Nanostructured Sensors Synthesis and Characterization Labs

Nanoparticle Synthesis and Functionalization

Preparation of precursor solution for nanoparticle synthesis

The Nanostructured Sensors group owns or manages a total of 3000 sq. ft. of wet chemistry and material characterization laboratory space, located both on the UD campus and at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The group is part of the Fuels Branch of the Propulsion Directorate at the Air Force Research Lab and conducts research in close collaboration with AFRL researchers. Specific synthesis equipment includes a Sonics Vibra Cell 750W ultrasonic processor for synthesis of nanomaterials, several wet chemistry stations, various wet chemistry tools and support equipment, research hoods, vacuum lines, vacuum ovens, rotoevaporators, a Eppendorf 5804 centrifuge, and two Vacuum Atmospheres nitrogen glove boxes.

Advanced Spectroscopy Laboratory

Nanoparticles dissolved in hexane are ready to be transferred to a cuvette for the photon absorption study

The group operates a fully equipped laboratory for advanced spectroscopic characterization of nanostructured materials. The facilities are designed to measure steady-state absorption and fluorescence and time-resolved fluorescence with nano-, pico-, and femto-second temporal resolution for optical measurement. Equipment includes a Perkin Elmer Lambda 900 spectrophotometer for UV-Vis absorption and a SPEX Fluorolog-3 photon-counting emission spectrometer for excitation/emission measurements.

Structural and Chemical Characterization of Nanomaterials

Thin-film X-ray diffraction system for measuring crystal structure of nanomaterials

Characterization facilities include the Bruker D8 Advance powder x-ray diffractometer equipped with a Cu-K radiation source for crystal structure analysis, and a Veeco Nanoscope IIIa scanning probe microscope for nanoparticle size estimation and thin-film morphology study. Other equipment includes various chromatographic instruments, including gas, liquid, and gel permeation, a Varian 300 Mhz multi-probe NMR, and a Perkin Elmer System 2000 FTIR absorption spectrometer for functional nanoparticle analysis.