Innovation Campus.

ePSIC is a world-class centre for the study of nanoscale materials and is a result of the unique collaboration launched in 2014 between Johnson Matthey, the University of Oxford and Diamond Light Source. The partnership represents industry, academia and a dedicated research facility coming together to provide unrivalled facilities for research across the physical sciences in the UK.

Seeing materials in a new light The state-of-the-art facility will house Johnson Matthey's new Atomic Resolution Microscope, an advanced electron microscope provided by JEOL UK, which will allow researchers to actually 'see' and analyse individual atoms within materials. This cutting-edge technology significantly enhances the development of new materials.
By being able to analyse atoms individually in this way and through this unique collaboration with other leading research groups to develop the measurement technologies needed, Johnson Matthey's scientists can understand how to design new and improved materials which in turn can be used to address key global challenges including clean air, zero emission transport and sustainable energy.
 Enabling innovation for sustainable technologies Projects are underway that will enable the enhanced design of new materials for catalytic converters to tackle emissions of harmful NOx from our vehicles. Johnson Matthey's scientists will also use the facility to provide insight to enable the development of improved materials to power electric cars and convert sunlight into energy.
 R&D at the heart of our business

Johnson Matthey's new microscope at the ePSIC represents a multi-million pound investment by the company and is illustrative of its overall commitment to Research & Development. Johnson Matthey employs 1,600 people focused purely on R&D and spent £188 million, or 6% of total sales, in 2015/16 on R&D to develop new products and improving existing technologies.

Robert MacLeod, Chief Executive of Johnson Matthey said: "R&D continues to be at the very heart of Johnson Matthey, even as the company enters its 200th year. We truly believe it's a key driver of our success and the launch of the electron Physical Science Imaging Centre will provide a state-of-the-art facility to enhance our science and technology capabilities. The partnership with the University of Oxford and Diamond Light Source demonstrates our focus on supporting world-leading research and we look forward to working more closely together through the launch of this centre."

"R&D continues to be at the very heart of Johnson Matthey, even as the company enters its 200th year.
Enquiries

Sally Jones, Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
+44 20 7269 8407

David Allchurch, Tulchan Communications
+44 20 7353 4200

About Johnson Matthey

Johnson Matthey is a global speciality chemicals company underpinned by science, technology and its people. A leader in sustainable technologies, many of the group's products enhance the quality of life of millions through their beneficial impact on the environment, human health and wellbeing.

Johnson Matthey has operations in over 30 countries and employs around 13,000 people. Its products and services are sold across the world to a wide range of advanced technology industries. For more information about Johnson Matthey please visit www.matthey.com.

About the University of Oxford

The University of Oxford has more world-leading academics (rated 4* in the 2008 national Research Assessment Exercise) than any other UK university. Oxford also has the highest number of world-leading or internationally excellent (4* or 3*) academics in the UK. Oxford consistently has the highest research income from external sponsors of any UK university. For more information about the University of Oxford please visit www.ox.ac.uk.

About Diamond Light Source Diamond Light Source is funded by the UK Government through the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), and by the Wellcome Trust.
Diamond generates extremely intense pin-point beams of synchrotron light. These are of exceptional quality, and range from X-rays to ultraviolet to infrared. Diamond's X-rays are around 10 billion times brighter than the sun.

Diamond Light Source is used by thousands of academic and industrial researchers across a wide range of disciplines, including structural biology, health and medicine, solid-state physics, materials & magnetism, nanoscience, electronics, earth & environmental sciences, chemistry, cultural heritage, energy and engineering. Many everyday commodities that we take for granted, from food manufacturing to consumer products, from revolutionary drugs to surgical tools, from computers to mobile phones, have all been developed or improved using synchrotron light. For more information about Diamond visit www.diamond.ac.uk.

Johnson Matthey plc published this content on 05 September 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 05 September 2016 15:35:03 UTC.

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