Nanofabrication of metallic nanostructures is carried out using a custom electron beam physical vapor deposition system. This system consists of a 14x30 stainless steel D-shaped chamber with a front loading door, a 4 pocket 7cc bottom drive e-beam gun with a Telemark TT-6 power supply, a Maxtek 260 quartz crystal controller, totally oil-free roughing and turbo pumps (dry scroll roughening pump and a Pfeiffer TMU-521 turbo molecular pump with 500 l/s pumping speed), a custom glancing angle deposition substrate holder with computer controlled stepper motors controlling both polar and azimuthal rotation of the substrate, as well as complete interlocks for instrument safety. The system is also outfitted with autovent and autopump down capabilities.
GLAD System
The primary spectroscopic instrumentation used for my research includes a research-grade Thermo Electron Nicolet 4700 Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer equipped with a DTGS detector. Various sampling accessories have been purchased for both research and teaching. Most notably are the Spectral Systems Model 500 Variable Angle Specular Reflectance Accessory coupled with a Specac KRS-5 wire grid polarizer (used for molecular orientation studies of thin films) and Thermo Electron’s Smart Orbit Diamond ATR accessory.
ThermoElectron Nicolet 4700 FTIR spectrometer
The Raman system is a Jobin-Yvon U1000 Double Monochromator Raman System equipped with a photomultiplier tube with excitation provided by a 12 W Coherent Innova 70 Argon Ion Laser. This system was recently upgraded with new electronics and software and is currently being used for both SERS and normal unenhanced Raman studies of thin films. The Coherent laser used for the Raman system was recently reconditioned with a new laser tube.
Jobin-Yvon U1000 Raman System
For tailored thin film fabrication, a Nima Model 112D Langmuir-Blodgett Dipping Trough is used.
Nima Dipping Trough
Another primary connection that supports my research is my membership in the USC NanoCenter. The USC NanoCenter is the University’s focal point for science and engineering studies that involve nanotechnology. Benefits of membership include the use of all facilities and instrumentation, including, most notably, the electron microscopy facility. Also, atomic force microscopy and other surface analysis techniques are available through the NanoCenter. Finally, collaborations with the University of Georgia (90 miles from USCA) have enabled me to use other forms of instrumentation not available at my undergraduate institution. Dr. Richard A. Dluhy (UGA Department of Chemistry) has graciously provided me with access to his labs and equipment, which includes a Kaiser Holoprobe Raman microscope with 785 nm excitation.
