Equipment

Our lab (located at E2-427 of Yungu Campus, Westlake University) is well equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for oxide thin film deposition, electrochemical testing (for both high-temperature fuel/electrolysis cells and aqueous electrocatalysis) and ceramic processing.

Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) – oxide thin film growth with atomic precision
Our PLD is a NanoPLD purchased from PVD Products, which features:

  • A Coherent 102F laser (max. energy 400 mJ), four 2” target holder;
  • A loadlock for fast sample transfer;
  • Every single component is computer-controlled;
  • Fully automated sample growth.

(Photo credit: Danyang Zhu)

Potentiostats/FRAs – for electrochemical testing
We have multiple (too many!) potentiostats/frequency response analyzers (FRAs) for different applications, which includes:

  • Admiral Squidstat (x2, compact and portable, for “field work”)
  • Biologic SP-240 (single channel, w/ EIS function);
  • Biologic SP-300 (two channels, both w/ EIS function);
  • Biologic VSP-300 (two channels, equipped w/ 2 A current booster);
  • Solartron 1260A+1287 (for high-precision EIS measurments);

(Photo credit: Yang Hu/Song Mao)

High-temperature Electrochemical Testing – for studying SOFCs/SOECs
We have multiple custom built electrochemical testing systems for studying SOCs:

  • 3x High-temperature testing (EIS, conductivity, etc.) systems with automated MFCs;
  • A custom built system used w/ a GC system;
  • 2x SOFC testing systems.
  • A probe station for characterizing microelectrodes under controlled temperature and atmosphere (purchased from Nextron Inc.）

(Photo credit: Yang Hu/Song Mao)

Operando optical equipment – for studying aqueous electrocatalysis
We have two customized optical systems for studying electrocatalysis:

  • A 2D surface reflectance equipment (custom built);
  • A operando UV-Vis system (purchased from Redox.me);

(Photo credit: Yang Hu/Song Mao)

Ceramic Processing Facilities
We have complete ceramic processing equipment for fabricating ceramic pellets, PLD targets and fuel cells, which include:

  • Multiple box furnaces;
  • Low-speed diamond saw, ball milling, screen printing, etc.

(Photo credit: Yang Hu/Song Mao)