Characterization of catalysts and nanostructured materials.
The Materials Characterization Facility accommodates service work and some hands-on use for 10 research groups in the faculties of science, engineering and medicine, as well as external clients from industry and national labs. The ability to characterize new materials with a diverse set of state-of-the-art tools provides a distinct advantage for University of Ottawa users of the facility.
Electron microscopy (SEM, TEM and Cryo-TEM) with elemental analysis, electron energy loss spectroscopy and associated sample preparation instruments, atomic force microscopy interfaced with Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with SIMS and UPS, thermal analysis with mass spectrometry (MS) and infrared (IR) detection, surface area and porosimetry determination, particle size analysis and electrochemistry.
- Chemical industries
- Clean technology
- Education
- Energy
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Forestry and forest-based industries
- Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
- Manufacturing and processing
- Mining, minerals and metals
Specialized labs and equipment
| Specialized Lab | Equipment | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Electron Microscopy Labs | JEM-2100F field-emission transmission electron microscope and JSM-7500F field-emission scanning electron microscope (JEOL) | High-resolution imaging of nanostructured materials |
| FEI transmission electron microscope with Cryo-TEM, tomography and fluorescence-electron correlative microscopy capabilities | High resolution imaging of soft materials and biological specimens | |
| Sample preparation equipment including a precision ion polishing system, plasma cleaning system, sputter coating system, ultramicrotome, ultracentrifuge, vacuum oven and ion milling system | Prepare samples for electron microscopy | |
| Raman microscope interfaced with a scanning probe microscope | Capable of tip enhanced Raman spectroscopy and mapping. Chemical structure identification and mapping. | |
| Surface Analysis Labs | X-ray photoelectron spectrometer | Characterize particle surfaces, including elemental analysis and metal oxidation state determination |
| Porosimeter and surface area analyzer | Determine surface area and porosity of solids | |
| Thermal Analysis Lab | Differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetric analyzer equipped with mass and infrared spectrometers | Investigate thermal properties of solids and evolved gases from their decomposition |
| Materials Characterization Facility | Zeta potential particle analyzer | Use light scattering to determine particle size |
| Electrochemical analyzer | Employ for a diverse array of electrochemical investigations |