MPRI Centralised LaboratoriesGerrard Peters

School of Physics

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Introduction

• Centralised laboratories houses similar pieces of equipment– Better accessibility of equipment to researchers– Provides a wider scope for preparing and analysing materials

• MPRI Centralised Laboratories– Thin Films Lab– Furnace Lab– Sample Preparation Lab

• Research labs are utilised by :– Physics researchers and post graduate students– Students from other schools and faculties including;

• Chemistry• Biology• Metallurgical Engineering• Mechanical Engineering

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Thin Films Laboratory

• Houses various deposition systems• Can deposit ~100nm thick layers of most metals (Al, Au, Cr

etc,), and Organic thin film layers: pentacene

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Thin Films Laboratory

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PLD (pulsed laser deposition) system• Hard coatings and protective layers - Transition metal Carbides and nitrides B4C, TiC, NbC, NbN,

RF Sputtering system• Single/Multi metallic layers, nano particles, Ti, Nb, Hf,• diamond like carbon: doped & pristine• Compounds: Oxides- BiFeO3, carbides, nitrides, oxynitrides , composite oxides

Thin Films Laboratory

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DC Sputtering system• transparent conducting oxides• reactive sputtering of composite oxides and oxynitrides• Modification: multi-layer thin films

Thermal evaporation system • High vapor pressure materials Al, Au, Cr,• Organic thin film layers

Thin Films Laboratory

SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope)with EDS attachment• Large chamber (sample size up to 60mm dia x 40mm height)• 50nm resolution (W-filament)• Elemental surface analysis

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I-V (electrical measurement) system• two point and 4 point in air and at 50K - 325K • Photoconductive experiments Photovoltaic materials: low cost• Pulse measurements: C-V-t

Furnace Laboratory

• Carbolite tube furnace (max temp. ~1100°C)• Carbolite tube furnace(max temp. ~1700°C)• Sentro Tech tube furnace – 2 zone (max temp. ~1700°C)• RF furnace (max temp. ~1400°C)• Drying ovens

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Sample Preparation Laboratory

• Precision cutting saws• Metallographic polishing machines• Variety of optical and stereo microscopes• Facilities for working with chemicals

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Sample Preparation Laboratory

Low speed diamond saw diamond wire saw

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Sample Preparation Laboratory

Metallographic polisher Optical/stereo microscopes

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Contact information

• For use of the Centralised facilities all initial contact to be made with Prof. Elias Haddad

• For more information on the facilities ;• Thin Films Laboratory : Dr. Daniel Wamwangi• Furnace Laboratory : Gerrard Peters• Sample Prep. Laboratory : Gerrard Peters