Analytical Facilities

Typical applications:

• Used to quantify and characterize fluorescent compounds

Instrument:

• Agilent Cary Eclipse

Capabilities:

• Excitation and Emission range: 200-900 nm
• Scan rate 0.010 to 24,000 nm/min
• Temperature controlled cuvette holder
• Well plate reader
• Fiber optic attachment for remote reading or solid samples

Typical applications:

• CDS: Characterization of structural aspects of proteins and DNA (a-helix, b-sheet). Conformational stability of proteins.
• UV-Vis: Quantitative measurement of discrete wavelengths of UV or visible light that are absorbed by a sample.

Instrument:

• Jasco J-815

Capabilities:

• Light source: 150 W Xe arc lamp.
• Wavelength range: 163-900 nm (Nitrogen gas purge).
• Circular dichroism (CD), UV-Vis absorbance, and Fluorescence (excitation).
• Peltier cuvette holder for temperature-controlled measurements (-10°C to 110°C).
• Cuvettes available:  0.1, 1, 5, 10 mm.
• Amount of sample required: 0.04 to 4 mL.

Typical applications:

• Determination of phase transitions: Melting (T_m) and crystallization (T_c) temperature.
• Glass transition temperature (T_g)
• Heat capacity
• Reaction kinetics

Instrument:

• TA instruments Q2000 with RCS90

Capabilities:

• Temperature range from -90°C to 400°C (550°C in non-isothermal experiments)
• Tzero and Tzero hermetic pans.
• Experiments in nitrogen or air (oxygen is also possible)
• Modulated DSC
• Autosampler
• Amount of sample required: 2 to 20 mg

Typical applications:

Measurement of dimensional changes of materials as a function of temperature. Characteristics measured using the dilatometer include coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), curie point, crystalline transformation, glass transition temperature, and phase transitions.

Instrument:

• Orton Dilatometer D1000

Capabilities:

• Temperature range: Room temperature to 1500°C

Typical applications:

• Separation and quantification of compounds in a mixture that can be vaporized without decomposition

Instruments:

• Agilent 7890A GC and 6890 systems

Capabilities:

• Column oven operating Temperature: Ambient temperature +4°C to 450°C
• Carrier and Make-up Gas: Helium
• Detectors: Flame ionization detector (FID) and Thermal conductivity detector (TCD)
• Inlets: Split/Splitless inlets
• Manual injector for liquid and gas samples
• Autosampler for liquid samples

Typical applications:

• Characterization of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of macromolecules

Instrument:

• Malvern Viscotek TDAmax GPC system with refractive index (concentration), viscometer (size and structure), light scattering (molecular weight), and UV-Vis (chemical composition) detectors

Capabilities:

• Up to 5 columns: room temperature to 80°C
• Autosampler for 120 vials
• Wavelength range: 190-740mm
• Solvent: THF

 Typical applications:

• Separation and quantification of compounds in a liquid mixture

Instrument:

• Separation module Waters 2690

Capabilities:

• Isocratic and gradient elution (up to 4 solvents)
• Column oven operating Temperature: Ambient temperature +4°C to 65°C
• Photodiode Array Detector Waters 2996: wavelength range from 190 to 800 nm
• Multi λ Fluorescence Detector Waters 2475: Excitation wavelength range from 200 to 890 nm and emission wavelength range 210 to 900 nm
• Autosampler
• Amount of sample required: 0.25 to 2mL for single injection

Typical applications:

• Identification and quantification of chemical elements, most commonly metals in aqueous solution in the ppm to ppb range
• Solid samples can be analyzed using digestion/extraction
• Simultaneous analysis of multiple elements

Instrument:

• Teledyne Leeman Labs Prodigy ICP-OES

Capabilities:

• Echelle grating optical system and Large Format Programmable Array Detector (L-PAD)
• General purpose and HF compatible sample introduction system.
• Digestion block, tubes, filters, and accessories.
• Standard solutions for a large selection of elements are available. Commonly analyzed elements include: Aluminum, Antimony, Barium, Beryllium, Boron, Cadmium, Calcium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Lead, Lithium, Magnesium, Manganese, Nickel, Potassium, Silicon, Sodium, Strontium, Thallium, Vanadium, Zinc.
• Autosampler.
• Amount of sample required: 3mL for single injection

Typical applications:

• Determination of particle size distribution of dispersed sample suspended in a solvent

Instrument:

• Shimadzu SALD-201V Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer

Capabilities:

• Analyzer with a flow-thru cell
• Particle size range: 0.25 to 350 µm

  Typical applications:

• Study of flow and deformation of materials under the influence of an external force or stress.

Model:

• Discovery HR 20, TA instruments

Capabilities:

• Controlled stress (steady, transient, oscillation)
• Controlled strain (steady, transient, iterative oscillation)
• Direct Strain (oscillation)
• Fast data collection
• The temperature range is -160 °C to 600 °C with controllable heating rates of up to 60 °C/min.
• Solvent Trap/Evaporation Blocking System

Instrument:

• TA instruments Q600

Capabilities:

• Accurate and reliable horizontal dual-balance
• Supports both DSC and TGA measurements
• Weight signal is the differential between the sample and reference beams
• Temperature range from room temperature to 1500°C.
• Platinum and alumina pans
• Experiments in nitrogen or air
• Amount of sample required: 10-30 mg

 Typical applications:

• Determination of surface area by single-point and multipoint BET methods, total pore volume, and pore size distribution (adsorption isotherm only).

Instrument:

• Micromeritics Gemini VII 2390a

Capabilities:

• Surface Area: from 0.1 m², total; From 0.01 m²/g, specific
• Pore Volume: 4 x 10-6 cm³/g
• Adsorbate: Nitrogen gas in liquid nitrogen sample bath
• 3/8 in. sample tubes
• Heated, nitrogen and vacuum degasser for sample preparation (FlowPrep 060 and VacPrep 061)
• Amount of sample required: 0.1 to 1.0 g (min 10 m²/sample)

  Typical applications:

• Determine the strength and deformation behavior of a material up to the point of fracture.

Model:

• CellScale UniVert

Capabilities:

• Easy-to-change fixtures and load cells for various applications
• Integrated imaging for test visualization, analysis, and presentation
• Comprehensive user interface software for straightforward, cyclic, relaxation, and multi-modal testing with immediate feedback
• Integrated environmental chambers
• Optional secondary axes for shear, torsion, or pressure testing.

Typical applications:

• Determination of thermal stability of materials
• Composition of mixtures
• Reaction kinetics

Instrument:

• TA instruments Q500

Capabilities:

• Temperature range from room temperature to 1000°C
• Platinum and alumina pans
• Experiments in nitrogen or air
• Autosampler
• Amount of sample required: 10-30 mg

Typical applications:

• Quantitative measurement of discrete wavelengths of UV or visible light that are absorbed by a sample.

Model:

• Cary 5000 UV-Vis-NIR Spectrophotometer, Agilent

Capabilities:

• Measure beyond 8.0 absorbance units with reference beam attenuation.
• Measure 175 to 3300 nm using a PbSmart NIR detector for lower stray light and extended photometric range.
• Cary WinUV software—modular software with powerful analysis and enhanced transfer and report export capabilities.
• Versatile set of accessories for materials research, including spectral and diffuse reflectance.
• Variable slit widths (down to 0.01 nm) for optimum control over data resolution.
• Large sample compartment with LockDown mechanism for quick changes and positioning—for reproducible results.
• Maximum light throughput using Schwarzchild coupling optics for higher accuracy at low transmission levels.
• Minimal noise and stray light using a floating aluminum casting and double Littrow monochromator.
• Extended dynamic range by attenuating the reference beam to balance double beam signal levels.
• Nitrogen purging—separate purging in the sample and monochromator compartments to reduce oxygen and water vapor in the ultra-violet.

Typical applications:

• Microstructure analysis (crystallite size, microstrain, disorder, etc.)
• Identification and quantification of crystalline and amorphous phases
• Nano particle size and shape

Capabilities:

• Copper target and scintillation detector
• Adjustable slits and acceleration voltage
• Powder, film, and bulk sample holders. Sample spinner. Transmission mode.
• Autosampler

Capabilities:

• Powder sample holders
• Copper target and scintillation detector. Chromium target available
• Amount of sample required: starting at 0.2 g but typically 2 g for powder