Facilities and Equipment
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Learn more about our Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering (CNIE) and Electrochemical Innovation Lab (EIL) facilties and equipment onÌý.
Type I- Analytical Equipment
Type II Reactors
Type III Specialised Facility
Explore some of our facilities in 360
1. The Nature Inspired Chemical Engineering (NICE) LabsÌý
The Nature Inspired Chemical Engineering (NICE) group takes inspiration from nature to discover innovative solutions to chemical engineering challenges. Rather than imitating nature, our approach is to uncover fundamental mechanisms underlying desirable traits, and apply these to design transformative technology. Our research spans a wide range of application areas: process intensification, energy and environmental technology, the built environment, health, and functional materials. Our labs host:
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- SAXSLAB Ganesha 300XL SAXS/WAXS system; DLS with Zeta Potential Ìý
- Nanoscribe 3D printerÌý
- MIP-Poremaster 33, Pycnometer, and Gas (N2, Ar, CO2) Sorption Analysers (BET)Ìý
- IQ Chemisorption and ChemBETÌý
- A range of DSC, TGA-MS, TGA/DSCÌý
- Custom-made fluidized beds, reactors and fuel cellsÌý
2. The Centre for Correlative X-ray MicroscopyÌý
The Electrochemical Innovation Lab (EIL) hosts a world leading suite of X-ray CT instruments, which produce high quality 3D images at different scales. X-ray CT is uniquely non-destructive across a range of length scales, with resolution ranging from 10s nm to 10s mm, and sample sizes from 10s micron to 10s cm.Ìý
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Equipment include:Ìý
- ZEISS Xradia 620 Versa, ZEISS Xradia 810 Ultra and Nikon XTH 225 Ìý
- Zeiss Evo Ma 10 SEMÌý
3. The Adaptive and Responsive Nanomaterials LabsÌý
These labs are home to the Adaptive and Responsive Nanomaterials Group. Synthesis and characterisation techniques are geared towards the study of molecular building blocks and their arrangement into functional nanoarchitectures. These include:
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- Various liquid chromatography set-ups (gel permeation chromatography, HPLC-MS, preparatory LC)Ìý
- Advanced optical microscopy (upright, inverted, temperature control, motorised stages, fluorescence)Ìý
- Spectroscopy (microscope-integrated, ellipsometry with thin film porosimetry, broadband laser-driven light source)Ìý
- Interfacial characterisation tools (Langmuir-Blodgett trough, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring)Ìý
4. Crystallisation and Nanoparticle Labs Ìý
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Lab 303 (formally the Crystallisation lab) is home to MAFuMa research team (Manufacturing Advanced Functionalised Materials) working on the continuous manufacture of a series of different nanoparticles for use in healthcare therapies and diagnostics, as well extensive research into new methods for inducing and controlling nucleation. ÌýÌý
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Equipment in Lab 303 and Wolfson Lab include:Ìý
- DelsaMax PRO Dynamic Light Scattering and Zeta PotentialÌý
- A range of Particle size analyser (LS 13 320 MW, NanoSight and Differential Centrifugal Sedimentation)Ìý
- Various Agilent GCs and a Jasco HPLCÌý
- Advanced Microscopies (FTIR-Microscope, portable Raman, Zeiss Axioscope A1)Ìý
- Photron Mini AX100 high-speed camera (up to 540,000 fps)Ìý
5. The Solar Energy & Advanced Materials (SEAM) LabsÌý
- Microwave flow systemÌý
- Aerosol-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (AACVD)Ìý
- GCs, GC-MS, UV-vis-IR spectrometer Ìý
- Benchtop Delong TEMÌý
6. Fluidization and Advanced Imaging LaboratoryÌýÌý
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- A high-Pulsed x-ray imaging facility with high spatial and time resolution (100µm and 0.01 seconds, respectively); Ìý
- Fluidised beds of different scale and layout to study real industrial processes at high pressure and temperatures; Ìý
7. Multiphase LabsÌý
Highlights of the research in multiphase labs include studies of flow pattern transitions, pressure drop in horizontal and inclined flows, effect of inlet designs, and dispersion separation characteristics. These studies are used to develop mechanistic models for flow assurance and to validate CFD codes. Ìý
Our facilities includes :Ìý
- 2 pilot scale flow facilities for the study of oil-water flows relevant to oil and gas industriesÌý
- Planar laser induced fluorescent (PLIF) Ìý
- Particle image velocimetry (PIV)Ìý
- Tomographic (ERT/ECT) and conductance sensorsÌý
- High speed camerasÌý
8. Materials and Catalysis Laboratory (MCL)Ìý
Key equipment: Ìý
- 2 plug flow reactors and 5 batch reactorsÌý
- three electrode RDE systemÌý
- 64 channel battery testing facilityÌý
- GC-MS; physisorption and EPRÌý
9. Bio-Energy Technology Research Laboratory Ìý
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- Thermochemical reactors for solids conversion and fuel synthesis. The largest one is a pilot fluidised bed operated on steam, CO2, oxygen or a mixture of these for continuous treatment of biomass, plastics, waste, etc.. Ìý Ìý
- A bespoke electric arc furnace to study plasma catalysis of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions for innovative low-carbon applications. Ìý