Research Facilities
The Dove Group possesses a wide range of state-of-the-art research equipment – take a look at our different instrumentation tabs below.
For more details on any of the equipment or to enquire about availability, please contact Senior Lab Technician Dan Smith via d.p.smith@bham.ac.uk
JPK Nanowizard 4 AFM
With acoustic heated enclosure and accessories.
The atomic force microscope (AFM) allows high resolution imaging at nanometre length scales. It scans a prepared surface with a tip that is deflected by the presence of features with different heights. The deflection is measured by bouncing a laser beam off the back of the tip and recording its movement using a photodiode detector.
Malvern Nanosizer Nano-S
With Malvern Instruments Multi-purpose titrator MPT-Z
Malvern Zetasizer Nano-ZS
The group has two DLS, a Malvern Zetasizer Nano-S and a Malvern Zetasizer Nano ZSP.
Dynamic light scattering is a technique in physics that can be used to determine the size distribution profile of small particles in suspension or polymers in solution.
The DLS is used for particle sizes down to 1 nm diameter.
STATIC LIGHT SCATTERING (sls) – ALV/CGS-3 Compact Goniometer system
STATIC LIGHT SCATTERING (sls) – ALV/CGS-3 Compact Goniometer system with ALV/LSE-5004 autocorrelator
The ALV/CGS-3 Compact Goniometer system is designed to record and measure simultaneous dynamic (DLS) and static (SLS) light scattering data. The basic principle behind this technique is to illuminate a dispersed sample solution with a laser beam of known wavelength (in this case λo = 633 nm) and to detect the intensity of light scattered by the sample. If the light scattering data is collected as a function of time, nanostructure dynamics can be analysed as in the case of DLS. Alternatively, averaging the scattered intensity over a chosen time scale which is much greater than those in which solution dynamics occur results in light scattering based on particle size and shape as in the case of SLS. Further to this, by collecting data over a range of angles it is possible to estimate dimensional properties of nanostructures contained in solution, e.g. the mass average molar mass (Mw), the radius of gyration (Rg) and hydrodynamic radius (Rh).
Mastersizer 3000 with the Hydro MV wet dispersion unit
The Mastersizer 3000 uses the technique of laser diffraction to measure the size of particles (0.01–3500 µm). It does this by measuring the intensity of light scattered as a laser beam passes through a dispersed particulate sample. It is equipped with the Hydro MV accessory for the analysis of wet dispersions in either aqueous or non-aqueous solutions.
PSS (Polymer Standards Service) Differential Refractometer Dn/Dc 1260
The Differential Refractometer enables a very precise determination of refractive index increments (dn/dc) of dissolved substances in highly diluted solutions.
Discharge cleaning System for TEM grids
THERMAL
Mettler-Toledo STAR-e system DSC3+
With LN2 cooling
Measures changes in physical properties with temperature.
TA Instruments Nano DSC
For in-solution measurements
The Nano DSC differential scanning calorimeter is designed to characterize the molecular stability of dilute in-solution biomolecules.
TA instruments TGA 550
TGA is a thermal analysis in which the mass of a sample is measured over time as the temperature changes.
RHEOLOGY
Anton Parr MCR-302 Rheometer
Equipped with Omni-Cure series 1500 UV curing system for photorheology
The rheometer is used to measure the viscosity and viscoelastic properties of materials.
ENVIRONMENTAL WEATHERING
Sanwood bench-top xenon lamp weathering test chamber
SURFACE OF FILMS
J.A. Woollam Alpha-SE Ellipsometer
Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) is a non-destructive optical technique in which the sample to be characterized is illuminated with a beam of polarized light. It measures the change in polarization state of the measurement bean induced by reflection from (or transmission through) the sample. The high accuracy, precision, and sensitivity of this technique make it highly suited for demanding thin film metrology applications.
Kruss DSA25E Optical Tensometer (contact angle)
MECHANICAL
Testometric tensometers: M350-5CT & M100-1CT series models for tensile and compression testing of materials
The tensometer is used to run tensile test in elongation or in compression of a material. It allows assessment of the mechanical properties of a material.
The M100-1 CT is a small footprint, single column, computer controlled universal materials testing machine. It is ideal for testing the mechanical properties of lightweight materials.
Carver Autoseries floor-standing heated press
This instrument is used to cure materials using adjustable temperature and pressure.
Mettler Toledo STAR-e DMA1
DMTA is used to determine mechanical properties in relation to compressive/tensile/shear forces, often in a cyclic fashion over a range of temperatures.
Testometric MSCP manual cutting press with dyes
The dye cutter is used to cut various standardised shapes out of polymeric materials and films.
SPECTROSCOPY
Edinburgh Instruments FS5 Steady State Fluorimeter
Agilent Cary Eclipse Fluorimeter
This equipment is designed to provide a complete measurement system for photoluminescence spectra and kinetics in solutions only.
Agilent Cary IR Spectrophotometer
Cary 3500 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
UV-Vis absorption / transmittance measurement.
Evolution 350 UV-Vis spectrophotometer
Polarimeter Optical Activity PolAAr 3001 Automatic Digital Polarimeter
The polAAr 3001 is a polarimeter used to measure the optical activity of samples.
Shimadzu modular HPLC with autosampler, fraction collector, PDA and fluorescence detector
with Shimadzu modular HPLC with two channel UV detector
with Shimadzu modular FPLC with autosampler, fraction collector and two channel UV detector
High performance liquid chromatography, or HPLC, is an analytical method that can be used to analyse and isolate complex mixtures in liquid solution. Typical analytes will be soluble organic molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides and proteins.
Preparative SEC Agilent 1260 Infinity System
Separation of polymers based on hydrodynamic volume/molecular weight.
Shimadzu GCMS QP2010 SE with GC-2010, AFC-H, SPL-2010 and autosampler
The GCMS-QP2010 SE is an analytical instrument encompassing both gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS), which is used to separate and analyse complex mixture of compounds.
Agilent 1260 Infinity II with autosampler, UV, RI (aqueous)
with Agilent 1260 Infinity II with autosampler, UV, RI and viscometer (THF)
with Agilent 1260 Infinity II with autosampler, UV, RI and viscometer (CHCl3)
with Agilent 1260 Infinity II with autosampler, PDA, RI, Wyatt Dawn Helios II light scattering (DMF)
Separation of polymers based on hydrodynamic volume/molecular weight.
Photocentric Liquid Crystal Precision printer (455 nm)
MiiCraft printer (365/405 nm)
In-house built micro-stereolithography printer (UV)
Laminar flow fume hoods
Thermo Countess II FL Automated Cell Counter
Automated cell counter for measuring cell viability.
ThermoFisher SL16R TX400 Centrifuge
Centrifuges are power-driven machines that separate liquids from solid matter, liquid mixtures, or solid mixtures by centrifugal force.
HERAcell VIOS 160i CO2 Incubator Dual Chamber plus switching head
Olympus + PicoQuant Confocal Microscope with FLIM
Olympus FluoView FV3000 coupled with fluorescent lifetime imaging (FLIM).
Laurell Technologies WS-650Mz-23NPPB-BLEM Spin-coater
Priorclave Compact Benchtop Autoclave
Autoclave for sterilisation of waste, liquids, and equipment.
BMG Labtech FLUOstar Omega microplate reader
The FLUOstar Omega microplate reader provides quantitative fluorescence intensity, time-resolved fluorescence, absorbance and luminescence assays in wellplates.
Leica optical microscope
New Brunswick ultra-low temperature freezer
SciQuip FL24 Double Deck Incubator
Leica Histocore Arcadia Embedding Center with Arcadia H heating embedding workstation and Arcadia C cold plate
Leica HistoCore Pearl Tissue Processor with Leica ST4020 small linear stainer
Leica RM2235 Manual Rotary Microtome
This equipment is used for slicing tissues embedded in paraffin.
AnPro Anderson Anprolene AN74i EtO steriliser
Liberty Blue Peptide Synthesiser with UV monitor
CEM Liberty Blue for the synthesis of peptides and PNAs.
Biorad chemidoc MP Transiluminator (left) Real time PCR – Eppendorf Mastercycler nexus X2 (Right)
The Biorad ChemiDoc MP imaging system is used to visualise and capture images of gels and blots under UV light.
Labtech NanoDrop ND2000c Spectrophotometer w/cuvette
The Nanodrop UV-Vis Spectrophotometer is used to obtain UV-Vis data with low volume samples (1-2 µL).
MB-BL-01 with solvent filter, mini antechamber
with Mbraun MB-Unilab Pro SP -35 freezer
with Mbraun MB-Unilab Pro SP fitted with Mbraun SPS5 3 solvent system plumbed into glovebox equipped with THF, CH2Cl2, toluene
The glove box is an essential tool for the storage and manipulation of air sensitive or other ‘dry’ compounds.
Labconco Freezone 2.5 Lypholisers
Used for low temperature dehydration (frozen water removed by sublimation by applying vacuum).
OHAUS 2-16P Centrifuge
Centrifuges are power-driven machines that separate liquids from solid matter, liquid mixtures, or solid mixtures by centrifugal force.
Heated vacuum ovens for polymer processing
Water purification systems for deionized water and ultra-filtered HPLC grade water
Autotitrator Mettler Toledo G20 compact titrator + DGi115-SC electrode
Acid-base titration of polymer solutions.
Teledyne ISCO CombiFlash RF+ Lumen Automated Flash Column Chromatography System (UV and ELSD detectors)
The Teledyne Flash Chromatography System consists of automated silica gel chromatography to purify and separate samples.
Silverson L5M Mixer
Anton Parr HP Reactor – Parr 5500 Series Compact Reactor
Bandelin Sonopuls HD220Silverson L5M 0 Sonic Probe with Microtip MS72 and Titanium Flat Tip TT13
The sonication probe is used with a certain amount of micelle solution, typically for preparing micellar seeds.
Syriss Orb DN150 system Scale-up reactor with Heidolph HeiTorque Control 200 O/h Stirrer, Huber Unistat 750; 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 L vessels plus stirrers and probes
Scale-up reactor – 500mL, 1L, 2L and 5L jacketed reaction vessels. Heat exchange unit allows temperature range from -90°C until 250°C.
INERT Pure Solv MD-4-EN Solvent Purification System equipped with DMF, petroleum ether, CH2Cl2, toluene and THF
Solvent tower – Used for dispensing dry solvent. Solvents available are PET Ether, Dimethylformamide, Tetrahydrofuran and Chloroform.