Core Facilities and Service Group

Search term not found.

Core Facility

The 3D visualization of complex functional and adaptive (micro)systems in biology and technology is one of the central challenges in basic research on adaptive and bio-inspired technologies and in the investigation of functional principles in biological systems as a source of ideas for new technical developments.
Using existing and newly acquired equipment, it is possible to establish a specialized laboratory for microscopy and tomography of materials combined with an FIT competence network for 3D visualization.
If you have any further questions regarding the costs (fee regulation), usage regulations and registration procedure, please contact the management of the Core Facility.
Scientific Head: Prof. Dr. Anna Fischer
Responsible Manager: Dr. Yi Thomann

200 kV high-brightness X-FEG
Modes: TEM, STEM, HAAFD, DF, DPC
SuperX EDX System
(limited) Cryo TEM, STEM
TEM Holder: Double Tilt, High Tilt, Cryo
Piezo-Stage 20 pm
Low-dose technique
Ceta 16 Megapixel Digital Camera
Auto tilt series imaging
Tomography reconstruction
Application areas:
Solid state inorganic and soft matter materials (metals, semiconductors, composites, polymers etc).
2D (up to atomic resolution) and 3D imaging.
2D EDX analytics (point analysis and mapping).

30 kV FEG
Gallium-ion-column
SE, T1, T2 and DBS Detektors
C and Platin deposition
Tomography equipment
EDAX EDX System
Mikromanipulator
PraparationPreparation of TEM Lamella
Auto slice and view (ASNV)
Avizo
Application areas:
SEM imaging, FIB micro/nanostructuring, EDX analysis (point and map analysis), FIB-SEM Tomography, TEM lamellae preparation

X-ray source: 20-100 kV, 10 W, <5 μm spot size @ 4 W
X-ray detector: 16 Mp, 14-bit cooled CCD fiber-optically coupled to scintillator
Maximum object size 75 mm in diameter using offset scan (27 mm in fast single scan)
Detail detectability 0.35 μm (16 Mp) at highest magnification

Contact and Tapping Modes, phase imaging, Nanoindentation etc.
Resolution up to 0.1 nm, image range maximum 100 µm, depth maximum 2 µm;
Main applications: Studies on the crystallization behavior of polymers, polymer blends, block copolymers as well as surfaces of metals, semi-metals, nanocomposites etc.; not only surface but also bulk investigations of the samples by microtomy can be carried out.

PC-controlled device for vitrification (rapid cooling) of aqueous samples
Optimized for ethane and/or propane as coolants
Ultrasonically controlled humidification, optimized for operation at 90% – 100% RH; Peltier controlled heating/cooling; chamber temperature 4 – 60 °C
Automated lift and transfer of the coolant container
Cryo grids storage box and holder; semi-automated grid transfer

The Core Facility “Functional Processing” is an asset for the research projects at FIT. It provides technical support for design and manufacturing of multifunctional and intelligent biomimetic polymer multilayer systems. These systems can be applied in biochemical, diagnostic, bioinspired energy harvesting and micro-optical sensor applications.
The available modules are designed for processing multi-layer systems and allow flexible combinations of the individual process steps. Sample dimensions from a few square centimeters to large-scale roll-to-roll foil formats can be handled.
The support of the core facility is available to researchers at the University of Freiburg who are working on projects without industrial participation. Equipment fees apply.
The equipment at the Core Facility is divided into two categories according to operational complexity. For equipment in category 1, evaluated applicants receive training by the Core Facility’s staff, after which they are issued a permit to work on the systems. For category 2, users are not allowed to work alone on the systems; the equipment is operated by the Core Facility’s trained staff.
If you have any further questions regarding the costs (fee regulation), usage regulations and registration procedure, please contact the management of the Core Facility.
Scientific Head: Prof. Dr. Claas Müller
Responsible Manager: Dr. Jing Becker

Electrophoretic deposition (EPD): Permatecs EPD system and cryomill system

Pore-free, highly adhesive coatings with functional layers of polymers, ceramics, metals, and combinations thereof.
Max. voltage: 3000 V, curing temperature: 450°C

Roll-embossing and lamination:
Stork roll laminator HRL 350 Jumbo

Roll-to-roll nanoimprinting and foil lamination with smooth or structured rolls and adjustable lamination speed.
Max. temperature: 200°C, max. force: 6 bar

Microscope: Zeiss SteREO Discovery.V12

Screen printing: Thieme screen printer LAB 1000

Screen printing with polymers, metals and ceramics with accurate automatic alignment on pre-structured substrate.
Alignment accuracy: 5 μm, lateral accuracy: 15 μm

Aerosol jet printing: Neotech AMT AJ 15XA aerosol jet print system

Mask-less aerosol deposition of functional nanomaterials inks (metals, polymers, ceramics, oxides, biomaterials, …)
Resolution: 10 μm

Thin film deposition and surface modification: Plasma Electronic Porta 400

Roll-to-roll film deposition and surface modification, such as hydrophobization or hydrophilization, for large-scale flexible substrates. The manufacturing system combines physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) techniques for deposition of metals, oxides, nitrites and carbides.
max. foil dimensions: 1000m x 240mm; min. foil thickness: 40 μm

Nano- & micro structure replication: Jenoptik Hex04 embossing machine

Force- and distance controlled hot-embossing nanoimprint lithography (HE-NIL) of thermoplastic polymers at temperatures up to 450°C, using metal and elastomer stamps.
max. force: 400 kN, max. roughness: 10 nm
UV- nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL) for photoresists and hybrid polymers with hard and soft stamps.
Alignment accuracy: 2 μm, max. substrate dimensions: 300 mm diameter

Multi-scale modeling of molecular systems, complex materials and surfaces
Ab-initio simulations of catalytic reactions (see figure)Theoretical spectroscopy (UVVis, IR, photoelectron spectroscope, XPS, XAS, Raman)
Scientific Head: Prof. Dr. Michael Moseler
Resonsible Manager: PD Dr. Michael Walter