Molecular Analysis

The Molecular Analysis Facility responds to the growing demand from industry for analytical capabilities and skills relative to organic or composite materials and coatings. It focuses on both molecular imaging and identification and relies mostly on TOF-SIMS (Time-Of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry) and High-Resolution (HR-MS) Mass spectrometry (Orbitrap).

Additionally, a wide range of complementary techniques (MALDIMS, GC/MS, GPC/fractionation, LC/MS, FT-IR) are available to optimally choose the right combination of tools to address the partner's needs.

With the ability to address topics related to the detection or localization of small (bio)molecules, resins, or even high molecular weight polymers, the Molecular Analyses Facility offers on-demand analytical developments in very wide range of applications. These latter namely include defect analyses, monitoring of production/synthesis processes and reverse engineering, as well as biological tissue imaging.

Our analytical capabilities and skills have already been helpful for the glass, steel, packaging, building, and polymer industries, as well as the organic microelectronics, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industrie

Equipment

TOF-SIMS (Time-Of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, IonTOF)
High-Resolution Mass spectrometry (Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Elite), equipped with ESI, APCI, AP-MALDI, DART ionization sources
MALDI-TOF (Matrix-Assisted laser Desorption/Ionization - Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer, Autoflex III Smartbeam, Bruker)
Gel Permeation / Size Exclusion Chromatography / HPLC automated gradient system with integrated Fraction Collection (ThermoScientific Ultimate 3000)
Gas Chromatography (Varian Saturn 2000 GC/MS) with PAL auto-sampler for liquid, Headspace, SPME injections
Fourier Transform - Infra-Red (micro-)spectroscopy (Bruker Vertex 70) with Hyperion microscope, Grazing Angle, Attenuated Total Reflectance, Gas Cell and Transmission modes.