Lab and Equipment All the world is a laboratory to the inquiring mind
-Martin Henry Fischer
Thank you, team!
Setting up a new lab is not an easy task and our team did it!
We now enjoy resourceful and efficient lab space in Biodesign C, 2nd floor.
See for yourself:
Photocredit Niels Kubitza
Sample Prep
We grind, we shake, we press.
Often we do it under inert atmosphere inside a glovebox or using Schlenk lines.
Oh, and we also print.
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standard Synthesis
High-temperature furnaces
We have box and tube furnaces for reactions under different atmospheres, e.g. argon, nitrogen, as well as at different temperatures (up to 1600 °C).
Wet chemical equipment
We have Schlenk lines and stir plates for syntheses/procedures using liquids, and a designated HF-workarea for liquid exfoliation with hydrofluoric acid.
special synthesis
Microwave reactors (CEM, Milestone)
The CEM microwave oven was configured for high-temperature solid-state reactions (microwave power up to 1800 W). An optical IR pyrometer is attached to measure the temperature of the susceptor material, e.g. graphite.
The Milestone flexiWAVE can be used for classical wet chemistry as well as high-temperature solid-state reactions. It is equipped with a ventilation system that allows for exhaust gases to be released from the microwave chamber
Spark Plasma Sintering (Fuji)
The Dr. Sinter allows for synthesis and densification (0.5-20 kN) at high temperatures (up to 2000 C) available by Joule heating of graphite dies.
Ammonia plant
This Schlenk line design allows for working with liquid ammonia and producing precursors, e.g. for nitride synthesis.
characterization
X-ray diffraction
This benchtop X-ray diffractometer (D2 Phaser, Bruker) seems like a cute tiny version of the regular lab diffractometers but it serves a powerful purpose for us. It allows for structural analysis of our powder samples and - together with the software packages EVA and TOPAS - provides answers to questions, such as "What have we synthesized?" "Have we prepared a single-phase product?" "Are there secondary phases and if so, which ones?" ...
Raman spectroscopy
We have developed a Raman spectroscopy setup that allows for measurements inside a conventional (see the little round furnace) or microwave oven. We measure solids at room and high temperatures with the ultimate goal of optimizing in-situ measurements during heating of sol-gel and solid precursors.
Electrochemical testing
We have a three-electrode setup (including a rotating disc electrode) to investigate electrochemical processes. It will mainly be used for cyclic voltammetry measurements and the investigation of the catalytic activity (hydrogen evolution reaction) of materials.
shared equipment (...installed Summer 2023)
The DTXRD (STOE) combines two independent and simultaneously operable systems to enable: (i) X-ray diffraction measurements with copper (Cu) or molybdenum (Mo) radiation in transmission geometry (maximizing data quality, especially for layered and 2D materials) that can be performed in capillaries (ideal for air-sensitive compounds) and in an automated way (up to 30 samples), and (ii) Total scattering experiments and pair distribution function analysis using high energy (silver (Ag) radiation) for local structure information of crystalline as well as low- and non-crystalline species, including a reaction chamber and variable temperature capabilities (40 - 1,800 K and gas atmosphere). The high energy radiation also enables operando transmission diffraction measurements of electrochemical devices with coin and pouch cell holders.
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This equipment is funded through an NSF MRI Award and housed in ASU's Eyring Materials Center.
