August 26, 2016

Birck Nanotechnology Center shares new laboratory technology

Birck Nanotechnology Center Research scientist Neil Dilley works at the keyboard between the latest additions to Birck Nanotechnology Center: the Magnetic Properties Measurement System (MPMS-3) and the Dynacool Physical Properties Measurement System (PPMS). (Photo provided) Download image

Purdue's Birck Nanotechnology Center is promoting its latest multidisciplinary research equipment to university faculty and external users.

Research scientist Neil Dilley oversees the new lab for "spintronics," the study of the spin of electrons and the related magnetism for applications in electronics. With the academic year beginning, Dilley who is working with Joerg Appenzeller, Barry M. and Patricia L. Epstein Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and scientific director of Nanoelectronics at Birck, is informing campus researchers about this technology that was newly added to the Birck recharge facility.

Installed in September 2015, the Magnetic Properties Measurement System (MPMS-3) and the DynaCool Physical Properties Measurement System (PPMS), both manufactured by Quantum Design, Inc., already have a list of 28 users.

"This is something that we really want the rest of the campus to know about," Dilley says. "It's the start of a great facility that will allow us to address a lot of interesting research problems."

The MPMS-3 uses a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) to make the world's most sensitive measurements of magnetism arising in bulk, powder and thin film materials. The DynaCool measures electrical resistance and related effects in materials. Both of the instruments do all their work in precisely controlled temperatures from a frigid 1.8 Kelvin (-271 degrees Celsius) up to 400 Kelvin (127 degrees Celsius) and in applied magnetic fields up to 9 tesla (180,000 times stronger than earth's magnetic field).

"There are thermal properties that people want to understand and these instruments can later add the ability to measure how much heat something can hold or transport," Dilley says.

Both of these instruments are important in the fields of engineering (magnetic devices), chemistry (molecular magnetism and nanoparticles) and physics (superconductivity and magnetic materials), among others.

As a low temperature physicist with specialization in magnetism and superconductivity, Dilley worked at Quantum Design for 16 years before joining Birck in May. His set of skills as both a researcher and a trainer of scientists adds a tremendous value for the users of the spintronics lab.

The lab was established for the new Spintronics Preeminent Team at Purdue which is headed by Supriyo Datta, Thomas Duncan Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Although similar devices exist at many universities around the world, Dilley says the state-of-the-art systems at Birck incorporate cryo-refrigerators that cut the helium consumption budget from $50,000 down to $1,000 and remove the need for any liquid helium deliveries. Helium is critical to the operation of these instruments for low temperatures, high magnetic fields, and the SQUID detector.

"Because they run automated 24/7 and they're hardly using any helium, both instruments are ripe for new users," Dilley says. "It really is a great opportunity to have. We anticipate a lot of interest not only on campus but throughout the Midwest, and we're also looking forward to starting collaborations that will turn up new areas where we can apply these tools."

To find out more about these instruments at Birck, please contact Neil Dilley at ndilley@purdue.edu .

Writer: Brian L. Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu


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