1. STM/AFM System:
The STM/AFM system is a state of the art surface science facility currently undergoing commissioning for use in research by Jay Forrest, with summer student Barry Tran. It is located in the basement of the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics at the University of Saskatchewan. The system includes an ultra high vacuum variable temperature scanning tunneling microscope as well as an attached preparation and characterization system. The characterization system includes AFM, LEED, mass spectrometer, and Auger electron spectroscopy equipment. This system will be used to image organic and spintronic materials to learn about their electronic properties, and is scheduled to be ready for research by fall of 2010.
This system has the capability to:
- Perform Scanning Tunneling Microscopy measurements including tip preparation.
- Perform Atomic Force Microscopy Measurements including contact mode imaging, non-contact and tapping modes, and force modulation imaging.
- Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED).
- Auger Electron Yield Spectroscopy.
- Surface preparation and vapour deposition of metals or small molecules using e-beam evaporation.
- Commissioning of STM system including tip fabrication
- AFM upgrades for force modulation system
2. Organic materials spin-coater lab:
The spin-coater lab consists of a spin coating system used for solution processing of organic materials. This facility is used to make thin films using a variety of substrates and solvents at room temperature. This system is fully operational and samples produced with the equipment have been measured with X-ray spectroscopy at the Canadian Light Source and Advanced Light Source at Berkeley labs, CA, as well as imaged with the AFM system described above. Currently under study are a set of molecules which are highly soluble and show desirable device characteristics such as high charge carrier mobility when they are prepared as spin-coated thin films.
- Spin coating of materials for photovoltaics
3. Organic and Metal Thin Film Deposition Lab with I-V and C-V measurement capability:
This deposition equipment has recently arrived at the University and will be available for use in the summer of 2011. This system is designed to deposit both metals and organic materials using vapor deposition under high vacuum. The system will be configured with 6 vacuum evaporation sources giving it the capability to deposit metals and organic materials simultaneously to create metal-doped organic materials. It will be used to fabricate new types of TFT and photovoltaic devices made using organic materials. Complementary to this system is additional equipment for measurement of I-V and C-V characteristics of TFTs and photovoltaics.
This system has the capability to:
- Deposit thin films of metals and organic materials by vapor deposition.
- Measure I-V and C-V characteristics of thin film transistor devices
- Measure I-V characteristics of photovoltaic devices.
- Movement of Equipment to new lab
- Commissioning of system for use
4. Solar Simulator with I-V measurement capability:
A solar simulator with I-V measurement stage is currently in transit to our lab and will be available over the summer of 2011. This system is used to simulate the illumination of the sun for use in determining the power conversion efficiency of photovoltaic devices.