Equipment

We have fantastic facilities throughout campus including the Kuiper imaging core, X-ray diffraction facility, Keck center for nano-imaging, Laboratory for electron spectroscopy and surface analysis (LESSA), and the Micro/Nano fabrication and Optical sciences cleanrooms. Additionally, we have the following equipment available in our lab:

Gloveboxes

We have two Vigor SciLab gloveboxes connected by a T-antechamber, which we use for making solutions of moisture and oxygen sensitive materials and fabricating devices in an inert environment. 

Electrospinner

Inovenso NE100 with temperature and humidity control, capable of creating polymer fibers with diameters on the order of 100 nm. This machine is capable of spinning two materials simultaneously, either as separate fibers or in a core-shell configuration.

Adhesion/Cohesion Tester

Our DTS Delaminator is used for testing the adhesion and/or cohesion of thin films in single cantilever, double cantilever, three-point bending, or four-point bending configurations; samples can be tested in ambient or at varying environmental conditions.

Stretch Station

We use a highly precise Newmark linear actuator to drive our purpose-built testing setups for measuring the stress-strain response of thin films. We can determine the tensile modulus, yield point, and crack-onset strain for film-on-elastomer systems of all kinds.

Spin coaters

We have several spin coaters, in ambient and inert conditions for thin film fabrication.

Plasma cleaner/etcher

We have an OptiGlow ACE system capable of generating plasmas from 10 to 150W, useful for cleaning surfaces, preparing them for functionalization, PDMS bonding, or etching.

3D Printer

Epax X1 SLA 3D printer for rapid prototyping of parts and experimental setups.