GC-MS

We have our own automated gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) that we use daily to determine the purity of a sample as well as quantify the formation of products following a reaction

Rotovaps

We have three high vacuum rotary evaporators (rotovaps) that we use daily to purify and dry our ligands and metal-complexes. They are all equipped with hot water baths and dry ice chilled condensors

Solvent purification system

Our solvent purification system (SPS) ensures we are always using dry and pure solvents. Our system allows us to dispense seven different water-free and air-free solvents

Electrochemistry

We have two electrochemistry setups that we frequently use to run cyclic voltammeter (CV) experiments. Our setup is compatible with our four gloveboxes allowing us to observe sensitive species

Cryo UV-Vis

One of our ultraviolet–visible spectrometers (UV-Vis) is equipped with a cryostat that can cool a sample down to -120 °C using liquid nitrogen, allowing us to measure a reaction’s kinetics and monitor the formation of intermediates

Variable–dependent UV-Vis

One of our ultraviolet–visible spectrometers (UV-Vis) is equipped with a solvent chiller that can maintain a sample’s temperature from -20 °C to 190 °C, allowing use to probe a variety of kinetic and thermodynamic properties

UV-Vis (Cary 60)

One of our ultraviolet–visible spectrometers (UV-Vis) is our Cary 60 that is connected to a stir plate allowing us to monitor reactions

Automated column chromatography

Schlenk lines (17)

We have seventeen Schlenk lines in our lab, allowing us to do a variety of air-free chemistry either under nitrogen or argon

Plate reader

We use our 96-well plate reader for rapid analysis of fluorescence/absorbance following various assays

Cell microscope

We use an optical cell microscope for monitoring and counting cell cultures.

HPLC

We have an Agilent High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system and columns of various sizes for compound purification, separation, and quantitative analysis.

Biosafety cabinet (BSL-2)

Our biosafety cabinet is used for general cell culture and cell toxicity experiments. It is certified annually to ensure the safety of the researchers and biomaterials.

Titrator

Photoreactor

Our photoreactor is equipped with seven different wavelength LEDs as well as a water chiller and stir plate. This allows us to conduct high-throughput screening of photocatalysts

Photochemistry lamps

We have 8 Kessil lamps of various wavelengths that allow us to conduct future photochemistry on a Schlenk line or in a fume hood

Cryo stopped-flow system

We use this to study fast reactions by rapidly mixing two solutions and monitoring the spectral changes using UV-Vis

ReactIR

We use an in-situ IR probe to monitor a reaction over time based on the infrared spectra

Gloveboxes (4)

We have three double-boxes and one single box. All are equipped with a large and small antechamber, cold well, and an electrochemistry setup

Bio bench space

Used for a variety of chemical biology techniques.

Fume hoods & benches (18)

We have 10 lab bays and 18 active fume hoods in CLSL, each with their own bench space

Student offices & desks (25)

We have three student offices in CLSL and a total of 25 desks

Thermomixer

We have an Eppendorf thermomixer for the preparation of fibrils for biological assays. It provides heat and mixes the fibrils for maximum incubation.

Vacufuge

Like the thermomixer, the vacufuge we have is also involved in the preparation of fibrils and other chemical samples. It uses a combination of centrifugal force and vacuum to gently concentrate liquid samples like proteins or nucleotides by evaporating solvents.

Fluorescence Microscope

Our EVOS fluorescence microscope located in BSL-2 room is used for stained brain slices. It provides bright and high-resolution fluorescence images at 10X, 20X, and 40X magnification on biological samples.

Millipore water purification

We have our own Millipore water purification system attached to the water system right outside our BSL-2 room. It produces ultra-purified water by passing regular tap water through a series of purification stages which remove ions, organic contaminants, and particles.

EPR

We have 24/7 access to two electron paramagnetic resonators in the EPR lab that allow us to do X and Q-band spectroscopy anywhere from room temperature down to 5 K using liquid helium

NMR

We have 24/7 access to nine nuclear magnetic resonators in the NMR Lab including an automated 600 MHz Bruker as well as a 500 MHz Bruker with a CryoProbe that allows us to take spectra from -40°C – 80°C

X-ray diffraction

We have 24/7 access to two single-crystal X-ray diffractometers in the X-Ray Lab to determine the solid state structure of our complexes

PET-CT

We use a positron emission tomography (PET) scan with a computed tomography (CT) scan at the Beckman Institute.

MRI

We use 9.4 Tesla magnetic resonance imager (MRI) at the Beckman Institute

EA

We use elemental analysis at the Microanalysis Lab to get the amount of each element in our complex to determine purity

Mass Spectrometry

In addition to the Mirica group’s GC-MS, we also have 24/7 access to liquid chromotography (LC) and electron spray ionization (ESI) in the Mass spec lab

SQUID

We have access to a SQUID magnetometer in the Materials Research Lab that allows us to quantify the spin dynamics of our metal complexes

Fluorescent Microscope

We use fluorescence microscopes at the Beckman Institute and Institute for Genomic Biology