The Tapia-Ruiz Group

LAB equipment

ovens and muffle furnaces

Drying ovens

Aqueous Drying Cabinet

Manufacturer: LEEC

Equipment used to dry materials/equipment up to a maximum of 50°C.

Vacuum Oven

Manufacturer: Thermo Scientific

Model: 3618-1CE

Equipment used to dry materials/ equipment, up to a maximum of 220°C under vacuum.

Non-aqueous Drying Cabinet

Manufacturer: Fisherbrand

Equipment used to dry materials/equipment up to a maximum of 250°C.

Buchi oven + tubes

2 x Buchi Glass Oven and Buchi Tube

Manufacturer: Buchi

Model: B-585

Equipment used to dry powders/electrode/electrolyte materials up to 300°C under vacuum.

muffle furnaces

Carbolite Furnaces (x2)

Manufacturer: Carbolite

Model: GERO CWF 1200

Equipment used for high temperature solid state reactions, where 1200 °C is the maximum temperature.

MTI Furnace

Manufacturer: MTI Corporative

Model: KSL-1100X

Equipment used for high temperature solid state reactions, where 1100 °C

is the maximum temperature.

Lenton Furnace

Manufacturer: Lenton Furnaces

Model: UAF 14/5

Equipment used for high temperature solid state reactions, where 1400 °C

is the maximum temperature.

tube furnaces

Tube Furnace

Manufacturer: Lenton Furnaces

Model: LTF16

Equipment used for high temperture solid state reactions, where a constant flow of a specific gas (e.g., argon, oxygen) is used during the heating process. The maximum temperature of the furnace is 1450°C with the alumina work-tubes we have.

Tube Furnace

Manufacturer: Carbolite Gero

Model: TF1-1600

Other synthesis equipment

Hydraulic Press (x2) and Die Sets

Manufacturer: Specac

Die sets (10, 13, 16 and 20 mm in diameter) are used for pressing powders into pellets prior to heating in a furnace with the use of a hydraulic press. We have one press in a glovebox and one on a bench.

Heated Stirring Plates (x2)

Manufacturer: Stuart Equipment

Model: UC152D

Sonicator

Manufacturer: GT Sonic

Model: GT-R3-3L

Multi-Stirrers

Manufacturer: Stuart Equipment

Model: UC152

High-Precision Balances (x5)

Manufacturer: Ohaus/VWR

Model: Explorer

Potentiostats / Battery Cyclers / Dedicated Electrochemical Cells

2x Portable Biologic Monochannel Potentiostat

Manufacturer: BioLogic and Ivium Technologies

Model: SP-50e

Potentiostat for coin, pouch and swagelock-type electrochemical cells. Charge/discharge cycling, cyclic voltammetry and impedance measurements can be done on this equipment. Portability is particularly beneficial when performing operando measurements. Current ranges from 500 mA to 10 A, Up to 48 V, Current Resolution: 760 fA (Biologic) and Current ranges from 1 pA to 1 A, Up to 10 V, Current resolution: 0.125 ms (Ivium Technologies)

Biologic Potentiostat- 8 channels

Manufacturer: BioLogic

Model: VMP-300

Potentiostat with 8 channels for coin, pouch and swagelock-type electrochemical cells. Charge/discharge cycling, cyclic voltammetry and impedance measurements can be done on this equipment. Current ranges from 500 mA to 120 A, Up to 49 V, Current resolution: 760 fA

IVIUM Potentiostat- 8 channels

Manufacturer: Ivium Technologies

Model: OCTOPDA Octostat30

Two Potentiostats with 8 channels for coin, pouch and swagelock-type electrochemical cells. Charge/discharge cycling, cyclic voltammetry and impedance measurements can be done on this equipment. Current ranges from 100 pA to 10 mA, Up to 10 V, Current resolution: 3 fA, Accuracy 20pA + 0.025% of FSR.

Battery Tester (x2)

Manufacturer: Neware

Model: BTS4000-5V and 10mA, BTS4000-5V and 50mA

Used for electrochemical analysis of coin cells. Each battery testing system consists of 224 channels, and one of 32 channels. Accuracy 0.05% FS.

SECM

Manufacturer: BioLogic

Model: SECM150

Scanning ElectroChemical Microscopy (SECM) is a Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) technique that measures the local activity of a samples surface. A 5 or 10 um probe is scanned accros the surface of a glassy carbon electrode and a voltage bias can be applied to the probe or glassy carbon electrode simultanously. The SECM can be used on the benchtop or can be brought inside the glovebox to study electrode-electrolyte interfaces using aqueous and organic electrolytes, respectively.

Electrochemical Cells for Operando/In-situ X-ray Diffraction and Raman Spectroscopy Studies

Manufacturer: EL-Cell

Electrochemical cells used for operando/in-situ analysis of battery materials using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements.

6 x PAT-Cells

Manufacturer: EL-Cell

Model: A2798

The PAT-Cell is an electrochemical test cell for 2- and 3-electrode measurements on battery materials.

5 x Climate Chambers

Manufacturer: Memmert and TOB

Model: HPP260plus and JTSH-200

Climate chambers ensure that constant temperature can be maintained during electrochemical measurements of cells.

gloveboxes

Coin Cell Glovebox (4-gloves), heated antechamber, Ar atmosphere

Manufacturer: mBraun

Model: UNIlab

Batteries are assembled in this equipment. Conditions are adjusted to <0.1ppm oxygen and <0.1ppm water to guarantee the stability of the electrolyte and the alkali metals used.

SECM Glovebox (4-gloves), Ar atmosphere

Manufacturer: mBraun

Model: UNIlab Plus

SECM studies are carried out in this glovebox. Conditions are adjusted to <0.1ppm oxygen and <0.1ppm water to guarantee the stability of the electrolyte and the alkali metals.

X-ray diffractometer enclosed in Glovebox (2-gloves), N2 atmosphere

Manufacturer: mBraun

Model: MB 200B Eco

A benchtop X-ray diffractometer (Rigaku) (Cu source) is housed in this glovebox to conduct X-ray diffraction measurements on air-sensitive powders and electrodes are carried out in this glovebox. Conditions are kept at <0.5ppm oxygen and <0.5ppm during the measurement.

Mixer/ High-speed Ball mill

High-energy Ball-mill

Manufacturer: Fritsch

Model: Pulverisette 7

Equipment used to produce small particle size powdered samples (< 0.1μm) and improve homogeneization of mixtures. Revolution speed of up to 1100rpm can be achieved.

Electrode Mixer

Manufacturer: Thinky

Model: ARE-250

Equipment used to prepare homogeneous electrode slurry mixtures in minutes.

Electrode preparation

Tape Casting Coater

Manufacturer: TOB New Energy

Model: Samkoon

Used for coating of battery electrode slurries onto curren collectors, e.g. Al, Cu foils. The electrode slurry can be placed in front of a doctor blade and the machine allows you to adjust the speed and distance over which the doctor blade will be pushed along the surface of your foil. The use of the machine ensures consistency between different batches of electrode coatings.

With vacuum chuck, adjustable film applicator and optional dryer cover. Traverse speed adjustable from 10 – 100 mm/s. Stroke length is adjustable from 10 – 250 mm. Vacuum chuck dimension 365 mm (L) * 200 mm (W).

Doctor Blades

Manufacturer: TOB New Energy

The Doctor blade is used to make quality electrode films of specific and uniform thicknesses by adjusting the micrometer dials on top of the blade.

Electrode Punchers (x2)

Manufacturer: TOB New Energy

Model: TOB-CP60

The Coin cell disc cutter machine is used for coin cell electrode/separator punching with customized cutting die.

Polisher

Manufacturer: HST

Model: MP-1C

The MP-1C grinding and ploishing machine is equipped with single disc and feautures stepless speed changing,grinding and polishing. The rotating speed of grinding and polishing disc is adjustable from 50 to 1000 rpm.