Our focus is on the application of first row transition metal oxide semiconductors, the analysis of which often requires the marriage of multiple techniques. With this in mind, our instruments are chosen not only for their known efficiency and precision but also for their versatility.

UV-Vis-NIR Spectroscopy

The Agilent Cary 7000 has a wavelength range of 175-3300. With a variety of attachments, this is our most versatile instrument. The sample compartment is interchangeable as (1) cuvette holder, (2) a fiber optic connection used primarily to interface with a glovebox, or (3) a universal measurement device (UMA), allowing direct control over the incident angle and detector position. With the UMA attached transmittance measurements can be accompanied with various reflectance measurements. With the UMA attached it is also possible to include an auto-polarizer, allowing the differentiation between S and P polarized light.

Electrochemistry

The Metrohm Autolab PGSTAT302N is a high performance potentiostat capable of precise potential control and current response in colloidal nanocrystal solutions, either organic or aqueous. The current instrument is equipped with a FRA32M has a capable bandwidth of analysis out to 1MHz and compliance voltage of 30V for in depth Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). This unit as well contains seven extra modular ports. Key features of this instrument include current resolution of 30 fA, allowing a higher degree of measured potentiostatic response and galvanostatic control within the electrochemical cell. Future modules intended for this instrument include, but not limited to, ECI10M a frequency boost enabling access up to 10 MHz of frequency for advanced determination of equivalent circuits from measured Nyquist plots.

This instrument is kept on a cart, the portable nature allowing easy coupling to the Cary 700, a glovebox, or the laser.

Ultra Fast Transient Absorption

Our TA set-up employs the Coherent Astrella, generating a pulse centered at 800 nm and capable of running at up to 5 kHz or as low as 10 Hz. This is followed by the Coherent TOPAS Prime parametric amplifier and the optional placement of two β-BBO nonlinear crystals, yielding a theoretical range of 280 – 2800 nm pump pulses. The beams terminate in the Ultrafast Helios transient absorption spectrometer. With room to add or remove optics as desired, this set-up is ever changing.