Surface Prep Lab
Surface Preparation Laboratory
Our well-equipped surface preparation lab features standard wet-lab capabilities, plus additional tools for biology, including two microscopes, a high-speed centrifuge, a digitally-controlled oven, and generous cold storage space.
Instruments that our group has regular access to, but are not housed in our space include, a chemical deposition chamber, an atomic force microscope (AFM), a zeta potential measurement unit. Our lab is also capable of facilitating precise surface micropatterning using ultraviolet (UV) photolithography and is equipped with a UV-ozone cleaner (images not shown).
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The Langmuir-Blodgett Trough
Used for coating monomolecular thin films onto substrates and for characterizing their phase behavior at the air-water interface. We are also equipped with smaller troughs for fluorescent microscopy and diffusion coefficient measurements at the air-water interface. |
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Fluorescence Microscopy
Our two Nikon microscopes provide fluorescent imaging with both near and far working distances, each with a full range of objectives, including water and oil immersion lenses, a well-equipped library of interchangeable fluorescent filters, vibration isolation, and a temperature-controlled stage. Each can be combined with a small Langmuir trough for simultaneous imaging of the phase behavior of surfactants at the air-water interface (shown on left). |
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Class 100 Clean Areas
Much work is performed in laminar flow boxes which qualify as Class 100 clean environments. Their simplicity and small size permits a level of cleanliness that often surpasses that of some full-scale clean rooms. |
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Microbalance Scales
Enthroned on artificial stone weighing 150 pounds, our microbalances enable accurate weighing down to 0.000001 grams. |
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Ovens
Two high temperature vacuums, both with digital control and one with 10^-2 torr vacuum capabilities, facilitate physical and chemical materials processing. |
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Nanopure Reagents
We eliminate impurities in our laboratory water supply through a four-point filtration process terminating in this nano-pure filtration unit that adds an extra two levels of filtration. Typically we use only reagents of the purest quality to minimize contamination during sample preparation. |
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Spin-Coater
We often utilize spin-coating techniques to form thin films from materials dissolved in volatile solvents. |