General Lab Information

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Our laboratories are well equipped for electrochemical studies including electrode preparations (single crystal and polycrystalline), synthesis of metal nanoparticles, equipment for in situ and ex situ surface and interface characterization. In addition to the broadest electrochemical characterization, facilities exist for in situ spectroscopies (IRRAS and SEIRAS), Scanning tunneling electrochemical microscopy (STEM), ex situ DEMS, SEM/EDS (fast loading) and Fuel cell test station. No funds for equipment are asked for in the proposal.

At the National Synchrotron light Source we use the electrochemistry-oriented X22A beam line for SXS in situ studies. For in situ XANES and EXAFS measurements we use X18B and X19A beam lines, while in situ far infrared experiments are performed at the beam line U4IR. The Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science Department/Center for Functional Nanomaterials instrument for TEM analysis includes several techniques, most importantly the atomic resolution capability.

As discussed at several points in the narrative, new capabilities at NSLS-II will replace those at NSLS after the third quarter of 2014. We are involved with the Synchrotron Catalysis Consortium in planning catalysis capabilities for early beamlines QAS and TES for X-ray absorption studies. New opportunities for spatially resolved studies will also be pursued, as outlined in section 6.3.5.2, at beamlines SRX and HXN, and in collaboration with the Center for Functional Nanomaterials.

There is UHV-EC system in the Chemistry Division. It is an in situ instrument that enables the synthesis and atomic-level characterization of model nanocatalysts, combined with in vacuum transfer to test cells for examination of catalysis activity.

Most of other standard surface science instrumentations are available in the Chemistry Division.

Utilization of the facilities of the Center for Functional Nanomaterials will be available for ex situ characterization of some complex systems.

The Chemistry Division has machine and instrument shops.

Equipment

A whole range of electrochemical instrumentation, including one PARC 270, six Voltalab 10-40 potentiostats, BAS 100, CHI 604 and 700C electrochemical analyzers, six sets for rotating disk-ring measurements (Pine), two sets for rotating disk-ring measurements (Autolab), Two Bio-Logic VSP (2 potentiostats and low current module) and 20A power booster (VMP3B-20), two Molecular Imaging STMs for in situ surface structural studies, a fast-scan NEXUS 670 Nicolet and Mattson Research Series FTIR spectroscopes for in situ infrared studies, RF induction heater adapted for annealing reactive metals, fuel cell test station (Fuel Cell Technology), standard equipment for wet-chemistry and high-temperature synthetic work. Differential Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry (DEMS) for reaction products study.