Research Infra
World-class Equipment at the School of Chemistry (Joseph Banks Laboratories)
The School of Chemistry is housed in the University’s Joseph Banks Laboratories, a £23m investment for interdisciplinary and world-class research, providing students and researchers with free access to high-specification instrumentation for spectroscopy, diffraction, chromatography, imaging, and separation science. Equipment relevant for the synthesis/characterization of advanced materials and an energy transition is listed below. Complete list of the instrumentation available at JBL and further information can be found here.
The Bridge Advanced Engineering R&D Centre
The Bridge is a collaborative scheme funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Greater Lincolnshire LEP, and University of Lincoln. Adjacent to the Joseph Banks Laboratories in the University campus, The Bridge is at the forefront of advanced engineering research, incorporating a training and innovation centre and additional testing and analysis capabilities to be accessed by students and researchers at the School of Chemistry.
Electron microscopy
– ThermoFisher Scientific Scios 2 focussed ion-beam / scanning electron microscope (FIB/SEM). Includes a STEM detector, software for semi-automated TEM sample preparation, a 60 mm2 EDX detector, and an integrated plasma cleaner;
– ThermoFisher Scientific Talos F200i (S)TEM Including dual 100mm2 EDX detectors. Capable of BF/DF/HAADF STEM, conventional TEM with a 16Mpixel CETA camera, and supports tomography with double tilt and low background sample holders.
Optical Microscopy
– Zeiss Imager M.2m Materials microscope including polarisation, phase, and fluorescence;
– Linkham LN600 heating / cooling stage, and DSC module for the above;
– Two Zeiss Stemi 508 inspection stereo-microscopes.
Atomic Force Microscopy
– AFM Workshop high-resolution AFM (15 and 100 µm scanners, vibrating and non-vibrating modes), magnetic force microscopy (MFM), electric force microscopy (EFM), image logger, conductive AFM (C-AFM), and motorized optical modules;
– AFM Workshop life-sciences AFM (60 µm scanner, vibrating and non-vibrating modes), coupled with inverted optical microscope with phase and fluorescence imaging, and heated liquid cell (room to 60°C operation);
– AFM Workshop nano-profiling AFM (60 µm scanner, vibrating and non-vibrating modes) for samples as large as d=200 mm;
– AFM Workshop HR/TT2-AFM prototype / development AFM.
Vibrational Spectroscopy
– Bruker Vertex FTIR mid and far-infrared spectrometer with gas cell, DRIFTS, ATR accessories, RAM II FT-Raman module;
– Bruker Senterra Raman microscope with 532 and 785 nm lasers, and external optical probe, and motorized stage.
Thermal Analysis
– Netszch STA-MS and JEOL/Agilent GC-MS; Can be coupled to the Vertex FTIR for infrared analysis of evolved gases.
Mechanical Analysis
– RTEK MFT-2000 with linear, rotary, and reciprocating modes, scratch testing, and hardness testing (room to 500°C);
– Netsch Dynamic Mechanical Analyser – DMA 242 E Artemis with air cooling for temperature range 10°C to 600°C including sample fixtures for tension, 3 point bending, cantilever and compression testing.
