Chemical & Process Engineering Facilities & Analysis Services

Facilities 

Synthesis

Pressure reactors, fume hoods, wet-lab space, ovens, furnaces, chemical storage, hot plates, rotary evaporation, planetary ball milling, centrifuge, sonication

Characterisation

Microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), nitrogen/carbon dioxide gas adsorption analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, rheometric analysis, membrane test systems, Raman spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, cyclic voltammetry, rotating ring disk voltammetery, temperature programmed reduction/oxidation, adsorption analysers, etc.

Manufacturing

Homogeniser, catalyst deposition, electrode manufacture, spray coater, membrane caster, 3D printer, machining workshop, hot presses, sintering furnaces.

Device Testing

Fuel cell test station, electrolyser test station, REDOX flow test station, impedance analysers, and cell holders.

Virtual Modelling

Access to ARCHIE Supercomputer, COMSOL modelling package, density functional theory (DFT) know-how, molecular dynamics experts.

Analysis Services

Our research laboratories are equipped with a range of high-tech analytical instruments for characterisation of a wide range of polymeric materials, solids, liquids, powders, porous surfaces and nanomaterials. Our skilled staff are constantly developing experimental techniques to allow for the investigation of for example adsorption reactions, desorption and combustion processes. Techniques and instruments we have available are:

Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) Instrument

For the analysis of solid materials to determine surface areas, total pore volume, Langmuir surface area, Barrett- Joyner-Halenda pore size and volume analysis; and meso- & macro-porous volume distribution curves. 

Coming soon: Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA)

For the analysis of weight loss on degradation, combustions, torrification and pyrolysis, providing information on physical phenomena such as adsorption, absorption and desorption as well as chemical phenomena including chemisorption, thermal decomposition, proximate analysis and solid-gas reactions i.e. oxidation and reduction. There is also the capability for simultaneous TGA/DSC analysis of samples.