NanoQAM Research Center offers characterization and analysis services by making its infrastructure and equipment available to other academic institutions and manufacturers. The research center offers access to different services:

Nanomaterials synthesis

This equipment allows the synthesis of nanomaterials (organic, inorganic or hybrid) and nano-biomaterials. These syntheses can be carried out in controlled (temperature, atmosphere) and automated ways.

Thermal characterizations

These instruments allow the thermal properties of nanomaterials to be studied (stability, crystallinity, degradation product, phase change) under controlled atmospheres and over a wide range of temperatures.

Spectroscopic characterizations

This equipment makes it possible to characterize the composition of materials by experimental techniques such as mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, adsorption and atomic emission spectroscopies, etc.

Microscopy and size measurements

Our set of microscopy equipment makes it possible to image the topography as well as the physicochemical activity of different surface types and to detect entities of micro- and nanometric sizes.

Optical characterizations

This equipment makes it possible to study the optical properties of nanomaterials: UV-visible, infrared, angle of rotation, fluorescence, luminance, etc.

Electrochemical measurements

All of this equipment allows the complete characterization of the activity and electrochemical properties (impedance, conductivity, etc.) of all types of materials.

Chromatographies

This liquid, gel and gas chromatography equipment allows the separation of different kinds of compounds (organic, monomers or polymers) and to determine the components thanks to various spectroscopic detection systems (UV, IR, refractive index and spectrometry massive).

Physical characterizations

This equipment allows various characterizations of nanomaterials such as specific surface, porosity, viscosity, surface tensions and interactions or affinity constants.

Printing systems

This equipment allows for direct or indirect micro or nanometric prints (masks) of organic, inorganic or hybrid nanomaterials.

Deposit systems

All of this equipment makes it possible to deposit thin layers (metals, parylene) by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or eBeam techniques.

Engravings and surface treatments

This series of equipment allows the treatment and etching of surfaces: plasma cleaning, reactive ion etching, etching of printed circuits (manual or automatic).

Access policy

The purpose of the access policy is to regulate the conditions of use of the infrastructure while being flexible enough to encourage maximum use of our equipment. Users from UQAM as well as users from outside (academic or not) have access to the various NanoQAM equipment.

Access mode

There are two ways to use the equipment :

  • by autonomous use of equipment
  • or by a request for services.

All users can become autonomous for the use of the equipment. This operating mode is preferred in the event that the user plans to use the equipment frequently. To become autonomous, users must undergo training in the use of the equipment and demonstrate their ability to operate properly. Users who are thus trained will not have to pay for the time spent by the personnel providing training on the instruments, nor the time spent using these instruments during their training, except for industrial users. In the event that the intended use of equipment does not justify the need for training, a service request may be made. An operator will then be responsible for handling the request.

Operation schedule

The majority of the equipment is accessible 24 hours a day for autonomous users who receive authorization. In the case that an operator is required, use is limited to working days between 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. The same restriction may apply for security reasons for certain equipment.

The fact that the pricing structure based on duration of use can seriously hamper the development of certain projects requiring the intensive use of certain devices is a legitimate and recognized concern. In order to maintain flexibility and also to encourage such projects, access to any of the resources can be negotiated with the Director on an individual basis, especially for projects that will have an impact in developing new techniques.

The future of nanomaterials

We are a multidisciplinary research center with expertise and scientific infrastructure dedicated to the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials and nanometric systems.

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