Synthetic Quantum Materials Laboratories

Our Synthetic Quantum Materials Laboratories provide hands-on access to cutting-edge experimental systems for growing crystals of novel quantum materials and measuring their physical properties across a broad temperature range.

The laboratories are equipped with a comprehensive suite of synthesis and heat-treatment tools including:

  • Box furnaces
  • Sealing station for crystal growth via the flux method
  • Controlled-atmosphere tube furnaces
  • High-vacuum, arc-melting and suction-casting systems

Detailed information

Kit list

  • Sealing station with a H-O torch and a vacuum system
  • Programmable heavy-duty box furnace (Carbolite Gero, 1300°C)
  • Programmable box furnace (Nabertherm, 1200°C)
  • High-temperature centrifuge
  • Arc-melter MAM-1 with a high-vacuum system based on a set of turbomolecular and rotary pumps and suction casting (Edmund Bühler)
  • Dry cryostat with ARS-4HW compressor (Advanced Research Systems, 4K)
  • Micracut 152 precision cutter
  • Continuous-flow cryostat
  • Cryocon 22C temperature controller
  • SR830 lock-in amplifier (Stanford Research Systems)
  • DC current calibrator 1024 (Time Electronics)
  • Keithley 2010 multimeter
  • RS PRO Arbitrary Waveform Generator RSDG 805
  • Programmable tube furnace with inert gas supply systems (Nabertherm, 1200°C)
  • Tube furnace with inert gas supply system (Carbolite Gero, 1100°C)
  • Electromagnet with integrated teslameter and power supplies
  • Faraday balance
  • Soldering station with precision soldering kit and LED microcomputer electric heating plate
  • Analytical balances
  • Ultrasonic cleaner
  • Optical microscopes
  • Ducted fume cabinet
  • Ductless fume cabinet with HEPA filtration system (Bigneat)
  • Laminar flow cabinet
  • Computational server for electronic band structure calculations using Wien2k, FPLO, and FLEUR codes

Availability

9am - 6pm (weekdays).

Where possible and with prior arrangement, staff will work flexibly during the working day to accommodate requirements which do not fit into this timetable.

Location

The Synthetic Quantum Materials Laboratories can be found in MB325-26 of the Maudland Building