Facilities
Refurbished in July 2024 and designed around air-free synthesis — a dedicated Schlenk line and fume cupboard per researcher, plus three high-specification gloveboxes.
In July 2024 the group moved into newly refurbished laboratory space designed with synthetic air-free chemistry in mind. See below for photographs of some of the equipment the group uses to do their work! Each researcher has access to a dedicated Schlenk line and fume cupboard, with a double-wide setup used for supervision of undergraduates and summer students. Combined with our three high specification glove boxes (Glovebox Systemtechnik), these facilities mean the group employs a mix of standard Schlenk line activities with small-scale glovebox synthesis and measurements (electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry). We work on all aspects of synthetic f-element chemistry, including both thorium and uranium as part of the Centre for Radiochemistry Research (CRR).
Each is equipped with house nitrogen and vacuum, along with dedicated high vacuum pumps and inert gas supply from high-purity cylinders. Bespoke regenerable drying columns are used to purify inert gas delivered from cylinders, and a centrally-plumbed H2/N2 supply allows regeneration in place.
Grease-free J. Young Schlenk lines are all equipped with a digital vacuum gauge, inert gas feed from a drying column, liquid nitrogen cold trap, and a high-vacuum rotary vane pump. Group work avoids waste where possible by using recirculating water, or air-condensers along with heating blocks. A "double-wide" fume cupboard and Schlenk line setup is used for supervision of undergraduate and summer students.
We have three inert atmosphere gloveboxes. All run under argon and feature: integral cold wells with Dewar lift, 40 L freezers, large and small antechambers, and solvent scrubbers to remove trace organics. The four-port box ("DoubleBox") has a dual gas purifier unit and is where we conduct small-scale synthesis work with a restricted set of solvents, the vacuum manifold is used for removing volatile material. One two-port glovebox ("DryBox") is currently used as a dry box, reserved only for handling NMR solvents and storing material for Schlenk line chemistry. The last two-port glovebox ("OxBox") also has a dual gas purifier unit and an integrated vacuum line, and is where we conduct small-scale synthesis work with a different restricted set of solvents.
A distillation setup allows drying solvents that are not available on our solvent purification system. Separate gas lines allow up to three to be dried simultaneously. Interlocked heating mantles ensure cooling water is always running when are heating, and they are located in a dedicated fume cupboard with fire suppression system.
The group has their own 160 L liquid nitrogen Dewar, sparkfree lab refrigerator and freezer, as well as ovens for drying glassware, cannulas/consumables, and a vacuum oven for preparing material for the gloveboxes.
An Ivium Compactstat.h20250 is coupled with an electrochemical feedthrough to allow us to perform electrochemical measurements inside the glovebox in low-volume bespoke cells. With the additional mPDA cable we can measure ultra-high impedance samples. A further upgrade in late 2025 will enable spectroelectrochemical measurements inside the glovebox. We also have a Harrick "Preying Mantis" DRIFTS (diffuse reflectance) cell which allows us to record solid-state UV-Vis-NIR data, as well as a range of quartz fluorescence and absorbance cells for solution measurements.