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Nanomaterial Inks

Nanomaterial Inks

Infrastructure awards from the Department of Energy and State of Idaho have allowed The Estrada Group to purchase a suite of instruments for nanomaterials ink/fluid development.  This suite of instruments includes tools for creating nanoparticles and 2D nanoflakes using top-down physical methods, which complement the bottom-up wet chemical synthesis capabilities. A suite of characterization tools allows for particle size analysis through dynamic light scattering (DLS), and thermophysical properties characterization through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A state-of-the-art tensiometer also allows for characterization of solid-fluid interactions, e.g. wettability and surface tension. A suite of rheometers allow for tuning fluid properties to specific requirements for aerosol jet printing, inkjet printing, microsdispense printing, screen printing, electrohydrodynamic jet printing, and plasma jet printing. UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and potentiostats further enhance characterization capabilities of these labs.

Interested  collaborators may contact Prof. David Estrada to learn more about equipment capabilities. A full list of equipment is here:

  • 4 fume hoods equipped with hot plates, mixers, and various glassware for nanomaterials synthesis through chemical reactions.
  • Branson 2800 variable temperature ultra-sonicator
  • 6 Eppendorf adjustable volume pipettes
  • 6 Fisherbrand mini-centrifuges
  • Mettler Toledo Analytical Balance
  • Thermo Scientific Legend Micro 21 Microcentrifuge
  • Think Planetary Centrifuge
  • Heraeus Megafuge 8 with TX-150 Cell Cult Pkg (8 x 50 ml)
  • Thermo Scientific Heratherm Programmable Gravity Convection Oven
  • Beckman/Coulter Optima XE-90 Ultracentrifuge
    • 90,000 maximum RPM
    • 694,000g
    • 0 – 40 °C temperature range
    • SW41-Ti swing bucket rotor with 90 mL capacity
  • Retsch EMAX High Energy Ball Mill System (qty. 2)
    • Max 2000 RPM
    • Water cooled for temperature controlled grinding
    • Operation with 2 grinding jars
    • Stainless steel, chrome steel, and zirconia jars and media
  • Silverson L5MA Stand Mixer (qty. 2)
    • High shear mixer for particle dispersion
    • Capacity from 1 ml to 12 liters
    • Maximum speed of 6000 rpm under full load
    • Multiple workheads for different application including: disintegrating head, emulsor screens, particle size reduction, and axial flow heads.
  • Biocomp Instruments Nano Gradient Fractionator/Former
  • QSonica Q125 probe-tip ultra-sonicator
  • QSonica Q700 probe-tip ultra-sonicator
  • Buchi Corporation Rotavapor R-100 Rotary Evaporator with I-100 Controller
  • Labconco FreeZone 4.5L Benchtop Freeze Dryer w/PTFE Coated SS 12 Port Drying Chamber
    (-105 °C)
  • KrosFlo KR2i Fully Automated Tangential Flow Filtration System
    • 10 mL – 15 L volume capacity
    • 100 cm2 to 5000 cm2 filtration area
  • MBraun UniLab Pro PS Glovebox System
    • 3 glove system
    • Copper catalyst and carbon filter work together to provide an in-box atmosphere of O2 and H2O <1ppm
    • Equipped with scale and hot plate
    • Capable of air sensitive chemical reactions, with top purge valve to snorkel hood for easy environmental purge and generated gas removal
  • Brookfield Engineers Lab DV3TLV Rheometer
  • Rheosense microVISC and Temperature Controlled Rheometer
  • Brookfield Engineers Lab DVNext Cone/Plate Rheometer
  • Brookhaven NanoBrook Omni Submicron Particle Sizer (DLS) and Zeta Potential Analyzer (PALS)
    • < 0.3 nm to 10 um
    • 15o , 90o , 173o measurement angles
    • control -5 to 110 C
    • Sample Cells 10 mL – 3 mL
    • Concentration Range 0.1 ppm to 50 mg/mL (sample dependent)
  • Netzsch STA 449 F5 Jupiter Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer
    • RT to 1600°C
    • TGA resolution: 0.025 µg
    • Heating and Cooling Rate: 0.001 K/min to 50 K/min
    • DSC resolution: < 1 µW
    • Mass Range: 1 u to 300 u
    • Atmospheres: inert, oxidizing, static, dynamic, vacuum
  • Netzsch STA 449 F1 Jupiter Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer Coupled to Netzsch QMS 403C and Bruker Tensor 27 FTIR
    • RT to 2000°C
    • TGA resolution: 0.025 µg
    • Heating and Cooling Rate: 0.001 K/min to 50 K/min
    • DSC resolution: < 1 µW
    • Atmospheres: inert, oxidizing, static, dynamic, vacuum
    • Mass Range: 1 u to 300 u
    • Electron Impact Ion Source
    • Quartz-glass Capillary 75 µm diameter, in metal tube, with supply coil, easily exchangeable
    • mid-IR source 4000 to 400 cm-1
    • Resolution: <1 cm-1
    • KBr pellet holder and press
  • Agilent Cary 5000 UV-Vis-NIR Spectrophotometer
    • Measure beyond 8.0 absorbance units with reference beam attenuation.
    • Measure 175 to 3300 nm using a PbSmart NIR detector for lower stray light and extended photometric range.
    • Cary WinUV software is modular software with powerful analysis and enhanced transfer and report export capabilities.
    • Versatile set of accessories for materials research, including spectral and diffuse reflectance.
    • Nitrogen purging—separate purging in the sample and monochromator compartments to reduce oxygen and water vapor in the ultraviolet.