SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL SERVICES

Spectroscopic Techniques Laboratory

A centralised spectroscopy service for molecular spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance, supporting advanced materials research with FT-IR, UV-Vis-NIR and EPR techniques.

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Centralised spectroscopy for advanced materials research

The ICMAB Spectroscopic Techniques Laboratory provides centralised equipment and installations mainly for ICMAB research groups, while also being open to external scientific users.

The service offers high-level technology and quality to support the research lines currently underway at the institute, with equipment for EPR, UV-Vis-NIR and FT-IR spectroscopy.

EPR measurements are supported by highly qualified technical staff, while other equipment is mainly used under a self-service regime after training for internal users.

Main laboratory capabilities

A spectroscopy platform for analytical, physicochemical and molecular characterization of organic, inorganic and paramagnetic materials.

FT-IR spectroscopy

Infrared molecular spectroscopy for powders, films, polymers, liquids and KBr pellet measurements.

UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy

Absorbance, transmittance and reflectance measurements for liquid and solid samples.

EPR spectroscopy

Electron paramagnetic resonance for transient and stable paramagnetic species and free radicals.

User access

Self-service access for trained internal users and technical support for external users.

Equipment

The laboratory provides FT-IR, UV-Vis-NIR and EPR instrumentation for molecular spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance, temperature-dependent EPR and analytical studies of materials.

FTIR

Spectrophotometer Jasco 4700. Energy range: 300-7800 cm-1. The Service is provided with a Attenuated Total Reflectance accessory (ATR) for powder samples, films, polymers, liquids, etc. Powder samples can also be measured making KBr pellets.
This equipment is of self-service management for internal users, who have been previously trained by the technicians. However, the technicians are needed for the external users

UV-Vis-NIR

There are two double beam UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer, a by Jasco V-780 and a Jasco V-770 with operational range of 190-3300 nm and also a Shimadzu UV-Vis 1700 spectrophotometer with operational range of 200-800 nm.

Liquid samples can be measured in absorbance or transmittance mode mainly using 1 cm or 1 mm quartz cuvettes. The three equipments are of self-service management for internal users, who have been previously trained by the technicians. However, the technicians are needed for the external users.

For solid samples it is available a Diffuse Reflectance Sphere DRA-2500 accessory in the UV-Vis-NIR Jasco V-770 spectrophotometer, with operational range of 190-3300 nm. Solid samples can be measured mainly in reflectance or transmittance mode.

A qualified technician is always needed for running the DRA-2500 accessory.

EPR

Bruker ELEXYS E500 X band EPR spectrometer equipped with a variable temperature unit, a field frequency (F/F) lock accessory and built in NMR Gaussmeter. There are different cavities for the different measurements needed. A qualified technician is always needed for running this equipment.

Request Service

Internal users should first contact the service technicians to receive training and access instructions. External users should contact the technical team to define the measurements and complete the corresponding service form.

INTERNAL USERS
First contact with the Service Technicians Víctor Vallejo (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., ext. 436100). They will train the users to manage the equipment by themselves because it works in a self-service regime for internal users.
All users must register in the database registration of the equipment every time they use it, pointing out the time they have spent doing the measurement, the group's IP and the project's number.

EXTERNAL USERS
First contact with the Service Technicians Vega Lloveras (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., ext. 436100) in order to arrange the details of the measurements. At the same time, a service form must be filled in. Every equipment has its own service form. There exists the possibility of working with the apparatus in a self-service regime.
In addition to this, all users must also register in the database of the equipment every time they use it.

FT-IR

Follow the general procedure

Download service form

UV-Vis-NIR

1. Liquid measurements.
Follow the general procedure.
2. Solid measurements using Diffuse Reflectance Sphere (DRA-2500) accessory.
The technicians are always needed for running the DRA-2500 accessory, for internal as well as for external users. Contact with them (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., ext. 436100) in order to arrange the details of the measurements.

At the same time, a service form must be filled in.
In addition to this, all users must also register in the database of the equipment every time they use it.

Download service form

EPR

First contact with the Service Technician Vega Lloveras (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., ext. 436100) in order to arrange the details of the measurements. At the same time, a service form must be filled in.

Download service form

1

Contact
Contact the service technicians.

2

Define technique
Select FT-IR, UV-Vis-NIR or EPR workflow.

3

Training / form
Internal users train; external users submit a form.

4

Measurement
Use self-service or technician-supported access.

5

Register use
Record time, group IP and project number.