Facilities and Instrumentation
Laboratories
All the labs are located on the first floor of the chemistry department
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Main LabThe first lab belonging to the electrochemistry group. Traditionally for general electrochemistry it has now moved foward to meet the group focus on EC-imaging. Room: C101 |
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Preparation LabThe lab is dedicated to solution preparation, micro/nano electrode and capillary fabrication. A part of the lab is allocated for crystal investigation. Room: C114 |
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Electrochemical Scanning Probe Microscopy LabThe new EC-SPM lab offers an impressive range of EC imaging setups. This lab is the workshop for the development and testing of the most advanced instrumentations. Room: C103 |
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Sensors LabA collaboration with Element6 gave rise to this new lab, which focuses on the development and application of new electrochemical sensors. Room: B106 |
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Clean RoomThis facility houses a thermal sputterer and evaporator, an e-beam evaporator, mask aligner and Langmuir trough, for device fabrication. It is a 35 m2 class 1000 (ISO 6) with H14 HEPA filtration integrated to class 100000 outer lab via gowning room, with A/C and HEPA automated pressure control. All vacuum pumps, process water, chillers are located outside of the clean room in a service room. Room: A115 |
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Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene LabHot and cold wall, and chemical vapour deposition systems are located here for the growth of single walled carbon nanotubes and graphene. Room: A115 |
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Confocal Microscopy LabDedicated confocal laser scanning microscopy laboratory comprising Leica and Zeiss systems with separate preparation area. Used for high temporal and spatial resolution complementary characterisation of microscale electrochemical systems, biological and membrane processes. Room: C103b |
Electrochemical Scanning Probe Microscopy
Latest development in EC-SPM technique
Room: C103
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Small Range 1
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Small Range 2
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Mid Range 1Mid range xyz positioners for general scanning probe microscopy. Equipped with:
Rig custodian: Lewis Yule |
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Environmental
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Confocal ScanElectrochemical scanning microscope mounted on a confocal microscope. This setup is suitable for the investigation of transparent surfaces for high resolution illumination and fluorescent detection. Equipped with:
Room: C103b |
Room: C101
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Fluorescence MicroscopeHigh resolution electrochemical scanning microscope mounted on a fluorescent microscope. This setup is suitable where fluorescent illumination is required during the scan, such as for biological samples, or for scan area location. Equipped with:
Rig custodian: David Perry |
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Soft Piezo
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Inverted MicroscopeElectrochemical scanning microscope mounted on a transmission microscope. This setup is suitable for the investigation of transparent surfaces and lower resolution xyz scans. Equipped with:
Rig custodian: Bryn Jones |
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Mid Range 2Mid range xyz positioners for general scanning probe microscopy. Equipped with:
Rig custodian: Baoping Chen |
AFM/STM
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Bruker-Nano CatalsystRoom: C 104 |
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Bruker-Nano EnviroscopeAtomic force microscope controlled by a Nanoscope IV electronics, suitable for applications requiring controlled environments and big samples. There is a wide range of imaging modes available, as contact, tapping mode, in situ, torsional mode and STM. Additional options such as temperature and atmospheric control is also possible. The scan range is 50 microns Room: C102 |
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Bruker-Nano Multimode VAtomic force microscope controlled by a Nanoscope V electronics, it is an excellent AFM for topographic imaging of small samples. The Multimode has low noise and is capable of scanning up to 100 microns. The standard contact, tapping, torsional mode and STM mode imaging are available. It is also complemented with other accessories that offers other imaging modes, as conducting AFM, EFM and flow cells for in-situ imaging under solution. Room: C102 |
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AFM InnovaAtomic force microscope suitable for non-experienced users (easy to use). There is a wide range of imaging modes available such as, contact, tapping mode, in situ and STM. Ideal for large samples. The scan range is 100 microns. Room: C102 |
Confocal Microscopy
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Leica TCS SP5-X confocal microscopewith upright and inverted microscope stands. Equipped with a tunable white light laser (470 - 670 nm), Argon ion laser with emission at 458, 476, 488, 496 and 514 nm, diode laser at 405 nm and 5 detection channels. Scanning speeds up to 16kHz (bidirectional) with resonance scanner. Multiple fluorescent and other widefield complementary modes. With integrated electrochemical scanned probe system. Suitable for combined scanning experiments and high temporal resolution experiments. Web site , Useful Info and manuals Room: C103b |
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Zeiss LSM 510 confocal microscopeon upright microscope stand equipped with an Argon laser with emission at 458, 477, 488 and 514, and a Helium Neon laser at 543 nm. Suitable for standard dyes and confocal imaging. Room: C103b |
Crystals
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Leica DM4000M upright microscopeConfigured for transmitted and reflected light, including brightfield, darkfield and differential interference contrasting modes. Full computer control. Suitable for time-lapse (video) capture and high-resolution optical images. Room: C114 |
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AXIOVERT 40 MAT inverted microscopeConfigured for reflected light, Axiovert 40 MAT with 4-position brightfield, darkfield, DIC, fluorescence. Suitable for time-lapse (video) capture and high-resolution optical images. Room: C114 |
Electrochemistry workstations
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General ElectrochemistryA number of electrochemistry potentiostats, electrodes and workstations are available in the group for booking: PotentiostatsElectrodes
3x COMPACTSTAT Portable Potentiostats/Bipotentiostats & Impedance Analyser. Including
PalmSens handheld potentiostat / galvanostat |
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EC-FIA 1 RigGeneral electrochemistry workstation equipped with a flow injection analysis system and an IVIUM CompactStat Bipotentiostat Room: B106 |
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Heavy Metal RigWorkstation for heavy metal analysis equipped with a Model 1100B Potentiostat/Galvanostat Room: B106 |
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Heating RigWorkstation for high temperature electrochemical studies equipped with a light source and IVIUM CompactStat potentiostat & impedance analyser Room: B106 |
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Modulated Speed Rotator (MSR)Intended for use with Rotating Disk Electrodes (RDE), Rotating Ring-Disk Electrodes (RRDE), and Rotating Cylinder Electrodes (RCE) for the study of homogeneous and heterogeneous kinetics, catalysis, and reaction mechanisms. Room: C114 |
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Electrochemical QCMFor electro-deposition studies, adsorption effects, crystal growth investigations, and chemical and molecular layer kinetics. Room: C114 |
Substrate Preparation
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CVDThermo Lindberg Blue Tube Furnace This tube furnace is employed for carbon nanotube and graphene growth. The entire CVD system consists in a different high pressure cylinders connected to a network of pipelines that allow the introduction of the specific mixture of gases into the quartz tube of the tube furnace. All gas mixures are precisely controlled by mass flow controllers (MKS) Room: A115 |
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Plasma AsherEMITECH K1050X Plasma Treatment Unit consists of a solid state RF generator and associated tuning circuits, for a wide range of plasma etching, plasma ashing and plasma cleaning applications. This usually employs an oxygen/argon mix of gases, through a dual process gas flow monitoring needle valve control. Room: A115 |
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Annealing ovensRoom: A115 |
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Sputterer/EvaporatorMoorfields MiniLab 060 Platform Sputterer with two flexi-hood mangetron sources for targets of 2" and 3", controlled with quartz crystal microbalance for precise process control. The thermal evaporation system consists in 4 boat source, up to 100 A manual control, and quartz crystal monitoring. A turbo pumping with PLC system control keeps the thin film chamber at very high vacuum. A wide range of metal targets are available. Room: A115 - Clean Room |
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E-beam evaporatorMoorfield MiniLab 080 platform Electron beam thermal evaporator, equipped with a quartz crystal for thin film process control, suitable for metals of high melting points. Sample can be heated up to 350'C. Turbo pumping system with PLC system control. Room: A115 - Clean Room |
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Langmuir TroughNima Langmuir/Schaefer monolayer or film deposition is extensively use to functionalise electrode material. Room: A115 - Clean Room |
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Mask alignerSÜSS Microtec AG, Model MJB4 Photolithography with UV lamp, equipped with a reliable high precision alignment and high resolution printing capability in the submicron range. Suitable for processing of small substrates and pieces up to 100 mm. Room: A115 - Clean Room |
External Facilities
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SEMZEISS SUPRA 55-VP Installed in the summer of 2004 is the latest high resolution FEGSEM for the analysis of materials and semiconductors, and with the variable pressure option the ability to look at beam sensitve and non-conducting samples. The microscope also has an EDAX EBSD system for mapping the crystal orientation of materials. Room: MAS |
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FIBJEOL 4500 FIB/SEM Equipped with two columns; a vertical 30 kV electron column with a LaB6 electron gun, and an inclined 30kV ion column with a Ga+ ion source. The focused ion beam (FIB) allows very precise cutting to be performed, and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) allows the cutting to be viewed and controlled while it is happening. In addition there is a metal deposition system; an organo-metallic gas is introduced through a tiny tube next to the region of interest, and this is broken down by secondary electrons produced by the ion beam or electron beam, giving selective deposition. Finally there is a micromanipulator, which can be attached to objects using selective metal deposition. This allows small objects to be picked up and moved. They can be fixed in place with metal deposition and the connection with the needle cut away - see the TEM prep page for an example. Room: MAS |
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TEMJEOL2000fx Transmission Electron Microscope is used for the analysis of materials structure and composition at magnifications of over 750,000 times. Room: MAS |
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Ambient STMScanning tunneling microscope controlled by a Nanoscope electronics, is installed in an acustic and vibration isolated chamber and allow imaging at atomic resolution with a 1 micron scan range piezo. Room: E0.11a |
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RAMANRenishaw inVia Raman Two Renishaw inVia Raman microscope are available in the Department of Physics, with wavelengths of 325, 442, 514.5, 633 and 785 nm. Surface mapping is possible using an automated sample stage, and samples can be studied at cryogenic temperatures. Room: Millburn House |
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EllipsometryAccurion The Nanofilm imaging spectroscopic ellipsometer can be used to study thin films or microarrays. Properties such as thickness and refractive index can be measured. A lateral resolution of ~2 µm is possible. Wavelengths available from 360 - 1001 nm. Web site, Tutorials and manuals Room: C103a |
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QCM-DQ-Sense q-sense QCM-D E4 unit for the study of surface interactions and adhesion, with sensitivity down to 2 ng cm-2. Sensors can be chemically modified and experiments can be run from 15 – 45 ºC. Up to four flow cells can be run in series or parallel configurations; an electrochemical cell is also available. Room: C206 |
Software, Computers and Audio Visual Equipment
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COMSOL/MatlabCOMSOL is a finite element simulation software used to validate and investigate experimental systems within the electrochemistry & interfaces group. The group currently operates versions 4.x and 3.x both independently, and in parallel with Matlab. Matlab is a MathWorks program used for analysis and visualisation of data. |
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SPIPDedicated and comprehensive image analysis package for all scanned probe techniques (particularly AFM) with complete range of analysis modules available. |
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Leica Application SuiteDedicated image analysis software for Leica Confocal Microscope allowing 3D image reconstruction, video processing and further analysis |
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Lab ViewProgramming workspace for instrumentation |
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Adobe IllustratorSoftware for editing publication quality images. Booking for the fixed illustrator PC. |
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Laptops |
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Printers
Follow the instructions provided for connecting a new device. |
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Portable Projector |
