such as PIXE or XRF. This success is due to the fact that the EBS signal can directly measure depth information using ion beam analysis, whereas this cannot be done with the other two methods. The unique properties of ion beam analysis make great use in a new line of cancer therapy. Cultural heritage studies Ion beam analysis also has a very unique application in the use of studying archaeological artifacts, also known as archaeometry. For the past three decades, this has been the much preferred method to study artifacts while preserving their content. What many have found useful in using this technique is its offering of excellent analytical performance and non-invasive character. More specifically, this technique offers unparalleled performance in terms of sensitivity and accuracy. Recently however, there have been competing sources for archaeometry purposes using X-ray based methods such as XRF. Nonetheless, the most preferred and accurate source is ion beam analysis, which is still unmatched in its analysis of light elements and chemical 3D imaging applications (i.e. artwork and archaeological artifacts). Forensic analysis A third application of ion beam analysis is in forensic studies, particularly with gunshot residue characterization. Current characterization is done based on heavy metals found in bullets, however, manufacturing changes are slowly making these analyses obsolete. The introduction of techniques such as ion beam analysis are believed to alleviate this issue. Researchers are currently studying the use of ion beam analysis in conjunction with a scanning electron microscope and an Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS). The hope is that this setup will detect the composition of new and old chemicals that older analyses could not efficiently detect in the past. The greater amount of analytical signal used and more sensitive lighting found in ion beam analysis gives great promise to the field of forensic science. Lithium battery development The spatially resolved detection of light elements, for example lithium, remains challenging for most techniques based on the electronic shell of the target atoms such as XRF or SEM-EDS. For lithium and lithium ion batteries, the quantification of the lithium stoichiometry and its spatial distribution are important to understand the mechanisms behind dis-/charging and aging. Through ion beam focussing and a combination of methods, ion beam analysis offers the unique possibility for measuring the local state of charge (SoC) on the µm-scale. Iterative IBA Ion beam-based analytical techniques represent a powerful set of tools for non-destructive,