Warwick Labs

Our labs boast an extensive suite of ultra-high vacuum (UHV) apparatus combining thin film growth, deposition and analysis. Other non-UHV facilities include spin-coating and other surface preparation facilities, a Kelvin Probe, and I-V and Hall measurement. The two main MBE systems are in situ growth / analysis machines (so the sample can be grown by MBE and analysed without leaving UHV).

The following vacuum systems are installed or being designed; note the "M"-based naming convention whose origin is lost in the mists of time!

MADGEneto: home-built twin-chamber MBE system with RHEED and room temperature STM. Fitted with cells for Mn, Sb, Ga, Sr, Cr, Bi. Beam flux ion gauge and 100 amu mass spectrometer. Last vent July 2025.
Morbius: custom-designed twin-chamber MBE system for RHEED, LEED, XPS, UPS, AES, IPES and quantum yield measurement. Chamber 3D design and fabrication by Moorfield Nanotechnology. Presently fitted with sources for: Mn, Cr, In, As, Sb, Bi, Ta, Mg, H*, Ar+. Beam flux ion gauge, background Penning and ion gauges, plus 50 & 100 amu mass spectrometers.
Matilda: small portable high vacuum chamber for testing, mass spectrometry and "pumping cart" work.
Mercutio: small twin-chamber deposition system for photocathodes, including Zn and Mg oxide film growth and ZnSb thermoelectric films. Argon ion sputtering for substrate surface preparation, and N₂+ source for TiN growth.
Moneypenny: a commercial high vacuum thin film deposition system with four-pocket thermal boat evaporator, 100mm rotating sample stage (600°C capability), total flux monitor and individual evaporator flux monitors. Presently Ag, Au, Cu, Ba deposition.
Mini-Me: a home-built PVD chamber for testing effusion cells, etc. Flux monitor, Penning gauge, 200 amu mass spectrometer and ion gauge with top window for direct cell monitoring and IR pyrometry.
Marvin: a home-built mini PVD chamber with in vacuo quantum yield measurements, fixed 265 nm (UV LED), biased collector electrode and Keithley picoammeter.

Other equipment:

UHV vacuum suitcase (ion pumped, 1 sample) for sample transfer between MBE chambers and to the Omicron XPS-UPS-ARPES chamber of the Photoemission RTP.
Kelvin Probe system (from KP Technology) for work function measurements under nitrogen/ambient and dark/illumination (selection of visible and UV LEDs); in a Faraday cage.
Hall measurement system (fixed conditions: room temperature or 77K, 0.55 T).
Four point probe for sheet resistance measurements from Ossila.
Nitrogen glove box and laminar flow cabinet for surface preparation.
Vacuum cupboard for sample storage.
Spin Coater and UV Ozone Cleaner from Ossila.
Plasma asher with air as the process gas.
Temperature-programmable oven.