ICMAB

The main activity at the Department is addressed to the design, chemical synthesis, structural and electronic characterization, material preparation, in the form of crystals, thin film, self-assembled monolayers, etc. and study of new molecular and supramolecular materials -either molecular solids or polymers- showing advanced physical -electrical, magnetic, optical- and/or chemical properties, among others. All these studies try to emphasize all structural and electronic aspects of organic molecules, in particular of open-shell molecules–free radicals and radical ions, attempting to develop new organic functional materials with interesting and useful properties as well as nanoscopic devices for their use in Molecular Electronics. Also the understanding and control of inter- and intra-molecular interactions inside molecular materials and between the molecules and interfaces motivate the research. The discovery and development of new procedures and strategies to obtain and study such materials and devices has been another goal of the work. Another activity is the development of new processes using compressed fluids to produce organic materials, in the form of nanoparticles, nanovesicles, etc. Strong activities in Nanotechnology and Nanoscience are also maintained.

The areas of current interest at the DMNOM are the following:

Molecular magnetism, molecular conductors, low-dimensional organic systems, materials for pharamaceutical and bio applications, high-spin molecules, free radicals, supramolecular chemistry, crystal engineering, self-assembled monolayers, organic physical chemistry, organic solid state chemistry, ESR spectroscopy, static and dynamic stereochemistry, chiral organizations, polymers, electron and energy transfer processes, molecular nanoscopic aggregates, nanoscopic molecular devices (nanowires, nanoscopic switches, nanovesicles, etc), and solubilization and precipitation (crystallizations) in supercritical fluids.

Equipment

* Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectrometer (RPE - CW), Bruker Elexis 500.
- electro magnet 13"/15 KW, 2.0 T.
- frequencimeter and gaussimeter.
- frequency/field lock accesory.
- programable goniometer and manual 2 cycle goniometer.
- automatic variable temperature controller (100-700 K).
- helium cryostat (4.3 K - 150 K), Oxford.

* High resolution optical spectrometer UV-Vis-NIR, Cary 5.
- single and double beam.
- wave length range: 175 - 3.300 nm.
- automatic temperature controller (268 - 360 K)

* High resolution spectrometer FT-IR Perkin Elmer
-wave length range: 7000 - 400 cm-1

* High Performance Liquid Chromatography equipment (HPLC), Perkin Elmer.
- quaternary pump; flow range, 0.01 ˜ 10.0 ml/min.

* Electrochemistry equipment, EG&G Princeton Applied Research; Potensiostat/Galvanostat VersaSTAT 3.
- polarography /voltammetry technique.
- cyclic and square voltamperometry technique.

* Automatic polarimeter, Propol.
- continuous flux cell for HPLC.

* Vapour pressure osmometer, Krauer.
- universal probe for aquous solvents, T 25 - 70 °C.
- universal probe for organic solvents, T 25 - 70 °C.

* Differential Scanning Calorimeter. Perkin Elmer DSC7

* High-pressure bench scale equipment

* High Resolution Optical Spectrometer UV-Vis-NIR, Cary 5000
- Double beam.
- Wave length range: 175-3300 nm.
- Peltier temperature controller (263- 373 K).
- Diffuse reflectance accessory DRA-2500.
- Solid Sample Holder accessory.

* Fluorescence and Luminiscence Spectrometer LS-45 (230V) PERKIN ELMER.
- Fluorescence, Phosphorescence and Bio- and Chemiluminescence measurement modes.
- Pulsed Xenon lamp (8.3 W)
- The excitation and emission monochromators can be scanned independently or synchronously. Excitation (200 – 800 nm) Emission (200 – 900 nm). Monochromators Monk-Gillieson.

* Polarising Optical Microscope Olympus BX51TRF Transmission and reflection at 100W
- Centered revolver
- Long-distance lenses with 5x and 20x magnification
- CCD Camera

*Liquid Crystal Microscope Stage Systems
- Liquid crystal Pro System Linkam heating stage