The Materials Cluster is a multi-function and multi-purpose Research Support Facility providing a wide spectrum of services and apparatus for materials testing, preparation, and characterization. The Cluster also provides tools that can generate images of surface or near-surface characteristics, such as topography or electronic structure, at length scales from microns down to nanometers in environments ranging from ultra-high vacuum to fluids. The CCMR facilities are run by expert staff who provide training and technical assistance. We welcome outside users from both industry and academia.

The PHaSE energy center carries out fundamental photovoltaic-oriented research using organic-based polymers and related materials to maximize efficiency in the collection and harvesting of energy over a broad frequency range of the solar spectrum. The center’s strongly-networked, interdisciplinary teams of researchers seek ways to minimize charge-quenching exciton recombination, to maximize electron transport across inorganic/organic interfaces, and to optimize design and fabrication strategies for making inexpensive photovoltaic devices.

MRSEC investigators have developed a number of biologically inspired experimental model systems, ranging from microtubule based active matter to colloidal membranes. BMF supports MRSEC investigations of active and soft matter through large-scale production of the cells, proteins, and viruses. We are now extending this service to the broader community, including extramural labs. BMF wants to help you get started studying biological material in your own lab by supplying samples and/or training you to make your own. Outside investigators are welcome to visit. For more information about the availability of these or other biological materials you need for your materials science research, please contact Dr. Marc Ridilla.

The Materials Characterization Lab (MCL) is a fully-staffed, user research facility at Penn State’s Materials Research Institute that offers researchers convenient and affordable access to a wide-range of state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation and services.

The UD Nanofabrication Facility (UDNF) enables researchers from academia, industry and government to create devices smaller than a human hair, supporting scientific advances in fields ranging from medical diagnostics to environmental sensing to solar energy harvesting.

Facility Primary Contact: Iulian Codreanu

The mission of the Microelectronics Research Center (MRC) at The University of Texas at Austin is to perform education, research and development in materials and electronic devices. MRC is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI).

The University of Delaware (UD) Materials Growth Facility (MGF) offers III-V and topological insulator (TI) growth of epitaxial semiconductor films. These growths are performed on a dual-chamber GENxplor molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) system. Our staff offers full-service material calibration and growth, as well as training to perform MBE deposition. The MGF is integrated into the Delaware Institute for Materials Research (DIMR), providing seamless materials growth, materials characterization, electron microscopy, and nanofabrication capabilities.

Facility Primary Contact: [email protected]

Established in fall 2000, the Penn State MRSEC Central Facilities Laboratory (CFL) is housed in Davey Laboratory, which is located on Penn State University Park Central Campus within a 10 minute walk of the academic departments of the Center participants. It currently focuses on advanced cryogenic characterization, including PPMS and SQUID capabilites. This includes a multimode atomic force microscopy (AFM)/magnetic force microscopy (MFM) / scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) system, two superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometers for magnetization measurements over a temperature range of 2K-1000K, three physical property measurement systems (PPMS) for magneto-transport measurements over a temperature range from 50 mK - 400 K and magnetic fields from 0 - 9 T.

This high sensitivity XPS (Kratos Axis 165) is available for compositional and chemical state analysis of monolayers, thin films, and solid state materials. The system is presently configured with both dual anode(Mg, AlKa) and monochromatized (AlKa) Xray sources. The system has been configured for broad materials applications with the presence of a variable temperature sample stage, charge neutralization system (for insulating samples), ion gun (for depth profiling), and a rapid entry loadlock for high throughput analysis. This facility is operated cooperatively with the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.