Nanoscale and Microscale Research Centre
The Nanoscale and Microscale Research Centre (NMRC), previously the Nottingham Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Centre, is a multi-disciplinary pure and applied research centre opened in 2007 and newly expanded in 2016. It is now situated in Cripps South Building.
The centre has expertise in nano and micro scale analysis across key areas including Carbon Nanostructures, Nanopharmaceuticals, Bionanotechnology, Nanoparticles, Single Molecule Nanoscience and Nanoscale Assembly.
It’s cross disciplinary nature enables nanoscale and microscale research across the Faculties at Nottingham.
Director of NMRC: Professor Andrei Khlobystov
X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)
The NNNC hosts a Liquid Phase Photoelectron Spectroscopy (LiPPS) and a Kratos Analytical Ultra-2008 XPS System. More information can be found
here
SEM, FIB-SEM and cryo-FIBSEM
Hosted as part of the Electron Microscopy Suite, there are nine scanning electron microscopes (SEM) and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopes (
FIB-SEM). The NNNC also has the ability for
cyro fixation and imaging of tissues at cryo temperatures for analysis in FIB-SEM and TEM. The microscopes are supported by a fully equipped
preparation laboratory.
The
NanoSight LM14 system in the NNNC enables users to view the sample under analysis and use the
Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) technology to calculate the particle size and size distribution
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
The NNNC hosts a state of the art high speed imaging
Raman system; the Horiba LabRAM HR. Raman spectroscopy and microscopy provides a uniquely sensitive tool for the non-invasive identification of the chemical and physical state of a wide range of samples, rapidly providing quantifiable identification of bulk and surface species.
Izon Nanoparticle Analysis System
The
qNano system from Izon is a bench-top system using Izon's proprietary Scanning Ion Occlusion Spectroscopy (SIOS) technique for fluid-borne nanoparticle analysis. Raw or analysed data can be viewed in real-time. The system in the NNNC is also equipped with the Variable Pressure Module (VPM), extending the range of nanoparticles that can be analysed.
The NNNC owns two state of the art
Asylum Research MFP-3D systems, supporting all major modes of imaging and force analysis inclusive of ambient and liquid operation. The separate instruments have added functionality with additional features such as overtone cantilever dynamic measurements for optimised phase imaging and high frequency cantilever dynamic measurements.
You can browse through the key research equipment based at the University of Nottingham using the kit catalogue system (Password required - UoN staff only)