Analytical Instruments

Our instruments are located in three different buildings on the Durham campus of UNH.

Reservation Software 

If you are a registered user of our instruments, you may access our new instrument reservation software here: timecat.unh.edu.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

The NMR is a powerful tool for the analysis of sequence, conformation, and other molecular attributes of biologically significant molecules, organics, and polymers, and also in the rapidly expanding areas of organometallic and inorganic NMR. Kinetic and dynamic studies can be done on nearly all NMR active elements. Both 1-D and 2-D experiments are now offered including: INEPT, DEPT, carbon-carbon coupling detection (INADEQUATE), COSY, NOESY, ROESY, TOCSY, HMQC/HSQC/HMBC, and many others.

Three modern NMR spectrometers are operational: a Varian Mercury 400 MHz NMR for routine organic work, a Varian UnityINOVA 500 MHz NMR with inverse probe, broadband probe and a Varian nanoprobe which is an HRMAS (High Resolution / Magic Angle Spinning) probe with the capability to examine samples as small as 40 mL. This probe can be used for swelled polymers, on-bead combinatorial work, oligosaccharides, and other biologics and a Varian UnityINOVA 400 MHz Widebore Solids Spectrometer equipped with a Multi-Nuclear Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) probe.

Ultraviolet-Visible-Near-Infrared Spectrophotometry

The Cary 500 UV/Vis/NIR Spectrophotometer covers the wavelength range of 3300 nm (near infrared or NIR) to 175 nm (ultraviolet or UV) with an accuracy of 0.1 nm in the UV/Vis range and 0.4 nm in the NIR range. This instrument uses a double beam, double out-of-plane Littrow monochromator and dual double-sided gratings with up to 3 sources. Detection in the UV/Vis range is with a high performance R928 photomultiplier tube and, in the NIR, with a low noise, electrothermally-controlled PbS photocell. Spectral bandwidths from 0.01 - 5.00 nm (UV/Vis) and 0.04 - 20.0 nm (NIR) are possible. Signal averaging is available from 0.033 to 999 seconds and scan rates up to 2000 nm/min (UV/VIS) and 8000 nm/min (NIR). Accessories currently include: square cell and cylindrical cell (gas and liquid), as well as a variable-angle reflectance (VASRA) accessory and highly-adaptable, solid-sample holders for films, blocks, slides, and membranes.

Infrared Spectrometry

The Thermo Nicolet iS10 FTIR is a general-purpose, Windows XP controlled instrument designed for easy operation using the OMNIC 8 software. The resolution of the spectrometer is 0.4 cm-1, and the spectral range is 7800 to 350 cm-1. The sample chamber and optics are purged with air with a dew point of -95oF. We also have a diamond ATR accessory with a spectral range cutoff of 525 cm-1 for use with most samples. For more information click on iS10FTIR.pdf to open the spec sheet.

X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

The Kratos Axis HS XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) system offers surface analysis, surface chemical mapping, and depth profiling of metallic, semi-metallic, and nonmetallic samples as deep as 1 nm. The sample is evacuated to 10-9 Torr or better, for quality measurements. The system is designed around a 127 mm mean radius hemispherical analyzer, which is equipped with a triple channeltron detection system for improved sensitivity. By using a magnetic immersion lens, high sensitivity is apparent on small analysis areas. A standard feature is XPS Imaging, which goes down to the 30 um level. The charge neutralization system allows high resolution spectra to be obtained from insulating materials such as polymers using either the standard Mg/Al source or the Al monochromatic source. The instrument is controlled by the VISION data system, on a SUN computer workstation and a Windows-like operating system. To learn more about XPS, look up XPS or ESCA (Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis) on Kratos’ web site at www.Kratos.com.

Scanning Electron Microscopy

The Amray 3300FE field emission SEM with PGT Imix-PC microanalysis system provides three-dimensional visual interpretation and elemental analysis of a specimen surface. The electron optics allow a depth of focus nearly 300X that of the light microscope, as well as a magnification range from 15X to 100kX at accelerating voltages from 1-25kV. The SEM resolution at 25kV is 1.5 nm. The 2048x2048 frame buffer allows high resolution (4.8 MB .tif) micrographs to be saved on the SEM computer and/or transferred directly to your office computer via ethernet or CD. Imaging modes available are: full field, split screen, dual magnification, variable partial field, spot, and elemental mapping.

Transmission Electron Microscopy

A Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) is available in the Electron Microscopy Facility (Kendall Hall). The Zeiss/LEO 922 Omega TEM is a research microscope with accelerating voltages of 120 and 200kV and has magnification from 80X to 1,000,000X with a resolution line of 0.12nm. The in-column energy filter allows researchers to look at unstained or faintly stained materials and tissues. The high resolution objective lens allows the user to tilt a single-grid specimen holder plus or minus 15 degrees.

Confocal Microscopy

The Zeiss LSM 510 Meta laser scanning confocal microscope is used primarily by researchers in the biological sciences to image fluorescent probes in cells and tissues. However, confocal microscopes are finding increasing use in non-biological applications as well. This microscope is based on Zeiss' Axio Imager upright research microscope and is equipped with ICS optics for high image quality. The motorized microscope is supported by LSM 510 software which automatically identifies the microscope settings and the objectives used and which controls all movements and measurements carried out by the system with high precision. Unlike conventional fluorescence microscopes, the confocal microscope can collect in-focus fluorescence from thin optical slices within relatively thick specimens (typically at least 100 um for biological). The automatic collection of z-stacks (a series of images taken at different focal planes) within such relatively thick samples allows 3-D images, animations, and maximum intensity projections (brightest pixels from z-stack combined in a single image) to be generated. The Meta detector on the Zeiss instrument allows the distribution of multiple fluorophores with overlapping emission spectra to be imaged within a single sample and can be used while collecting z-stacks. The confocal was funded through a National Science Foundation MRI grant (#0618719).

Click here to see the confocal brochure which highlights uses for the confocal laser scanning microscope.

Click here to see the Confocal FAQ page.

Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy

The AMR 3300FE SEM is equipped with a PGT Imix-PC energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis system, which allows the operator to control the microscope beam position while using the EDS software. The system uses an atmospheric thin-window detector capable of detecting elemental X-rays. X-ray maps of up to 8 elements can be obtained simultaneously. The digital images and X-ray maps can be stored on a CD for later viewing and analysis, and X-ray elemental maps can be color coded by element. Images can be printed using a Hewlett Packard DeskJet 3520 printer. Software is available for qualitative, semi-quantitative, and full-quantitative elemental analysis. 

Becton-Dickinson FACSCalibur Flow Cytometer

The Becton-Dickinson FACSCalibur Flow Cytometer (June, 2000 mfr. date) is a four-color, dual-laser, bench-top system capable of cell analysis using forward scatter, side scatter, and detection of fluorescence in four distinct color regions: > 670 nm (deep red), 653-669 nm (red), 564-606 nm (orange), and 515-545 nm (green). The unit has a Mac G4 host computer, and most instrument functions are computer controlled. The unit has two lasers for exciting fluorochromes: an argon laser, which emits sapphire-colored light at 488 nm, and a red diode laser emitting light at 635 nm. This unit is best suited for the analysis of aqueous suspensions of cells or particles with diameters between 1 and 50 um (microns). Ideally samples should contain 500,000 cells or particles per mL. Sample consumption can be varied between 12 uL/min and 60 uL/min, and so small samples can be analyzed relatively easily. All samples to be run should be non-toxic (given the present instrument siting) and be completely fixed (cells should be dead). Please click here to learn more about what fluorochromes are appropriate for use with this instrument and for other information about this flow cytometer.

Rudolph Autopol III Polarimeter

The Rudolph Autopol III Polarimeter measures the optical activity of a compound at 589 nm (sodium D line).  A solution of known concentration and volume is prepared and inserted into a polarimetry cell (10 cm or 1 cm).  When polarized light is passed through a solution containing an optically active compound, the polarized light will rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise.  The specific rotation is calculated based on the observed optical rotation by taking into account the cell length and sample concentration.

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W123 Parsons Hall UNH Durham, NH 03824
603-862-2790.