Facilities

A Section of the SusMatLab Facility

The SusMatLab is housed in a 950 ft2 lab space in the James E Bertelsmayer Hall. The lab is equipped with the following facilities:

The Team in front of James E. Bertelsmeyer Hall

SusMatLAb is located within the 68,500-square-foot James E. Bertelsmeyer Hall, one of the newer buildings on campus.

Equipment

Anton Paar Litesizer 500 Dynamic Light Scattering Equipment with Dosino System

The Litesizer™ 500 is an instrument for characterizing nano- and microparticles in dispersions and solutions. It measures particle size, zeta potential, and molecular mass using dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoretic light scattering (ELS), and static light scattering (SLS) techniques.

The Metrohm 800 Dosino system accessory facilitates complex automation and liquid handling tasks, including sample transfers, pipetting, acid-base titration, and pH control.

TA Discovery Hybrid Rheometer (DHR 2)

The TA Discovery Hybrid Rheometer (DHR) showcases cutting-edge advancements from the global leader in rheology. This hybrid rheometer integrates a patented advanced drag cup motor, a second-generation magnetic bearing, a force rebalance transducer (FRT), and the innovative patent-pending True Position Sensor (TPS) within a single-head design. The DHR offers unparalleled performance with exceptional accuracy in direct strain control, direct stress control, and normal force measurement. It also incorporates TA’s well-known innovations, such as patented Smart Swap™ geometries, along with the broadest range of Smart Swap temperature systems and accessories available on the market.

THT Micro-reaction Calorimeter

The µRC micro reaction calorimeter from Thermal Hazard Technology (THT) is designed to conduct isothermal, step isothermal, temperature scanning, titration, and dissolution studies. It offers options for pressure measurement, solid addition, and gas flow. With a small sample requirement of up to 1.5 ml, the device enables rapid temperature shifts, as the minimal heat sink quickly reaches thermal equilibrium. A stable baseline and temperature change are typically achieved within just 20 minutes. The µRC’s Peltier modules manage sample temperatures across a range of –20 to 170°C without the need for external chillers or liquid nitrogen cooling.

Nicolet iS50 FTIR Spectrometer

The Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS50 FTIR Spectrometer features an integrated diamond ATR capable of mid- and far-IR analysis. This versatile instrument can be customized with various accessories and integrated software to address a wide range of analytical challenges efficiently. The Nicolet iS50 is a comprehensive materials analysis system designed for maximum flexibility, allowing it to be upgraded from a basic FTIR setup to a fully automated, multi-spectral range system capable of capturing spectra from far infrared to visible light.

Other Major Research Instrumentations

Investigators at SusMatLab have access to a broad range of advanced materials characterization equipment managed by the following centers: