Scientific Infrastructure

Chemistry and Microimaging Laboratory

The Chemistry and Microimaging Laboratory provide the platform and the hands-on expertise to perform almost any type of sample manipulation/sample preparation required for experimental work in the field of chemistry and materials science, as well as for handling and imaging of micrometer or nanometer-sized samples. In addition to standard laboratory gear, the chemistry lab is equipped with a glovebox and  Schlenk lines for handling air- and moisture-sensitive reagents. The micro-imaging lab houses a scanning electron microscope with an attached EDX system and provides in addition optical microscopes, micromanipulators and cutting and polishing equipment.

Sample Environment Support Service

The Sample Environment Support Service gives general support for performing experiments under non-ambient conditions, including high and low temperatures, high pressures and magnetic fields. The support consists of designing, mounting and testing new dedicated equipment; maintaining and modifying existing equipment; and helping scientists with procurement and operation of state-of-the-art sample environment apparatus. In addition the service runs a loan pool of equipment.

Surface Science Laboratory

The Surface Science Laboratory (SSL) focuses on the use of atomic force microscopies for supplementing X-ray techniques in issues relevant to nanoscience. In past years, through an European project called X-Tip, the SSL developed a versatile instrument  adaptable to any beamline for merging X-ray spectroscopies and scanning probe microscopies. At present, through a project called PianHo, funded by the French government (Agence nationale de la recherche), the SSL is adapting haptic feedback techniques for giving scientists the opportunity of locating, “feeling” and manipulating nanosamples under X-rays beams.

Related Services 

Instrument Pool

The Detector and Electronics Group of the Instrumentation Services and Development Division (ISDD) operates an instrument pool, a service that provides a wide range of on-loan equipment to the beamlines in the fields of detectors and electronics.

Other Laboratories

The ESRF User Guide, as part of instructions on preparing for experiment, provides a list of support laboratories available to users. Note that use of these laboratories must be booked in advance.