Analytical Facilities

We have the following instruments for material characterisations and syntheses. These instruments are not just accessible to IPAS members but also for external users.

For bookings and costs please contact: 

Alternatively, please contact Luis Lima-Marques for general enquiries.

  • Dry measure analytical equipment

    For information regarding equipment listed below, please contact Alson Ng.

    Simultaneous thermal analyser (STA)

    Brand and Model
    Netzsch STA449 F3 Jupiter + QMS403 Aeolos® Quadro

    Specifications

    • SiC furnace with temperature range from 25°C to 1600°C
    • Balance digital resolution 0.1ug
    • Sample purge gases: Nitrogen, Oxygen or Air

    Applications
    STA simultaneously combines differential thermal analysis (DSC and DTA) with thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). STA is commonly used for measuring melting/crystalisation temperature, reaction enthalpies, quantity of volatile content in materials and thermal stabilities    

    Option
    Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QMS) 403 Aeolos® Quadro coupling for routine analysis of gases and products of thermal analysis

    • Mass spectrometer mass 1-300amu
    • Heated capillary inlet system and transfer line max temp 300oC

    Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR)

    Brand and Model
    Perkin Elmer Spectrum 400

    Specifications

    • Optimum Wavelength range: 7800 to 400 cm-1 (TGS)
    • 7800 to 450 cm-1(MCT)

    Detectors

    • Triglycine sulphate (TGS)
    • Mercury cadmium telluride (MCT)
    • This instrument can be purged with nitrogen.

    Accessories

    • Universal attenuated total reflectance (UATR) module with standard
    • Diamond/ZnSe. Ge crystal is also available.
    • Variable angle specular reflectance accessory

    UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer

    Brand and Model
    Agilent Cary 5000

    Specifications
    Wavelength range 175 to 3300 nm

    Accessories

    • Solid samples holder
    • Cuvettes holder
    • Variable Angle Specular Reflectance Accessory

    3D optical microscope (optical profiler)

    Brand and Model
    Bruker Contour GT-K

    Specifications

    • Maximum scan range: up to 10 mm
    • Vertical resolution: less than 0.01 nm
    • Applications

    This instrument performs non-contact 3D surface metrology measurements.

    Infrared variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometer

    Brand and Model
    J.A. Woollam IR-VASE

    Specification
    1.7 to 30 μm (333 to 5900 wavenumbers)

    Application
    Common measurements include coating thickness, IR refractive indices and molecular bond vibrations.

    Precision analytical balance

    Brand and Model
    XS205 Mettler Tolendo

    Specifications

    • Maximum capacity: 81/220g
    • Readability: 0.01 mg/ 0.1 mg

    Accessories

    • Density measurement
    • Pipette calibration

  • Wet measure analytical equipment

     

    Analytical high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

    Brand and Model
    Agilent Technologies 1260 Infinity

    Key features

    • This HPLC is fitted with an automatic sampler.
    • The detection mode is based on UV-Vis absorption.
    • The approximate wavelengths are between 215 - 360 nm.

    Plate reader

    Brand and Model
    Synergy H4

    Specifications

    • Detection modes include fluorescence Intensity, luminescence and UV/Vis absorbance.
    • System has both top and bottom probes for fluorescence measurements.
    • This system supports a reading of 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 well microplates.

    Microwave peptide synthesizer

    Brand and Model
    CEM liberty 1

    Key features
    It is a fully automated system for the synthesis of peptides. It allows the use of microwave energy for both coupling and deprotection steps.  This instrument also allows programmable cleavage and automated resin addition. 

    Microwave synthesizer for general organic synthesis

    Brand and Model
    CEM Discover and explorer SP

    Specification
    Operating volume:

    • 0.2 – 7 ml (10 ml pressure vial)
    • 2 – 25 ml (35 ml pressure vial)
    • 15 – 50 ml (80 ml pressure vial)
    • Open vessel 5 – 125 ml round bottom flask (ambient pressure)
    • Power: 300 W (maximum)
    • Temperature: 40 – 300°C

    This instrument is fitted with compressed air cooling system

    Semi-preparative HPLC

    Brand and Model
    Gilson

    Key features
    Capacity per run is approximately less than 10 mg/mL of sample. It has automated sampling and fraction collection functions.

    Freeze dryer

    Brand and Model
    Christ Alpha 1-2 LD Freeze Dryer

    Glovebox system

    Brand and Model
    PureLab HE Glovebox

    Specification

    • Size: 1250mm W x 780mm D x 900mm H
    • Purge gas: nitrogen

    Application
    This glovebox is designated for performing air or moisture sensitive reactions

    Solvent purifier

    Brand
    PureSolv Micro Solvent Purification System

    Solvent
    Toluene, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran