A pEek on the lab

Physics Lab is part of the Materials thermodynamics laboratory where advanced electrochemical and vibrational micro-spectroscopy techniques are used for the characterization of materials, electrodes and interfaces for battery of fuel cells applications. Electrochemical testing stations (MTI Corp Battery analysers) are used for galvanostatic cycling (16 channels) under controlled temperature (Memmert oven from 25°C to 55°C). High temperature cell testing station is also available for cycling from 55°C to 120 °C (Memmert Oven and high temperature electrochemical El-Cell ECC-STD). An advanced electrochemical testing apparatus (potentiostat/galvanostat/eis, Ivium Vertex) is also available to run experiments under controlled temperature (Memmert Oven from 25°C to 55°C). A MicroRaman spectrofotometer (Dilor, equipped with He-Ne lase at 632 nm and a Peltier CCD) is available for Raman investigations also under operando conditions. A MicroFTIR spectrophotometer (Bruker Lumos-II) is available for ATR or reflectance FTIR investigation of samples. Designed sample holder with optical windows (sapphire, glass, KBr, diamond, silicon wafer) are available for ex situ, ex situ and operando investigation in Ar-confined environments. Also a single point N2-absorption apparatus is available for surface area estimates (Quantachrome Monosorb).

Chemistry Lab is part of the Materials thermodynamics laboratory where materials synthesis, preparation and manufacture are carried out in air or under controlled and purified Ar-environments (Glove Box Iteco Eng SGS-30 with H2O/O2 purifier). Standard chemistry laboratory equiptement (laboratory counter, laboratory glassware, drying pumps, stirrers, hydraulic press, etc) and high temperature furnaces in air (Nabertherm) in gas-controlled conditions (MTI high temperature flow oven) and in dynamic vacuum (Buchi oven) are dedicated to materials preparation and battery components manufacture. Cell assembly is carried out in the available glove box. Also, a pressure-volumetric gas mixing system (O2/Ar) is available for experimental gas/liquid or gas/solid electrochemistry.

The microRaman spectrophotometer is a Dilor Instrument equipped with a He-Ne red laser (wavelength 632 nm) a Peltier CCD, two gratings (600 and 1800 grids/mm), a Semrock RazorEdge® ultrasteep long-pass edge filter, four achromatic objectives (10x 50x, 50x long distance, 100x), a motorized XY sample stage and with confocal capabilities. This instrumentation allows the acquisition of Raman spectra resolved in time and space thanks to the use of computerized motion- and time-programmable routines. The microspectrophotometer is coupled to a personal computer. Tailored sample holders protected with sealed glass or sapphire windows can be manufactured by 3D printing and used to acquire spectra without exposing samples to air.

Two electrochemical testing stations (MTI Corp Battery analyzers) run by two different personal computers are used for advanced electrochemical characterization of materials and batteries. The first is a battery analyzer for galvanostatic cycling (16 channels) under controlled temperature (Memmert oven from 25°C to 55°C). High temperature cell testing station is also available for cycling from 55°C to 120 °C (Memmert Oven and high temperature electrochemical El-Cell ECC-STD). The second electrochemical testing station is a multi-functional electrochemical apparatus (potentiostat, galvanostat, impedance analyzer, Ivium Vertex) suitable to run performance analysis of batteries as well as to investigate in detail the electrochemical responses under controlled temperature (Memmert Oven from 25°C to 55°C).

A standard glove box apparatus (SGS-30 model from Iteco Eng srl) equipped with electro-valves (in and out), triple pressure gauge, vacuum pump and purification system. The inner atmosphere is constituted by purified Ar spilled from high-pressure cylinders, flowing over columnar traps for water and molecular oxygen. The contaminants concentration is continuously monitored by electrochemical H2O and O2 sensors. Inside the glove box different instruments are available: hydraulic press, microbalance, stirrer and high temperature sealer for glove bags. Samples are stored into classifiers into the glove box for safe handling and cells are assembled in the protected environment inside the glove box.