UGR
At the UGR, we are thoroughly committed to investing in the future and excelling in research and innovation. Thanks to this sustained commitment, some leading research institutes and centres are found at our university.
The excellent infrastructure, facilities, and equipment on our campuses allow our 3000+ researchers to stay at the forefront of their respective fields.
Moreover, research at the UGR is thoroughly multidisciplinary in nature. This is demonstrated by the fact that there are currently over 1,400 active lines of research.
Facilities
Centro de Instrumentación Cientifica (CIC)
The Centro de Instumentación Científica, CIC (Center for Scientific Instrumentation) of the University of Granada, was established in 1971 as an independent unit where all major analytical equipment serving the different research groups of the UGR were centralized. Since its inauguration, the CIC has become a reference analytical centre both nationally and internationally, having a complete set of state-of-the-art analytical equipment and research services offered, used, and maintained by specialised technical staff (most of them with PhD degrees).
Over the last decades, the CIC has purchased and installed new equipment including different electron microscopes (SEM, Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), ESEM, TEM, HRTEM-STEM), X-ray diffractometer (powder XRD, multi-wavelength single crystal XRD, micro-XRD), chemical analysis (GCMS, ICP, XRF, ICP-MS, ICP-OES, EPMA, Ion-Microprobe SIMS), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), nanoindentation, and X-ray micro-CT, just to name a few, of extensive use in Earth science, material science, chemistry, physical-chemistry, heritage science and biomedical research.
Equipment CIC
Electron Microscopy:
Titan G2 (TEM):High resolution transmission electron microscope, FEI (ThermoFischer Scientific) TITAN with 300 kV acceleration voltage. The Titan microscope is an image-aberration-corrected STEM/TEM with .07 nm resolution, equipped with a high-brightness Schottky-field emission e-source, and a high-resolution Gatan Imaging Filter (GIF). It has two 2048×2048 slow-scan CCD cameras. The high resolution STEM is equipped with HAADF detector and EDAX energy dispersive X-ray for AEM analyses. Includes different sample holder, one of them a tomography holder with ± 80 degrees to minimize the missing wedge in 3D reconstructions.
X-Ray Microscopy:
Xradia 510 Versa (μ-CT):X-ray micro-CT ZEISS Xradia 510 Versa. This high resolution μ-CT is able to analyze non-destructively a whole range of sample types (solid and/or liquid) and geometries. Extending synchrotron-caliber performance, it achieves 0.7 μm true spatial resolution and voxel size of 70 nm. It has advanced absorption contrast along with innovative phase contrast. Multi-length scale capabilities enable to image the same sample across a wide range of magnifications, reducing dependence upon geometric magnification, thereby enabling to maintain submicron resolution down to 700 nm at large working distances. Additional capabilities: a) T-controlled stage; b) Mechanical testing device; c) Flow-through cylindrical stage.
Atomic Force Microscopy:
AFM NX20 (AFM):Atomic force microscope NX20 (Park Systems). This AFM allows working in contact, non-contact, lateral force microscopy (LFM), phase imaging and tapping AFM modes. It has a scan range of up to 100 μm. It has an open space for samples up to 150 mm x 150 mm, and thickness up to 20 mm. It has a universal liquid cell (open or closed) with liquid/gas perfusion with temperature control range up to +180º C (in air) or up to +150ª C (within liquids). Since its acquisition, it has been offering service to in-house and international researchers studying morphological and chemical-physical properties of molecular nanostructures; dynamic processes, such as mineral dissolution and growth; protein aggregates, biofilms and colloids; nanolithography, electronic conductivity and mechanical properties of electronic circuits. Processing and acquisition software.
Techniques
The CIC has a complete set of state-of-the-art analytical equipment and research services used/offered and maintained by specialised technical staff. The CIC provides access to leading edge equipment including different electron microscopes, X-ray diffractometers, analytical chemical tools, structural and molecular analysis tools, as well as fluorescence and laser confocal microscopy, AFM, nanoindentation, and X-ray micro-CT, just to name a few, of extensive use in earth science, material science, chemistry, physical-chemistry, heritage science and biomedical research.
Processing and data acquisition software
Scout&Scan TM, Scout&Scan TM Control Systems Reconstructor, Dragonfly TM, Velox, Digital micrograph.
Sample preparation
The facility provides no sample preparation. Samples must be prepared according to the facility’s specifications, prior to access to the facility.
Science team
Carlos Rodriguez-Navarro
Encarnación Ruiz-Agudo
Kerstin Elert
María del Mar Abad
Fátima Linares
Alejandro Rodriguez-Navarro
Curious to learn more?
Interested in gaining access to the EXCITE2 facilities? Please enter your email address and be one of the first to be informed when we open the first EXCITE2 call for proposals. Other questions? Contact us here.
