Wet labs and Analytical lab

I-FIM houses multiple wet labs and an analytical lab dedicated to studying chemistry of polymer, membrane and composite samples, and harvest their potential as dynamically adaptive intelligent materials. In particular, strong emphasis is being given on synthesizing and functionalizing heterostructured intelligent membranes, such that that the selectivity and the permeability of such membranes can be controlled by externally stimuli such as temperature, pH, light and magnetic field. Material synthesis usually follow the standard recipes of filtration, distillation, sonication, centrifugation etc and are carried out in the multitude of fumehoods located in these labs. 3D and 2D printing technology to produce samples with specific shape, structure and dimension using resin composites from our newly discovered materials is also being pursued actively. The key to realizing the potential of our synthesized materials as Functional Intelligent Material’s (FIM) is to study their interaction with the environment. The wet labs and the analytical lab in I-FIM have been equipped with a variety of specialized tools to aid this investigation. 

Most of the equipment in the following table are open to non-IFIM users, subject to the booking and charging policy. Please contact Dr. Musen Chen (ms_c@nus.edu.sg) and Dr. Sourav Mitra (sourav_m@nus.edu.sg) for inquiries on equipment usage or sample submission.

 

List No. 


Key specifications for existing equipment
 

Picture 

A.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS)

To separate, identify, and quantify compounds in a mixture.

    • Autosampler (0.1 µL – 50 µL);
    • UV-Vis Detector (190 nm – 800 nm);
    • Refractive Index Detector;
    • Single Quadrupole MS Detector (m/z 2 – 2000 with 0.01 resolution);
    • Fraction Collector

Shimadzu LCMS-2050 (Nexera X3)

B.

UV-Vis-NIR Spectrophotometer

To measure absorbance or transmittance of liquid or solid sample in comparison to a reference or blank sample, or to quantify concentration.

1. UV-3600iPlus

  • Wavelength range: 185 nm - 3300 nm;
  • Resolution: max. 0.1 nm;
  • Liquid sample cuvette holder;
  • Film sample holder.

2. UV5 Nano

  • Wavelength range: 190 nm - 1100 nm;
  • Resolution: > 1.7 nm;
  • Liquid sample cuvette platform;
  • Micro volume platform for fast measurement (seconds) of µL liquid or films.

Shimadzu UV-3600iPlus

Mettler Toledo UV5 Nano

 

 

C.

Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)

To measure IR spectrum for characterization of chemical properties.

  • Wavenumber range: 7800 – 350 cm-1;
  • Resolution: max. 0.25 cm-1;

Attenuated Total Reflectance (QATR 10, diamond crystal) for direct measurement of liquid, film, and powder samples.

Shimadzu IRTracer-100
D. Fluorescence Spectrophotometer 

To include both steady-state and time-resolved dual capabilities.  

    • Steady-state fluorescence and phosphorescence emission measurement (300-1600 nm); 
    • Time-resolved fluorescence measurement (in the visible spectrum); 
    • Dual lamp housing containing a CW 450W Xenon source and UV xenon flash tube.

E.

DYNAMIC MECHANICAL ANALYZER (DMA) 

To measure the viscoelastic properties of soft samples (in air as well in liquid media) under controlled environmental conditions of temperature, pH and relative humidity (RH) 

    • Max. force 18N 
    • Pressure 1000 Pa to 1000 Gpa 
    • RH 5-95% 
    • Deformation amplitude up to 10000μm with resolution of 0.1nm 
    • Temperature -160 °C to 600 °C with ramping rate of <±1⁰C/min 

F.

Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) with an ellipsometer 

To measure mass with a sensitivity of ~ng/cm2, monitor energy change, and distinguish between structural changes caused by solvent uptake/release. Integrated with an electrochemistry module and potentiostat to allow for simultaneous QCM-D electrochemistry or QCM-D/Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) measurements 

    • Acoustic range 1-70 Hz 
    • Maximum mass sensitivity in liquid 0.5 ng/cm2 
    • Max. pressure 200 Bars 
    • Temperature range 4-150 °C 
    • Spectral range of ellipsometer 450-1000 nm 
    • Voltage (current) resolution of potentiostat 3 μV (30 fA) 
    • An optical window to the QCM sensor allows UV induced measurements 

G.

Bipotentiostat  

A state of the art bipotentiostat with a broad current and voltage measurement range 

    • Multichannel capabilities to run multiple experiments simultaneously; 
    • Every individual channel is independent; 
    • Voltage measurement (±10 V, ±5 V, ±2.5 V, ±250 mV, ±25 mV); 
    • Current measurement (±1 A down to ±10 nA).
 

H.

Scanning Probe System (VersaSCAN) 

A multifunctional compact scanning system equipped with a Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM), a Scanning Vibrating System (SVET), a LEIS (Localised Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscope) and a Scanning Kelvin Probe (SKP) 

SECM  

    • Soft disposable electrode: > 50 SECM experiments per probe 
    • Carbon paste as electrode material with electrode diameter >10 µm 
    • Tip sample distance control >2 μm  
    • Modes of operation Constant Distance and Constant Height 

SVET 

    • Electrometer Range ±10V 
    • Radically better Noise Sensitivity (13 fA/Hz) 
    • Piezo Unit 0-30μm vibration perpendicular to sample 

LEIS 

    • Electrometer Range ±10V 
    • ADC Voltage resolution up to 305μV at X1 gain 
    • Bandwidth 3 MHz 

SKP 

    • Noise Sensitivity 13fA/ second 
    • Frequency Range 1mHz up to 250 kHz 
    • Full Scale Sensitivity from 10nV to 1V 

Potentiostat (x2) 

    • Bandwidth 1MHz  
    • Max voltage scan range ±10V (resolution 300µV) 
    • Max current scan range ±650mA (resolution 60µA) 
    • Min resolution for voltage measurement 6µV  
    • Min resolution for current measurement 6pA 
    • Frequency range for EIS measurement 10µHz to 1 MHz

I.

SurPASS 3 SURFACE ZETA POTENTIAL 

Measurement of the zeta potential down to a few millivolt at the solid/liquid interface by means of streaming potential and streaming current measurement.  

    • Streaming potential ±2000 mV  
    • Streaming current ±2 mA  
    • Cell resistance 5 Ω to 20 MΩ  
    • Pressure measurement 3500 mbar 
    • Conductivity 0.1 mS/m to 1000 mS/m 
    • Temperature 20 °C to 40 °C 
    • pH value pH 2 to pH 12 
    • Supported samples Both Porous and Non-porous films, membranes and particles 

J.

Membrane permeation Setup 

A high throughput home-designed setup for automated measurement of membrane permeability to different gaseous mixtures  

    • Flexible membrane module to support membranes of different material, structure and dimensions. 
    • Feedthrough of 7 different test gases, each controlled by individual MFC  
    • Controlled Evaporator Mixer and temperature controller to mix gases in different user-defined concentrations 
    • Integrated with a high-resolution mass spectrometer to identify the permeate gases 
 

 

 

K.

Reverse Osmosis Setup 

To study reverse osmosis (RO) in membranes using feedwater with variable pH and conductance. Can be applied to investigate potential smart membranes for water purification and ion extraction applications 

    • Can simultaneously measure flow rates in up to 3 separate membrane samples of different material, structure and dimensions 
    • To extract the retentate and permeate flows precisely, the system works using a smart closed loop PID logic to maintain constant pressure across each membrane 
    • Automated measurement with controlled values pH and conductance for the feedwater 

L

Drop Shape Analyzer (DSA)

To measure contact angle, surface free energy, and surface/interfacial tension of solid surfaces and liquids. Methods: sessile drop, double sessile drop, pendent drop, etc.

1. DSA25E

  • Dosing drop volume (water, organics, etc.) in µL;
  • Tiltable platform and drop control for investigation of sliding, advancing and receding angles;
  • Platform temperature control of 5°C – 90°C and inert gas (Ar) environment are available

2. DSA30M

  • Dosing drop volume in picolitre (pL);
  • Liquid must be free of particles.
 

 

KRÜSS DSA25E

 

 

 

RÜSS DSA30M

M

Zetasizer

To measure particle/molecule size, zeta potential, molecular weight, concentration (for size < 500 nm) and quantify colloidal stability, by light scattering methods.

  • Measurable range for particle size test: 0.3 nm – 10 μm;
  • Auto titrator for pH titration;
  • Temperature range: RT – 120°C.

Malvern Panalytical Zetasizer Ultra

N

3D Printer

 

To construct 3D object from CAD or digital 3D models.

  1. Photon Mono X 6k – Stereolithography (SLA)
  • Horizontal resolution: 34 μm (6k);
  • Z axis accuracy: 0.01 mm;
  • Contrast ratio: 350:1;
  • Printing speed: max. 80 mm/h;
  • Printing material: resins.

2. Kobra Max – Fused deposition modeling (FDM)

  • Nozzle Size: ø 0.4 mm;
  • Printing speed: max. 100 mm/h;
  • Printing material: PLA/ABS/PETG/TPU.

ANYCUBIC Photon Mono X 6k

 

 

ANYCUBIC Kobra Max

O

Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES)

For semi-quantitative elemental screening and quantitative concentration analysis.

  • Automated sampling system;
  • Currently only accept aqueous sample. Sample digestion service is not available;
  • The sample concentration is suggested to be diluted to ppb or ppm level and to be filtered before test if there are particles.

Agilent 5900