Thermal and Optical Characterization Facilities

• Sub-microgram resolution over the whole measurement range
• Analyze samples from 25°C – 1600°C
• DSC option for simultaneous measurement of heat capacity associated with thermal events

Validate thermal stability and the related thermal characteristics of the materials.

• Temp. range: -150°C to 600°C
• Heating rates (K/min): 0.001 to 100
• Cooling rates (K/min): 0.001 to 100
• Sensor: heat flux system
• Measurement range (mW): 0 to ± 600
• Temp. accuracy: 0.1K
• Enthalpy accuracy: generally <1%
• Cooling options: Forced air (down to RT)
• Atmospheres: oxygen, inert (static, dynamic)

Thermodynamic parameters associated with a variety of materials such as specific heat, entropy and enthalpy change can be assessed. This helps in distinguishing crystalline and non-crystalline materials. The phase transitions associated with plethora of materials can be ascertained.

General

• Temp. control range: 0-90°C
• Light source: Laser/ 40 mW, 658 nm

Particle size specifications

• Measuring range: 0.3 nm – 10 µm (particle diameter)

Sensitivity

• Min. conc. (protein): 0.1 mg/mL (lysozyme)
• Min. conc. (polymer): 1 µg/mL (polystyrene latex)
• Min. sample volume: 12 µL
• Measurement angles: 15°, 90°, 175°

Refractive index specifications

• Measuring range: 1.28 to 1.50
• Temp. range: 0°C to 90°C
• Wavelength: 658 nm
• Min. sample volume: 1mL

Zeta potential specifications

• Measuring range: -600 to +600 mV

Molecular mass specifications

• Mass: 980 Da – 20 MDa
• Particle size: up to 40 nm (diameter)
• Mobility: 10-11 m2/V.s to 2 x 10-7 m2/V.s
• Size range: 3.8 nm-100 µm
• Sensitivity: 1 mg/mL (lysozyme)
• Max. sample concentration: 40% w/v
• Sample volume: 350 µl
• Max. sample conductivity: 200 mS/cm

The Litesizer™ 500 is an instrument for characterizing nano- and microparticles in dispersions and solutions. It determines particle size, zeta potential, and molecular mass by measuring dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoretic light scattering (ELS), and static light scattering (SLS).

Interestingly, the Litesizer™ 500 is the only DLS-based particle analyzer that is able to perform a straightforward measurement of the sample’s refractive index.

• RT to 1350°C
• Measuring systems: fused silica, Al₂0₃, graphite
• Sample length: 0 to 50 mm
• Change of length: 4 mm (maximum
• Length Resolution: 10 nm

To employ materials in a wide range of temperatures, one needs to have a prior knowledge about the thermal characteristics of materials, specifically its expansion.

This instrument is aptly designed to monitor the expansion of materials on heating, even at elevated temperatures.

• System Design: Horizontal Balance and furnace
• Balance Design: Dual Beam
• Sample Amount: 200mg
• Furnace type: Bifilar Wound
• Temp. range: Ambient to 1500°C

• Supports both DSC & TGA measurements
• Less drift compared to single-beam designs
• Independent TGA measurements on two samples simultaneously/li>

The chemical reaction kinetics associated with certain thermodynamic parameters can be studied. This will also help in distinguishing crystalline materials from that of glasses and polymers.

• Source: Xe pulse lamp with exceptionally long lifetime, pulsed at 80 Hz
• Pulse width at half peak height ~ 2 µs, peak power equivalent to 75 kW

Wavelength range:

• Excitation: 190-1100 nm. Zero Order (ZO) selectable
• Emission: 190-1100 nm. ZO selectable
• Operational excitation: 200-900 nm with standard PM tube. ZO selectable
• Operational emission: 200-900 nm with standard PM tube. ZO selectable
• Wavelength accuracy: ±1.5 nm

• Characterize bio-labels for live cell imaging
• Characterizing GPCR oligomerization
• Detecting specific bacterial strains using fluorescent assay
• Understanding platelet response using cellular signaling
• Analyze changes in tertiary structure of proteins
• Thermal stability of biocatalysts and pharmaceuticals

This facility is used for both qualitative and quantitative analyses. More specific and sensitive technique than UV-Vis. Fluorescent compounds can be analyzed and estimated at nano molar level.

• Identify and confirm plastics, elastomers, and adhesive materials
• Verify the composition & quality of composites, coatings and thin films
• Analyze contaminants during semiconductor processing and solar cell manufacturing
• Determination of trans fat content of edible fats and oils
• Rapid authentication & detection of adulteration of food, herbal medicines & dietary supplements
• QA/QC of various foods, such as coffee, tea, sugar and flour
• Free Fatty Acid (FFA) & Iodine Value (IV) determination in oils
• Analyze API’s and drug products for overall purity and conformity
• Determine if drug samples are counterfeit or adulterated
• A powerful tool for identifying types of chemical bonds in a molecule by producing an IR absorption spectrum that is like a molecular ‘fingerprint’

Qualitative analysis can be done with this instrument. It gives information about the presence of functional groups in compounds. Hence, it is of use in structure elucidation. ATR facility helps to analyse samples in solution state as well.

• Source: Unique full-spectrum Xe flash lamp (80 Hz)
• Monochromator: Czerny-Turner
• Grating: Holographic, 27.5 x 35 mm, 1200 lines/mm, blaze angle 8.6° at 240 nm
• Detectors: 2 silicon diode detectors. UV-Vis limiting resolution (nm): ≤ 1.5 nm
• UV-Vis limiting resolution (nm): ≤ 1.5 nm
• oluene/hexane limiting resolution (EP/BP and TGA test): ≥ 1.5
• Wavelength range (nm): 190-1100 nm accuracy (nm): ±0.5 at 541.94 nm; reproducibility (nm): ±0.1 nm

• Characterization of unknown or newly synthesized compounds
• Monitoring kinetics of chemical /biological reactions occurring at sub-sec rate
• Measurement of films and optical components
• Analyzing small amounts of precious samples (< 4 µL)
• Analysis of nutrients in water, food and agriculture
• Analysis of turbid solutions or relatively highly absorbing samples
• Analysis of bulk optics (e.g., sunglasses)
• Study of pigments in art conservation through reflectance measurements

UV/Vis spectroscopy is routinely used in analytical chemistry for the quantitative determination of different analytes, such as transition metal ions, highly conjugated organic compounds, and biological macromolecules. Spectroscopic analysis is commonly carried out in solutions but solids and gases may also be studied.

• Detector: Hermetically-sealed, UV-sensitive, back-thinned solid state CCD detector (532 x 128 pixels)
• Signal stability: < 2% RSD over 2 hours without internal standardization or any form of drift correction
• Resolution: < 0.050 nm (measured as FWHM)
• Detection limits: 3 sigma detection limits (µg/L) using a 10 second integration time
• Pure nitrogen and nitrogen generator IDLs

Element:

• Mn 257.610 nm
• Ba 614.171 nm

Full environmental range:

• 5.00 ppb
• 1.5 ppb

MP-AES consists of a microwave induced plasma interfaced to an atomic emission spectrophotometer (AES). It is used for simultaneous multi-analyte determination of major and minor elements. MP-AES employs microwave energy to produce a plasma discharge using nitrogen supplied from external sources or extracted from ambient air, which eliminates the need for sourcing gases in remote locations. Samples are typically nebulized prior to interaction with the plasma in MP-AES spectroscopy.

• A unique PMT, InGaAs and PbS 3-detector module for testing across the entire UV/Vis/NIR range
• Sources of Light: Tungsten-halogen and Deuterium
• Operating Range: 175-3300 nm
• Resolution: 0.2 nm

The UV/Vis/NIR Spectrophotometer can be used to achieve significant performance breakthroughs across a range of applications; from simple optical absorbance and reflectance measurements a wide wavelength range (175-3300 nm) for solid and liquid samples to quantifying out-of-band blocking characteristics of band pass filters and also measuring the high transmission of next generation fiber optic materials.

The optical transmission windows of a variety of materials in different configurations can be determined.

• Two micropore analysis stations, and two dedicated built-in sample preparation (Degas) ports
• Computer-controlled ramp/hold/test protocols, and a dedicated cold-trap
• A dedicated Po (saturation pressure) transducer
• Long life dewar (90+ hours, even with two samples
• Thermostatted Bath for measurements at, or around, room temperature

• Characterization of the mesoporous (2-30 nm) and macroporus (>50nm) materials, including activated carbons/fibers and nano-carbon fibers, metal supported catalysts
• Comprehensive physisorption calculations include specific surface area (single and multi-point B.E.T., Langmuir, STSA, t-plot, alpha-s, DR), pore size (BJH, DH, DA, MP, HK, SF, Monte-Carlo, NLDFT, QSDFT) with their corresponding surface area values