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 (renewable and fossil)
- 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 |