Other Analytical Instruments

Our Bruker EMX electron spin resonance spectrometer is equipped with dual microwave bridges, and can acquire spectra in both the X-band and Q-band ranges. We have two resonator cavities available for X-band range: a Bruker 4102-ST general purpose cavity (rectangular TE102), and a Bruker 4103-TM cavity (cylindrical TM110). The 4103-TM is useful for flat cell work.

The Varian liquid nitrogen cryostat can cool samples down to approximately –160 C. 

The Oxford liquid helium cryostat can cool samples down to as low as 4 Kelvin.

To use the EMX,  contact  Russell Bornschein to arrange for a one-hour training class. Print and read the EMX User's Booklet prior to the training class.

You will need to provide a valid shortcode account number for billing your access time on the instrument. Please see billing rates above.

Since the instrument is frequently used, it is best to e-mail Jim Windak to schedule a day and time to do your experiments, and to request the hardware setup that you need.

The Bruker EMX is located in room 4709 Chemistry.

Reserve a time on this machine using Google Sites.

Two FT-IRs are available for student use.

The first is a Thermo-Nicolet IS-50.  The Thermo-Nicolet IS-50 is a bench-top FT-IR capable of routine mid-IR work (4000 cm-1 to 400 cm-1).   It also has an ATR accessory with a diamond crystal for routine solid and liquid sampling.

The Perkin-Elmer “Spectrum GX” is the larger system with more capabilities. The Spectrum GX can do routine mid-IR work, but is also capable of collecting spectra in the near-IR region (12000 cm-1 to 1800 cm-1). To do near-IR work, the beamsplitter must be changed from KBr to CaF2, and the detector must be changed from the standard room temperature DTGS detector to the liquid nitrogen cooled InSB detector.

The Spectrum GX also has a microscope accessory, with a liquid nitrogen cooled MCT-B detector that covers the range from 4000 cm-1 to 700 cm-1. The microscope accessory can be used in either transmittance or reflectance mode. It can analyze sample regions as small as a few microns square. The position of the microscope’s X-Y stage can be controlled via the data system. The data system can be set up to automatically map the entire surface of a sample.

Using the FT-IR Equipment

To use the FT-IRs, contact  Russell Bornschein to schedule a short training class.

The Thermo-Nicolet IS-50 User's Booklet should be printed out and read prior to the training session for the Thermo-Nicolet IS-50.

The IR Microscope User's Booklet should be printed out and read prior to the training session for the Spectrum GX microscope.

You must provide a valid shortcode account number for billing your access time on these instruments. Please see billing rates above.

The Thermo-Nicolet IS-50 and the Perkin-Elmer Spectrum GX are located  in room 3411 Chemistry.

Reserve a time on Spectrum GX FT-IR using Google Sites.

The Horiba Quanta Master is a sensitive instrument that can detect very low levels of fluorescence in samples.  It can perform emission scans, excitation scans, or do time-based monitoring. The wavelength region covered using the xenon arc lamp and PMT detector is 190 nm to 900 nm.  The instrument has an optional liquid nitrogen cooled MCT detector that can cover the wavelength range from 800 nm to 1600 nm.

In addition, this instrument can perform phosphorescence time-decay measurements using a xenon flash lamp and either detector, as long as the decay is longer than 2 microseconds.

We have a temperature-controlled sample holder that accepts standard 10 mm rectangular cuvettes. The temperature of the sample can be controlled from 8 C to 80 C via a water bath.

We have a solid sample holder, which is useful for films or powders. Its angle can be adjusted to obtain the best results.

Persons needing to use the fluorimeter should contact  Russell Bornschein to schedule a brief 30 minute training session. PTI Quanta Master User’s Booklet (pdf) should be printed out and read prior to the training class.

You must provide a valid short-code account number for billing your access time on the instrument. Please see billing rates above.

The Quanta Master fluorimeter is located in room 4709 Chemistry.

Reserve a time on this machine using Google Sites.

The Perkin-Elmer DSC-7 differential scanning calorimeter is used to accurately measure melting points, glass transitions, and heats of fusion. Typical temperature range is from 10 C to 400 C. The temperature scale is calibrated using a two-point calibration, measuring the onset temperatures of indium and zinc standards. The enthalpy scale is calibrated using the observed delta-H from an accurately known amount of indium.

Samples are encapsulated in disposable aluminum pans, typically using 3 – 10 milligrams of sample. There are two styles of pan available, one used for solids, and a hermetically sealed version for liquids. Great care must be taken not to overheat samples in the DSC so that they will not leak out of or burst the sample pans. Material that leaks out into the DSC can cause permanent damage to the DSC’s furnace, particularly if there are metals present in the sample that could alloy with the platinum furnace holders. There is a sample side and a reference side to the furnace. A blank pan is usually inserted into the reference side.

Data acquisition and processing is done with Perkin-Elmer’s Pyris software. From graphs of heat flow versus temperature, one can calculate onset temperatures, peak areas, enthalpies, and glass transitions.

Persons needing to use the DSC should contact   Russell Bornschein  for training.

The TGA-DSC User's Booklet should be printed out and read prior to the training session.

You will need to provide a valid shortcode account number for billing your access time on the instrument. Please see billing rates above.

The Perkin-Elmer DSC-7 is located in room 2609 Chemistry.

Reserve a time on this machine using Google Sites.

Our Shimadzu GPC has 3 columns in series, which cover a molecular weight range from 1,000,000 to 92.

The system consists of an autosampler, a heated column compartment, a refractive index detector, and a diode array UV-VIS detector.

We use the solvent THF in our system.  Your sample must be soluble in THF in order to analyze it on this system.

Persons wishing to use the GPC should contact   Russell Bornschein    to schedule a training session. You will need to provide a shortcode account number for billing your access time on the instrument. Please see fees/recharge rates above.

The Shimadzu GPC User's Booklet should be printed out and read prior to the training session.  It contains basic information about using the GPC and the Shimadzu software.

The Shimadzu GPC is located in room 2609 Chemistry.

Reserve a time on this machine using Google Sites.

The Perkin-Elmer Nexion 2000 ICP-MS is used to analyze metals in aqueous solutions.  For most elements, you can achieve a low part-per-billion detection limit.

ICP-MS user's booklet (pdf)

For training, please contact      Russell Bornschein

Reserve a time on this machine using Google Sites. 

The Waters Investigator SFC system is a supercritical fluid chromatography system.  There are eight chiral columns installed in the column oven, which can be quickly cycled through to choose the best column for challenging separations.  There is also a prep column available for use with a fraction collector.

For instrument training, please contact   Russell Bornschein   

Please print and read the SFC User’s Booklet prior to the training session.

You will need to provide a valid shortcode account number for billing your access time on the instrument. Please see billing rates above. 

The SFC system is located in 3411 Chemistry.
Reserve time on this machine using Google Sites.