A Wealth of Available Instruments
Our lab moved to Ohio State in January 2024 and are always interested in acquiring new equipment. Our group is also a make-and-measure physical inorganic chemistry group. Hence, we actively use our own instrumentation as well as facilities across OSU to help us answer our research questions.
Schlenk Lines and Fume Hoods
Our lab is hosted in the Newman & Wolfrom laboratory on OSU’s campus. We have two dedicated fume-hood-filled rooms with eight total hoods. Researchers in our group are trained to use Schlenk lines and techniques for manipulating air- and water-sensitive reactions and these lines are all set up in fume hoods for chemical containment.
Inert Atmosphere Boxes
Part of our lab space is a dedicated instrument/glovebox room that holds two VigorTech double gloveboxes for chemistry and sample preparation that needs to be performed in the absence of O2. All researchers in our group are trained to use these instruments at some point during their studies. Some, if they are lucky, get to sit inside them while they are being set up.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
An enormous part of our research effort involves the study of magnetic nuclei with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Our group has a state-of-the-art broadband benchtop NMR spectrometer (the Oxford Instruments X-pulse) that is capable of measuring the exotic nuclei that are featured in our research. We also make use of the incredible NMR facility at OSU, which has a huge array of NMR equipment, for higher-field and -frequency analyses.
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR)
Our group also uses electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to characterize reactions and complexes. We use in-house facilities (the right-three photos), which include Bruker EMX and benchtop systems, but also travel to the National High Magnetic Field Lab (among others) for pulsed measurements of spin dynamics. In winter of 2024, we will be getting a state-of-the-art Bruker ELEXSYS pulsed EPR system for in-house measurements of metal complexes.
UV-Vis and Vibrational Spectroscopies
Molecules in our lab are interrogated with our UV-Vis spectrometer to analyse electronic structure, which sits on a mobile cart so experiments can also be done in-situ at the fume hood. We also have a Bruker Invenio IR spectrometer for analysis of vibrational modes of complexes, and this particular spectrometer is capable of measuring down to 90 cm—1 for analyzing low-energy metal-ligand vibrations. We also frequently use Raman spectrometers available in department facilities.
Other Very-Important Equipment
Our group offices are also equipped with incredibly important instrumentation. We have a Jura ENA-4 automatic coffee dispenser that delivers the ever-precious caffeine for sustenance when reading papers and gathering energy for group meeting. We also have a refrigerator for food, drinks, and an icemaker when needed.