The project aims at the establishment of three new research laboratories focused on advanced spectroscopic analysis of organic, inorganic, and hybrid materials. The analysis will cover both composition and chemical reactivity of materials, especially surfaces, interfaces and thin films. It will provide a broad access to unique tools for advanced spectroscopic analysis, allowing also in situ and operando measurements using a wide range of radiation (from radiofrequency through IR, UV-vis up to the X-ray range) based on laboratory and synchrotron sources. The application of 3D mapping, in situ and operando operation modes, will make these new facilities unique on the national and international scale.
The MAS-NMR lab will focus on NMR characterization of new materials in the solid state, including multinuclear experiments. The potential of analysis covers materials doped with transition metals, magnetic phases, zeolites, suspensions of polymers and gels, and large biomolecules. MAS-NMR will bring new options for precise analysis creating a field for in-depth insights into the designed nanostructures carrying the planned properties
The Nano-Peak will provide cutting-edge spectroscopic analysis of the surfaces and ultra-thin films. The ultrasensitive detection will enable chemical analysis (XPS/UPS/RAMAN/IRRAS/TPD) of extremally limited amounts of materials at the level of atomic monolayers in a very short time (seconds). Therefore, in situ analysis of the chemical structure, oxidation state of nanomaterials will be possible by tracing their modification upon changing external parameters, such as temperature or electron irradiation, in a quasi-real-time way.
The O-XAS at Solaris will apply complementary X-ray-based absorption techniques, which are specific to element, structure, valence, and coordination state, and thus, particularly useful for monitoring the redox changes in the course of the catalytic reactions. This information will enable us to monitor the catalyst dynamics in the operando mode. As a result, a comprehensive chemical analysis will be possible, which provides information that is unattainable by other experimental techniques, and unique on the scale of Central and East Europe.