New opening of 2MILab
April 25 is the time for the new inauguration of the laboratory 2MILab, which has been located in Kemihuset since the turn of the year.
“We welcome all users to come and mingle with us!” says Matthew Fielden, director of 2MILab.
The 2MILab laboratory was started in 2020 to make it possible to investigate how different surfaces function and react in a cost-effective way. It is a so-called research infrastructure at KTH where the academy, industry and other social actors can meet to develop their skills and create new synergies and collaborations. The name 2MILab is an abbreviation of "Molecules and Materials at Interfaces Laboratory".
The business is developing steadily. There are both powerful instruments and expertise here to help users manage the equipment if necessary.
“As manager of the infrastructure, I am responsible for taking care of the instruments, the premises and, above all, the users!” says Matthew Fielden.
In the first years, the business was spread out at different addresses, but from the turn of the year, all instruments and all expertise have been gathered in a common room in the Kemihuset at Teknikringen 38. Matthew is satisfied with the centralization.
“It's easy to get here! Now we can finally focus on optimizing our offer and the user experience at 2MILab. For example, our fees make it beneficial to use multiple technologies. Based on the users' suggestions, we are investigating how we can develop our instrument park.
Platform for collaboration
The activities at 2MILab are primarily aimed at KTH researchers, research students and postdocs, but other universities, research institutes and industries are also welcome to use the resources.
There are also some strategic techniques that can be provided via 2MILab as affiliated instruments, for example X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
“I see opportunities to develop good collaborations not only between our departments at CBH, but also with other schools at KTH, external partners, research institutes and private companies,” says Matthew.
Courses for users
Now Matthew is planning to be able to offer users short, practical courses on how to use the equipment effectively.
At 2MILab there are instruments for, among other things
• X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
• electron microscopy with chemical analysis (TEM and SEM with EDS)
• atomic force microscopy (AFM)
• infrared spectroscopy and microscopy
• QCM-D
• electrokinetic methods for surface characterization
• Raman and TIR Raman spectroscopy
• vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy
• nano-infrared.
“We also make contact with the chemistry department, where there is an opportunity to use two more instruments, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR),” says Matthew.
During the first half of 2023, more new instruments will be introduced.
“We have just installed an XPS system and a cryo-ultramicrotome. A new FEG-SEM with EDS will be available from the end of May,” says Matthew.
Text: Leena Höijer
Registration for the new opening April 25
Are you interested in using an instrument? Please contact Matthew Fielden!