Physico-chemical characterization

The combination of these techniques, combined with the presence of two logisticians and a technician dedicated to sample analysis, as well as highly qualified researchers for the development of advanced applications, is a strategic feature of this platform. Among these characterization techniques, solid-state NMR and X-ray diffraction emerge as advanced tools.

The platform collaborates actively with university teams, both nationally and internationally. It also maintains fruitful collaborations with industrial partners, particularly in the fields of materials science and the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Single-crystal and powder X-ray diffractometers

Research logistician Dr Nikolay Tumanov is in charge of crystallography. The PC² platform has three X-ray diffractometers dedicated to two different techniques: single-crystal and powder diffraction.

For single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, only a small crystal of the sample is required. The analysis provides the complete crystal structure of the compound under study, i.e. the coordinates of all atoms and the absolute configuration.

X-ray powder diffraction requires powder samples and is used to study various types of solid and liquid materials: pharmaceuticals, polymers, nanomaterials, glass. As a rule, this method identifies the known crystalline phase in the material under study.

The combination of advanced powder diffraction methods with solid-state NMR and quantum chemical calculations enables the crystalline structure to be determined directly from the powder sample.

Elemental analysis

This instrument enables the content of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen in organic and other types of materials to be determined rapidly. This analysis is based on total combustion of the material at 950°C (under oxygen flow and pressure).

The carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulfur present in the samples are transformed into carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide respectively. A chromatographic column separates these products, which are measured by a heat-conduction detector.

ICP-OES

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) is based on the thermal excitation of ions in plasma and analysis of the light emitted by these ions. Each element emits characteristic wavelengths. The wavelengths are then separated, identified and their intensity measured by a spectrometer. The elemental concentration is determined by comparison with an external calibration.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance NMR (400, 500 and 600 MHz)

Research logistician Dr. Luca Fusaro is responsible for developing the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) at the University of Namur. He collaborates with other researchers, helping them to better understand a variety of systems.

One of the most active areas in particular is solid-state NMR, which is used to study a wide range of organic and inorganic materials, catalysts and glasses. Standard nuclei are 13C, 27Al and 29Si, but more advanced applications are also used to study often dilute species, such as 67Zn, 71Ga, 119Sn, etc.

Measurements at variable temperatures can also be carried out with the available NMR equipment.