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Synthesis and Characterization FacilityManaged by: 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 SynthesisContact: 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 SynthesisContact: 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 ProcessingContact: 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 & AssemblyContact: 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 ProbingContact: 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 |