Synthesis and Characterization Facility

Managed by:
Electronic Material Group (contact: Chuck Black) and Soft and Bionanomaterials Group (contact: Oleg Gang)

The Materials Synthesis and Characterization Facility include laboratories devoted to producing nanostructured materials. We support capabilities for inorganic nanomaterials synthesis, polymers, bio-conjugated nanomaterials and hybrid organic-inorganic materials. The facility staff has significant experience with solution-phase chemistry methods of nanocrystal/nanowire materials, synthesis of polymer materials by a range of living and controlled polymerization techniques, inorganic synthesis by vapor deposition as well as nanoscale fabrication via self-assembly methods.  Analytical tools include a broad range of capabilities for structural, electrochemical, spectroscopic and thermal characterization of materials. The facility also supports infrastructure and expertise in solution-based processing of organic thin films, including tools for spin-casting, thermal processing, and UV/ozone treatment.
 

Inorganic Materials Synthesis

Contact: Weiqiang Han

Inorganic nanomaterials synthesis and characterization capabilities include solution-phase and chemical vapor deposition methods, electrochemical deposition, x-ray diffraction, thermal measurement equipment, and oxygen-free processing environments. An electrochemistry workstation (Princeton Applied Research Parastat 2273-SYS Potentiostat) which is used for general electrochemistry synthesis and measurements.

The X-ray diffractometer (Rigaku Miniflex II) is a basic powder diffractometer for phase identification. Thermal measurement equipment, Thermogravimetry/ Differential Thermal Analyzer/ Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TG/DTA/DSC), has simultaneous DTA/TGA and DSC capabilities for analyzing reactions and phase transitions. The glovebox (M. Braun Labmaster 130) is used for processing air and moisture sensitive materials.
 

Polymer Synthesis

Contact:  Barney Grubbs

The polymer synthesis facility houses standard organic synthesis equipment including vacuum/argon manifolds, thermostatted hot plates, balances, and a rotary evaporator, as well as an argon-filled glove box (Vacuum Atmospheres Omni-lab, equipped with freezer and oxygen analyzer) and a solvent purification system (Vacuum Atmospheres Solvent Purifier Assembly, with dichloromethane, dimethylformamide, hexanes, tetrahydrofuran, and toluene cartridges). Polymer characterization is carried out on a size exclusion chromatography system (Viscotek TDAmax) running in chloroform with an autosampler and an Integrated Triple Detector Array (low-angle light scattering, differential viscometry, differential refractive index) and a photodiode array detector. The scientific staff have expertise in a range of living and controlled polymerization techniques, polymer and surface functionalization methods, and assembly of polymer-based materials.
 

Thin-Film Processing

Contact: Charles Black 

The group supports a thin-film materials processing laboratory outside the cleanroom environment, which includes facilities for air-free materials processing and atomic layer deposition (ALD) of inorganic thin films. The laboratory also includes small, versatile versions of the Nanofabrication Facility toolset such as facilities for organic film deposition by spin-coating and thermal processing in vacuum or inert gas environments. A March Plasma CS1701F reactive ion etch tool supports SF6, CHF3, CF4, CF3Br, and O2 gas chemistries. Metal film deposition by thermal evaporation and DC magnetron sputtering is supported by a Kurt J. Lesker PVD75 tool. The laboratory includes chemical fume hoods and optical microscopes for sample processing and inspection.

Hitachi 4800 SEM and JEOL-7600F (analytical SEM) status and related information
 

Macromolecular and Nanomaterial Synthesis & Assembly

Contact: Bill Sherman and  Oleg Gang 

Capabilities include techniques and methods required for the synthesis, fabrication and study of novel hybrid structures and functionalities using regulated nanoscale assembly and self-organization approaches. Capabilities and expertise include solution-based synthesis and characterization (FTIR Thermo Scientific Nicolet 6700, Circular Dichroism Spectrometer - Jasco J-815,HPLC, Quantitative PCR) of a variety of soft, biological, hybrid and inorganic nanomaterials, advanced functionalization routes for surfaces and nano-objects, selective biomolecular recognition and DNA scaffolding.
 

Structural and Spectroscopic Probing

Contact: Dmytro Nykypanchuk and Oleg Gang 

In-situ structural characterization can be performed for surfaces, thin films nanoparticles, biological complexes, nanofabricated structures and hybrid composites under environmental condition. We utilize the range of x-ray (Rigaku Ultima III), optical (Ellipsometer J.A. Woollam M-2000 , Dynamic Light Scattering with Zeta Potential - Malvern Zetasizer Nano) , spectroscopic (Photon Counting Spectrofluorometer - ISS PC1/K2, Uv-Vis/NIR Spectrophotometer - PerkinElmer Lambda 950) and scanning probe methods (Asylum Research MFP-3D) for structure characterization.

Last Modified: September 14, 2011
Please forward all questions about this site to: Pam Ciufo.

One of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE's Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by the Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit, applied science and technology organization.

Privacy and Security Notice  | Contact Web Services for help