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Chemistry

Shared instrumentation available in the Chemistry Department includes NMR, FT-IR, UV-Vis, fluorescence, EPR, Mass-Spec, X-Ray, AFM and DSC. Full-time staff support these facilities. In-house electronic and machine shops are also available for use.

Chemical & Biological Engineering

Catalysis Laboratory

Three flow reactor systems with GCs. Nicolet FT-IR spectrometer with in-situ DRIFTS cell. HP diode array UV-VIS spectrometer. Mass spectrometer for analyzing gases at ambient pressure. High temperature aging systems for catalyst sintering studies on model and conventional catalysts. Sabre Tube reactor for aging of model catalyst samples.

Microfluidics Laboratory
  • Nicolet 870 IR spectrometer with step-scan, time-resolved spectroscopy capabilities to perform nanomachined-waveguide-assisted Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (NWA-FTIRS). This technique allows probing vibronic modes of molecules in the nanochannels, measuring spatially averaged pH value and its modulation in the nanochannels in response to applied gate voltages, and detecting translocation of molecules in the cross-sectional plane of the nanochannels.
  • Inductively coupled high-density plasma deposition and etching reactor equipped with multiple internal reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (MIR-FTIRS) and plasma diagnostics. This reactor will be used for part of nanofluidic channel fabrication.

Nanofabrication and Bio-Nano Materials Facilities:

As a result of a $2M grant from the State of New Mexico to promote engineering collaborations with Health Sciences a specialized laboratory houses state-of-the-art biomaterials development and characterization tools within a BSL level 2 facility: including a bio-AFM, a laser-scanning confocal microscope, live cell imaging microscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoretic mobility, and micro-Raman facilities, along with advanced materials development capabilities such as aerosol-assisted nanoparticle generators and atomic layer deposition, all within dedicated BSL labs.

The Advanced Materials Laboratory on the south campus houses additional materials science research facilities with full capabilities to synthesize, process and characterize bulk materials, thin films, and nanoparticles, including: capabilities for synthesis of air-sensitive precursors using standard glove box and Schlenk techniques; instruments for electrochemistry characterization (potentiostat); scanning ion-selective electrode apparatus (SIET) with computerized motion controller, programmable pipette puller, and vibration isolation table for measuring concentrations down to picomolar levels; gas adsorption analysis of pore volume, pore size distribution, and surface area of bulk or thin film materials; FTIR spectrometer for surface chemistry characterization; spectroscopic ellipsometer, JA Wollan M44 for film thickness/ref index; film deposition by spin-, dip-, spray-coating under clean or atmosphere controlled conditions; aerosol generators for particles 0.01-1 micron; X-ray diffractometer (PANalytical X’Pert MPD Pro) to characterize nanocomposites; Asylum Research MFP-3D-BioAFM mounted on an inverted Nikon TE2000-U fluorescence microscope for simultaneous liquid/air AFM and hyperspectral fluorescence (with Nuance spectral camera) and with a Cyto-Viva attachment for nanoscale imaging.

Center for Biomedical Engineering (CBME)

The center operates a contiguous 15,000 sq. ft. laboratory suite in UNM's new Centennial Engineering Center (opened September 2008). This laboratory contains the following equipment and facilities for biotechnology and bioengineering research: (i) apparatus and materials for biomaterials engineering and surface analysis, including flow cytometry, atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry, tensiometer, contact angle goniometry, circular dichroism spectrophotometry, surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and various commercial and custom-built fluorescence spectroscopy; (ii) apparatus and materials for cell and tissue engineering, including laminar flow hoods, shakers, incubators, centrifuges, sonicators, cryogenic refrigerator, walk-in cold room, walk-in warm room, a BioSafety Level 2 room, Millipore ultrapure water systems, autoclaves, thermocycler, optical tweezers, and microscopes; (iii) apparatus and materials for biosensors engineering including metal evaporator, soft lithography processing station (with photoresist spin coater, Pirannha etch, bake oven, UV exposure lamp, wet station and UV mask aligner), high-precision mill, Biodot computer-controlled spotting system, knife plotter, fluorescence microscope and stereo microscope; thin film engineering and characterization; and (iv) apparatus and materials for biochemical engineering including a complete set of organic and bioorganic synthesis equipment and fume hoods, probe sonicator, absorption spectrophotometer, high-pressure liquid chromatograph, and Langmuir trough. The suite also includes an optics laboratory (~300 sq.ft.) that contains several optics tables, optomechanics, and optics. In addition to the main 15,000 sq. ft. lab is the Keck Nanofluidics Laboratory with a full suite of equipment for nano and microfluidics engineering.

The center laboratory is designed in accordance with best practices of industrial and large-scale academic laboratories. The CBME laboratory features a common area of laboratory benches, flanked by enclosed rooms in which large and/or sensitive equipment is located. Within the common laboratory area are fume hoods, sinks, cabinets, and an array of laboratory benches.

CBME houses an office suite containing 4300 sq ft, divided between faculty, staff and students. Faculty and staff have approximately 125 sq. ft. offices. Postdoctoral researchers and students have shared offices.

CBME associates have licensed access to a number of sophisticated data analysis and image processing software tools, such as ENVI (Environment for Visualizing Images), Image processing and PLS_Toolbox for Matlab, ImageJ and in-house written routines in Matlab for targeted data analysis goals. The center also houses a Zeiss LSM 510 confocal scanning laser microscope; 2 fluorescence microscopes; and electrophoresis equipment, including a Beckman Pace 5000 capillary electrophoresis instrument. Equipment for mammalian tissue culture is also available, including an autoclave, biosafety cabinets, incubators, refrigerators, hemocytometers, shakers, centrifuges, sonicators, and a stereomicroscope. The CBME laboratory has a vibrationally-isolated space, which consists primarily of laboratory bench top areas to house specialty analytical instrumentation (e.g., atomic force microscopy, Langmuir-Blodgett film trough, a horizontal biomaterials deposition trough, chemostats, and instron, and protein adsorption apparatus, etc.).

Each laboratory has computers open to all group members, along with those required to run specialized equipment. Individual researchers and support staff have state of the art computers equipped with basic writing and data analysis software. Advanced software for special applications (image analysis, equipment monitoring and control) is provided as needed.

Center for High Technology Materials (CHTM)

CHTM occupies a new (1997), $14 M, 60,000 sq. ft. building provided by the State and University of New Mexico with complete cleanroom and laboratory facilities for advanced research in optoelectronics, nanoelectronics, and related areas.

Nanostructure Fabrication
  • laser sources for imaging interferometric nanolithography including: Ar-ion (364/352 nm), YAG (3rd, 4th, and 5th harmonic), and an intracavity doubled Ar-ion (257 nm).
  • Two experimental precision-stage lithography systems as well as a number of bench set-ups
  • esearch-grade optical scatterometer, consisting of multiple-wavelength (633 nm – 325 nm) illumination.
  • ultiple-axis sample stage to provide full measurement capability of periodic structures having linewidths of several microns to sub-0.05 micron.
Characterization and Testing of Structures
  • Confocal microscopy and photoluminescence with submicron resolution.
  • Cryogenic optical and magneto-optical characterization.
  • THz characterization using photogeneration from Ti:sapphire and semiconductor source.
  • Ultrafast optical measurements for analysis of coherence in quantum dots.
  • High speed digital sampling to 50 GHz and microwave spectrum analyzer to 40 GHz.
Semiconductor Processing

CHTM also houses a 3500-square-foot cleanroom with four bays and associated service chases.

  • The first bay is designated for photolithography rated at class 100. Housed in this bay are two UV Karl Suss MJB-3 mask aligners, two spinner stations, a develop bench, several ovens for photoresist baking, a metal lift-off station, and two solvent benches.
  • The second bay houses an acid and a base wet bench, an AlphaStep 500 profilometer, two Technics reactive ion etchers, a rapid thermal processor, an RTA, and an O2 plasma descummer.
  • The third bay is dedicated to a reactive ion beam etching system and two e-beam evaporators.
  • The fourth bay has a Plasmatherm ICP etcher utilizing Cl2, BCl3, SiH4, H2, Ar, and N2 process gases. A second tool, a Plasmaquest ECR plasma etcher utilizes Ar, SiH4, SiCl4, H2, N2, and O2 gases.
Materials Growth and Characterization
  • Omicron NanoTechnology variable-temperature scanning tunneling microscope.
  • 1 UHV-CVD/MBE system equipped with Tectra atom source, Ge effusion cell, and 600-amu quadrupole mass spectrometer. The system is integrated with an analysis chamber equipped with XPS and Auger spectrometers.
  • 2 MOCVD reactors, one dedicated to GaN-based materials growth and one for InGaAs and InGaAsN.
  • 4 MBE reactors, one for InGaAlAs, one for Si and magnetic materials, and two for III-V materials.
  • Optical, field-emission scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy (on-campus).
  • Hall mobility measurement, C-V profiling, and complete DLTS.
  • Photoluminescence (300K to 4K), Raman scattering, and confocal photoluminescence.
  • Philips double and triple crystal X-Ray rocking curves.
  • Research atomic force microscope (Thermo) and near field scanning optical microscope (Nanonics).
  • Nicolet FTIR spectrometer and Cary Spectrophotometer.
Computational Resources

Extensive capabilities in microwave circuits simulation, integrated optics, diffraction calculation (RCWA and FTDT), optoelectronic device modeling, 3-D lithography simulation. The UNM/Albuquerque High Performance Computing Center (AHPCC) can provide high performance computational facilities for modeling and simulation efforts, if needed. The AHPCC has on-site a 512 processor and a 128 processor parallel Linux Supercluster as well several smaller 32 processor parallel clusters, serial computers, and an extensive visualization resources.

Machine and electronic shops are available at CHTM for free of charge for Prof. Han. A science and engineering library is located on campus, and UNM faculty/students have free online access to most relevant journals and publications.

Earth and Planetary Sciences

The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences operates a Geo/Analytical Laboratory that provides a broad range of chemical analysis capabilities to support research activities across the UNM campus, including the UNM Health Sciences Center. These include:

  • Dionex DX 500 Ion Chromatograph for determination of anions, organics and speciation of cations at ppb levels in aqueous solutions.
  • Metrohm 760 Ion Chromatograph.
  • Perkin Elmer Optima 5300 DV Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer with New Wave UP 213 Laser Ablation Unit.
  • Rigaku ZSX Primus II Wavelength Dispersive XRF Spectrometer
  • Perkin Elmer NexION 2000 ICP-MS for trace element analysis.

Pharmacy

Mini spray dryer B-290 model (Buchi laboratories, Switzerland). This spray dryer will be housed in a BSL-2 Biosafety cabinet (Baker Inc.) inside a laboratory that will be a designated BSL-2 lab. Stability chambers inside this lab where the stability/viability of spray dried bacteria at different humidity and temperature conditions will be tested. The particle size analysis of these dry powder bacteria will be characterized using a Malvern Zetasizer Nano ZS instrument.

Center for Emerging Energy Technologies

Keck Bio-electrochemistry Laboratory (900 sq. ft.) will be the main facility used for this project. It is equipped with 2 PAR potentiostats and 2 Gimreypotentiostats with impedance analyzers, two hoods and climate control areas and spectrometers (UV-VIS) and ELISA reads for general enzyme biochemistry characterization.

Materials Electrochemistry Laboratory (600 sq. ft.) is equipped with Fuel Cell Technologies (with DMFC module) and Hydrogenics fuel cell test stations, Arbin Instruments 24-channel test stand modified into an electrochemical testing system will be dedicated to the rapid screening tool development; 2 PAR potentiostats, and Pine Instruments Bi-potentiostat with two rotating disk and ring-disk electrode sets, and multiple HP power and signal generators, all equipped with appropriate computer interface and data acquisition and processing systems.

Materials Synthesis Laboratory (600 sq. ft.) is suited for the inorganic and composite materials synthesis and includes box and clam furnaces with appropriate temperature controls, gas handling, hoods, hot plate and conventional press, experimental set-ups for spray pyrolysis and spray drying, spray coating, throws and dip-coating sets for immobilization materials development. It includes also facilities for synthesis of air-sensitive precursors using standard glove box and Schlenk techniques and high temperature gas furnaces (T = 1600°C)