Facilities and Resources

Research Labs and Facilities

The Department of Chemistry is home to several state of the art instrumentation laboratories that support our teaching and research programs.

Our Mass Spectrometry Laboratory is one of the largest and best equipped of its kind in Canada, featuring a $1.5 million MS/MS system. The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory has state of the art spectrometers with six high-field instruments, including a new 600 MHz spectrometer. The X-ray Crystallography Laboratory is a fully-equipped, self-contained facility providing single-crystal X-ray crystallographic services.

Visit the links below to find out more about the available services and how you can use these facilities for your research.

The Analytical and Instrumentation Laboratory is a service laboratory of the Department of Chemistry located in E5-43 of the Gunning/Lemieux Chemistry Centre.

The laboratory provides analytical support to the department faculty and their researchers. The laboratory also provides support to other University of Alberta departments and to various organizations outside of the university.

Biological Services is a Biohazard Containment Level 2 departmental facility and resource designed to help researchers take advantage of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, microbiology and cell biology approaches in order to realize their research goals. People can use the equipment and facilities and can get advice on planning and executing research programs. Biological Services staff can also be asked to prepare biological samples or to undertake research projects.

The Mass Spectrometry Facility is one of the largest and best equipped of its kind in Canada and offers very rapid turnaround of all routine samples with a wide variety of ionization techniques available: electron impact (EI), chemical ionization (CI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), atmospheric pressure photo-ionization (APPI), electrospray (ES), and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI).

Several modern mass spectrometers are available in the Facility including a Waters Q-TOF Premiere mass spectrometer with a NanoAcquity UPLC system, a Bruker Apex-Qe 9.4T FTMS, an Agilent 6220 oaTOF and Bruker Ultraflextreme MALDI TOF/TOF.

Samples are run by experienced technical staff who are happy to demonstrate and explain the instrumentation to new users. The staff in the facility are also experienced in the interpretation of spectra. In addition, we are happy to discuss with potential users how mass spectrometry may assist them in their research.

The high resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Laboratory is equipped with eight state-of-the-art Agilent liquids spectrometers, ranging from 400 to 700 MHz (9.4 to 16.45 T). Student, staff, research associates and post-doctoral fellows have direct and frequent access to four 400's, two 500's, one 600, and one 700 MHz NMR spectrometers.

The Powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Laboratory consists of one instrument: a Bruker D8 Advance diffractometer equipped with a sealed-tube copper X-ray source. The instrument can be optionally configured for variable temperature studies, from room temperature to 1,100 °C.

The XRD Lab is located in room E4-46 of the Gunning/Lemieux Chemistry Centre. Please note that the instrument belongs to Prof. Arthur Mar's research group and is available to department members. To arrange access and training, please follow these instructions. If you run into difficulties, please contact Dr. Michael Ferguson. For researchers external to the Department of Chemistry, please contact Prof. Mar to discuss arrangements for data collection and/or analysis.

Reservation

Please go to the XRD Laboratory website for details.

The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Laboratory consists of one instrument: an analytical, low vacuum JEOL JSM-6010LA InTouchScope equipped with a Silicon Drift Detector for energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and mapping with a resolution of 125 eV. A gold sputter coater is also available on a fee per use basis.

The SEM Lab is located in the sub-basement (room 2A) of the Gunning/Lemieux Chemistry Centre. Please note that the available instrument belongs to Prof. Michael Serpe's research group and is available to department members for a nominal fee. To arrange access, please contact Dr. Serpe or Dr. Michael Ferguson.

This instrument is currently out of service and there is no timeline on the repair.

The X-ray Crystallography Laboratory (XCL) provides single-crystal X-ray crystallographic services to the Department. Data are collected using (a) a Bruker D8 Duo diffractometer / SMART APEX II CCD area detector system equipped with two radiation sources (Cu microsource and and Mo sealed-tube) or (b) a Bruker PLATFORM diffractometer equipped with a SMART APEX II CCD area detector and a sealed-tube (Mo) source. Crystal samples are usually cooled under a cold nitrogen stream during data collection in order to enhance data quality and to protect sensitive samples from decomposition.

 

Research Support and Technical Resources

Our research and technical staff provide rapid turnaround of custom-design work and repair services, allowing you to focus on your work.

 

Our stores and receiving staff deal with the acquisition and distribution of chemicals and equipment for research and education, the dispensing of cryogens, and the tracking and disposal of chemical wastes.

Electronic Instrument Services

Our electronics technicians provide troubleshooting and repair services for a wide range of computer, electronic and scientific equipment and apparatus. Additionally, the Electronics Shop provides consultation, design and fabrication, or modification of electronic instrumentation.

Machine Shop

The Machine Shop helps keep our researchers at the forefront in chemistry research in Canada, and internationally. This well-equipped facility manufactures custom-designed devices, instruments, and apparatus necessary for research and teaching.

Glass Shop

The department maintains a fully equipped glassblowing shop with an expert staff. Our glassblowing technician has the ability to repair, design and create any glassware required in the research laboratory and work with all types of glass and quartz materials.

Our 3D Printing Service offers a wide range of laboratory accessories available through the Chemistry Stores, as well as the opportunity to customize and develop specific solutions for researchers. This initiative has proven itself as an alternative to conventional lab accessory procurement with its adaptability, cost-saving and sustainable attributes. While priority is given to the Department of Chemistry, this 3D Printing Service is available for faculty, staff and student from across campus.

We are located in the basement of the Gunning Lemieux Chemistry Centre, as part of the Technical Services Group (WB-66). We look forward to seeing you there and discussing your 3D printing needs. You can also send an email to chem3d@ualberta.ca.