Instrumentation

Four point probe

Four‑Point Probe (4PP) measurements are used to determine the electrical resistivity or sheet resistance of conductive and semiconductive materials. By using four equally spaced probes, this technique minimizes contact resistance effects, providing accurate and reliable electrical characterization of thin films, bulk materials, and coatings.

Model: Loresta-GX MCP-T700

BET

Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis is used to determine the specific surface area and porosity of materials by measuring gas adsorption behavior. This technique is widely applied to characterize powders, porous solids, catalysts, and adsorbent materials, providing critical insight into surface properties and material performance.

Model: Micromeritics TriStar II 3020

Benchtop Centrifuge

Technique using centrifugal force application to separate particles or droplets from a suspension system. The behavior of suspended particles and droplets in the centrifuge depends on their size, shape, density, viscosity of the medium and rotor speed, and they can be separated in a various ways.

Model: ThermoFisher Sorvall X1R Pro-MD

High Capacity Centrifuge

Technique using centrifugal force application to separate particles or droplets from a suspension system. The behavior of suspended particles and droplets in the centrifuge depends on their size, shape, density, viscosity of the medium and rotor speed, and they can be separated in a various ways.

Model: Beckman Coulter J265-XP

Speed range: 100-26000 rpm, time interval: up to 180 min; Temperature: -10 to 40 ⁰C; Acceleration/Deceleration: Max or slow. Three rotors are available:

• JA-30.50: max. RPM: 26,000; max. capacity: 8x50 mL
• JLA-16.250: max. RPM: 16,000, max. capacity: 6x250 mL
• JLA-9.1000: max. RPM: 9,000, max. capacity: 6x1000 mL

DLS

Dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies the variation of intensity of scattered light from small particles, which can be used to determine the particle size distribution (PSD) due to differences in the Brownian motion. Using this technique it is also possible to determine the surface charge by imposing a potential gradient and observing the electrophoretic motion of the particles. The surface charge measured is the potential at the hydrodynamic slip plane, called the zeta potential. The surface charge affects electrostatic interactions, and is important in many processes. The effect of pH on the zeta potential can be studied using this technique, to determine the point of zero charge (PZC). This can be important when trying to understand the stability of colloidal systems as well as electrostatic interactions with charged and polar species. Characterization of polymers, surfactants, colloids and nanoparticles

• Characterization of cells and biological molecules such as proteins
• Stability of colloids and emulsions, by observing changes in the PSD
• Characterization of Surface charge of adsorbents and filters, which affects their interactions with charged and polar species
• Optimizing flocculants dose in water treatment
• Effect of functionalization of surfaces and suspended particles on surface charge

Model: Malvern Zetasizer Nano ZS

Particle size: 0.3 nm up to 10 mm (diameter)
Zeta potential measurement at a range of pH using an Autotitrator, suspension system, sample concentration: 0.1 ppm-40% w/v, temperature control: 0-90 ⁰C, surface zeta potential measurement

Freeze Dryer

This large capacity freeze dryer can take in 5 trays of samples (675 square inches) and its holding capacity is 1.5 gallon (5.7L). 

Model: Harvest Right Scientific Freeze Dryer

HPLC

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) uses chromatography to separate and quantify components present in a liquid sample. The system has diode array (DAD), refractive index (RID) and Fluorescence (FD) detectors.

Model: Agilent 1260 system

ICP-OES

Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) can be used to detect chemical elements, usually dissolved in water. It uses a plasma to excite the atoms/ions and determines the elements present based on the spectrum of their electromagnetic radiation at characteristic wavelengths. The sample is injected into a flame (the plasma) which is at a temperatures from 6,000 to 10,000 K. The intensity of this emission is related to the concentration of the element within the sample. The technique is very sensitive, so it can be used to detect contaminants and trace elements in environmental samples. Solid samples can be digested in acid followed by ICP-OES of the resulting aqueous samples to determine the amount of each element present in the original sample. It can be used for many different applications including:

• Water treatment: concentrations of inorganic elements (e.g. heavy metals, Mg, Ca, Si etc.)
• Loading and composition of catalysts samples
• Inorganic content of residues such as fly ash
• Inorganic content of oils

Model: iCAP 7200 Thermo Scientific iCAP 7000 series
Detection limit about 2 ppb (ug/L), Radial, Wavelength Range: 166-847 nm, Autosampler

Laser diffraction particle size analyzer

Can determine particle size distribution (PSD) of suspended samples from the diffraction patterns produced by a laser beam passing through the sample. Particle sizes from the 10s of nm to millimeter diameters can be determined using this technique. In the systems available samples must be dispersed in liquid, usually water.  The technique can be used for particle size characterization of a wide range of systems, provided they can be dispersed in water (or a suitable liquid). Example applications include:

• Sediments, sand, clay, soil, tailings
• Powders (e.g. polymers, cement, ceramics)
• Precipitates
• Emulsions
• Inks

Model: Malvern Mastersizer 3000
Has liquid dispersion module, for analysis of samples suspended in aqueous solution. Size range (0.04 um-2mm).

Raman Spectroscopy

Raman Spectroscopy is a non‑destructive analytical technique used to identify molecular composition, crystal structure, and material phases based on vibrational signatures. The WITec Alpha300 RA+ combines high‑resolution confocal Raman microscopy with precise spatial mapping, enabling detailed chemical and structural characterization of solids, thin films, and heterogeneous materials at the micro‑ and nanoscale.

Model: WITec Alpha300 RA+

SEM w/EDS

SEM is an electron microscope in which the surface of a specimen is scanned via high energy electrons that are reflected to generate a variety of signals to form a 2-D image. This provides the user with information about sample’s crystalline structure, chemical composition, morphology (texture), and orientation of materials making up the sample. The SEM is capable of performing a qualitative spot (Point) analysis which is useful in chemical composition measurement using the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). This technique determines the elements present in the sample based on the energy spectrum of emitted X-rays when the sample is excited by the electrons in the SEM. Applications include:

• Biological Samples
• Soil and rock sampling
• Material science

Model:  Phenom Pro X

Electron voltage: up to 15 kV, sample size is up to 25 mm in diameter and 30 mm height. Magnification range is from 20X to about 30,000X and a resolution as low as 10 nm for conductive samples. Carbon coater available for insulating samples.

TGA

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is a method where changes in the mass of a sample are measured over time as the temperature changes. The measurements can be carried out in different environments (e.g. in air or nitrogen) and can provide information about phase transitions, absorption / adsorption, chemisorption, thermal decomposition and solid gas reactions.  Applications include:

• Thermal stability of materials (e.g. polymers, carbons, catalysts, ceramics)
• Oxidation / combustion of materials (e.g. polymers, carbons, metals, alloys)
• Catalyst loadings can be determined by oxidation / gasification of the support material

Model: TA Discovery TGA 550

UV-Vis

UV-Vis spectroscopy allows for quantitative determination of analyte concentration in solution (using Beer’s law), in addition to the compound’s spectrum over the UV-Vis wavelength range. It measures and compares the light intensity before and after passing through the sample. Spectroscopy is suitable for samples that can be completely dissolved, and the analyte must absorb light in the UV or visible range. It is not suitable for fluorescent analytes or opaque or colloidal systems. One can measure the concentration of unknown samples via measuring and comparing a series of standards of known concentration using standards that bracket the unknown sample concentration; in other words, identification is done by comparing the absorption spectrum with the spectra of known compound. Here are few examples of where UV spectroscopy is used:

• Study rate of reaction
• Determine rare equations of reaction
• Environmental process
• Quantitative and qualitative analysis
• Detection of impurities
• Detection of functional group

Model: Shimadzu UV 2600

Wavelength bandwidth: 185-1000 nm; sample requirement: 2 mL; single monochromator; spectrum and photometric module (concentration).

XRD

The MiniFlex benchtop X-ray diffractometer (XRD) is a multipurpose powder diffraction analytical instrument widely used in research, especially in material science and chemistry, as well as in industry for research and quality control.

Model: Rigaku Miniflex 600-C

(Micro) XRF

This micro-X ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) offers high sensitivity and performance in speed and flexibility. 

Model: HORIBA XGT-9000