+91 512-259-6538

debjani@iitk.ac.in

Post Graduate Research Laboratory (PGRL) is a user facility in the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Kanpur that supports a broad range of science and technology projects by merging state-of-the-art resources with expert support staff. PGRL provides research space, sophisticated instruments and services thereby imparting an able platform for academic and industrial researchers to develop applications and expertise dedicated to addressing variety of scientific and engineering challenges. In-house equipment’s at PGRL include

High Resolution Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM):

  • High Brightness Schottky Emitter.
  • Excellent Low Noise Surface Imaging at short working distances.
  • Powerful In-beam SE and BSE detectors and unique wide field optics offers enhanced field of view and depth of focus.
  • Highly sensitive elemental detection using Oxford EDS detector having large SDD area of 50mm2 with options of Point & ID and detailed elemental maps
  • Bright Field & Dark Field imaging using STEM Detecto
  • FESEM Sample Preparation Tools: Gold Sputter Coater & Ultramicrotomy at RT for cutting thin sections

Specification of the instrument

Resources

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS)

  • Simultaneous multi-element detection capability at sensitivity level of parts per billion (ppb).
  • Precisely identify and quantitate almost all metallic elements in the periodic table
  • Comprehensive elemental compositional characterization with minimal interferences.
  • Possibility of detecting elements soluble in HF matrix & Samples containing organic materials.
  • Routinely used for Trace Metal Analysis, Food Safety, Human Bio-monitoring, Waste Water Treatment etc

Specification of the instrument

Resources

Automated Gas Adsorption Set up for Physisorption, Chemisorption & Temperature Programmed Oxidation, Reduction & Desorption processes.

  • Tool for the Characterization of the Texture of Porous Solids and Fine Powders. nano-porous materials with tailor made pore structure require high resolution experimental protocols.
  • Single point & multipoint BET surface area, Adsorption Isotherms, Pore size distribution, Pore volume
  • Pore Structure Analysis using various theoretical models based on DFT, BJH, HK algorithms.
  • H2 Chemisorption (Treatment Temp: upto 1000 deg C) of catalysts, ceramics.
  • High sensitivity TCD detector for TPD, TPR and TPO analysis.
  • Catalyst Researchers can design and optimize chemical processes using information of heats of adsorption, activation energy, ease of oxidation/reduction, bond strength by performing flow based Reactive Gas Adsorption processes.

Thermal Analyzers: Thermogravimetry (TGA) & Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

  • Thermal Stability Analysis, Phase Transitions in Polymers, Melting and Crystallization.
  • Dedicated Heat Flow measurements for both liquid & solid samples in hermetically sealed pans.
  • Temperature range: -90°C to 500°C using RCS
  • Melting points, Phase transitions, Crystallization, Glass Transition of Polymers, Sensitive Heat Capacity measurements

Specification of the instrument

Resources

Electrochemistry set up with Potentiostat / Galvanostat

  • Characterization of Devices like Solar Cells & Supercapacitors.
  • Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to identify camouflaged electrochemical reactions and extract information on the capacitive behaviour of the system.
  • Power and Current density curves, Cyclic Voltametry(CV), Chronoamperometry

Powder & Thin film X-ray Diffractometer

  • Bravais Lattice Symmetry, Phase Analysis, Epitaxy, Texture information
  • Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXD) for thin films.

Specification of the instrument

Resources

Micro Particle Image Velocimetry (MPIV)

  • Micron Resolution Optical Method of Flow Visualization technique popularly for instantaneous velocity measurements in fluids.
  • Fundamental studies of flow instabilities.

Specification of the instrument

Resources

Universal Testing Machine (UTM)

  • Tensile and Compressive Stress, Elastic and Plastic Deformations, Yield Strength, Fatigue tests and Creep tests.
  • Plastics, Elastomers, Hard Foams, Carbon Fibers can be tested.

Specification of the instrument

Resources

Electrospinning Unit with 3D Bioprinter as Accessory

  • Nanofiber spinning machine to make composite & biopolymer nanofibers & variety of spinning arrangements.
  • 3D polymer extrusion printer with pneumatic driven technology and multiple printheads

Polarization Microscope with Fluorescence spectroscopy & Peltier Stage attachment

  • Microscope features: Polarization, Bright Field, Dark Field, DIC, Fluorescence, Orthoscopy & Conoscopy, Linkam Peltier Stage