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
Scroll down for:
Thermal Â
Rheology Â
Environmental weathering Â
Surface of FilmsÂ
MechanicalÂ
SpectroscopyÂ
Thermal
Mettler-Toledo STAR-e system DSC3+
With LN2 cooling
Measures changes in physical properties with temperature.Â
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.