Facilities

Shared, Multi-User Facilities

The Bright Group has access to major scientific facilities within UB’s Integrated Nanostructured Systems (http://ub2020.buffalo.edu/ins/) and Molecular Recognition in Biological Systems and Bioinformatics (http://ub2020.buffalo.edu/mrbsb/) Strategic Strengths; the UB Institute for Lasers Photonics and Biophotonics (http://www.photonics.buffalo.edu/); the UB Materials Research Instrument Facility (http://www.ub-mrif.buffalo.edu/); the UB Center for Spin Effects and Quantum Information in Nanostructures (CSEQuIN) (http://www.csequin.buffalo.edu/); the UB Department of Chemistry Instrument Centers (http://www.chemistry.buffalo.edu/facilities/); and the UB Center for Unified Biometrics (http://www.cubs.buffalo.edu/)

Dedicated Research Laboratories

The Bright Group has dedicated research space within the UB Natural Sciences Complex (http://www.buffalo.edu/buildings/building?id=nsc) (NSC 505, 507, 508, 510, 511, 513, and 585). This space consists of a suite of modern spectroscopy laboratories, sample preparation areas, eight (8) fume hoods, a high throughput fabrication and screening station, and a computer room. 

Instrumentation

A partial listing of the major research instrumentation that is available in the Bright Group includes the following:

• SLM model 48000 multi-harmonic Fourier instrument (frequency domain). This system is capable of routine steady-state fluorescence anisotropy and intensity, picosecond time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy and intensity decay, and phase-resolved fluorescence measurements.
  

  SLM 4800 MHF

• Hybrid SLM model 4850 fluorimeter. This system uses frequency-domain cross correlation detection with photomultiplier tubes or time-domain detection with a microchannel plate photomultiplier tube and time correlated single photon counting detection. This system is capable of steady-state and picosecond (frequency- and time-domain) fluorescence measurements under one-, two-, and three-photon excitation conditions.
  

  Hybrid SLM Model 4850 Fluorimeter

• Femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser system. This system consists of a Coherent model Mira 900F Ti:sapphire laser, a cw argon-ion pump laser (Coherent, model Innova 400), a pulse-picker (Coherent, model 9200), cavity dumper (Coherent, model Pulseswitch) and a second and third harmonic generation system (CSK, model Super Doubler/Tripler). This laser system produces 100-200 fs long pulses at any wavelength between 725 and 950 nm (fundamental), 363 and 475 nm (second harmonic), and 242 and 317 nm (third harmonic). Average powers in excess of 1.5 W are possible.
• An IBH model 5000-W-SAFE with flashlamp (40 kHz), LED (1 MHz), and diode laser (1 MHz) excitation. This system is capable of performing picosecond and nanosecond time correlated single photon counting fluorescence measurements.

  IBH 5000 W SAFE

  

  Cache of Pulsed NanoLEDs and Diode Lasers for IBH 5000 W SAFE

• A home built time-resolved fluorimeter. This system consists of N2 pump laser (PTI, model GL-3300) and a dye laser (PTI, model GL-301l). Detection is performed with a fast-wired photomultiplier tube and a 200 MHz digital oscilloscope (Tektronix, model TDS 350). The dye laser output is tunable between 350 and 800 nm and produces 600 ps long pulses at 5-10 Hz. The system is ideal for recording time-resolved anisotropy and intensity decays that are greater than ~ 20 ns.

  N₂ Pumped Dye Laser

• Two SLM model 8100 steady-state fluorimeters. These systems are capable of routine steady-state fluorescence anisotropy and intensity measurements in solution and from surfaces.

  SLM 8100

• HP 8452A diode array spectrophotometer. This system is used for recording routine UV-Vis electronic absorbance spectra.
• Chromex model 250 cmi Raman system with CCD detection and custom high-pressure interface. This system is used for recording routine Raman spectra. Excitation is at 514.5 nm (argon-ion laser).
• Three CCD-based Olympus BX-FLA epi-fluorescence microscope systems. One system has a Princeton Instruments, model TE/CCD-1317-K with model ST-138 controller. The second and third systems uses an Optronics model QuantiFire 4-megapixel CCD or a Nuance multi-spectral imaging system.

  Olympus BX-FLA epi-fluorescence microscopes

• Bruker Vertex 70 FT-IR and Hyperion 3000 imaging IR microscope. This system is capable of routine IR spectra (transmission, ATR, high temperature) and IR imaging with 3 micrometer resolution.

  Vertex 70, Hyperion 3000 , Infrared systems and attachments

• Gilson model Quad-Z 215 robotic liquid handling system.

  Automated Liquid Handler

• A Cartesian Technologies model ProSys 5510 robotic pin printer system.
• Ocean Optics model xyz-200x150x100 robotic 3D mapping table.
• Two CW argon-ion laser (Spectra-Physics model 164, Coherent model 90-6).
• CW intracavity-doubled argon-ion laser (257 nm, Lexel Lasers model 95 SHG)
• Two CW Omnichrome He-Cd lasers (325 nm).
• CW Liconix He-Cd laser (442 nm).
• Over one dozen high- and mid-pressure pumps.

  High Pressure Systems

• A cache of high-pressure custom optical cells for supercritical fluid research. Most cells operate up to 300 bar and 350K. One cell is available to operate up to 2,500 bar.
• Nine (9) dedicated IBM compatible PCs for off-line data analysis, simulations/modeling, graphics, code development and word processing.
• A collection of physical optics, diagnostic tools, custom optical interfaces, and shop tools.