Ongoing Projects
Research Facilities
The profilometer measures surface roughness, thin-film thickness, and wear profiles with nanometer accuracy. Data outputs include Ra and Rq roughness parameters, step heights, and uniformity maps. These results are essential for correlating film thickness and surface morphology with device sensitivity and conductivity. It can track degradation over time, providing durability and wear analysis datasets. Profilometer measurements ensure high reproducibility and optimization of surface-engineered nanomaterials.
This advanced potentiostat supports cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, open-circuit potential, and chronoamperometry. It characterizes electron transfer rates, reversibility of reactions, diffusion coefficients, and catalytic activity. Data includes charge transfer resistance, double-layer capacitance, corrosion rates, and electrode kinetics, which are essential for predicting electrochemical performance. Researchers can evaluate biosensor responses, supercapacitor electrode behavior, and coating stability under simulated conditions. The Autolab ensures precise and reproducible datasets critical for modeling and advanced electrochemical studies.
The hot press enables structural, mechanical, and electrical characterization of fabricated composites and films. Samples processed can later be analyzed by XRD, SEM, or AFM for crystallinity, grain size, and morphology. Data obtained include density, porosity, tensile strength, compressibility, and electrical conductivity. This allows correlation of processing parameters (pressure, temperature) with performance outcomes. Hot pressing ensures homogeneous materials and reproducible electrical and mechanical properties.
The drying oven supports drying, curing, annealing, and pre-treatment of samples under controlled convection heating. Data obtained indirectly includes consistency in weight loss (moisture removal), crystallinity improvement after annealing, and mechanical stabilization post-curing. It enables reproducible sample preparation for downstream FTIR, SEM, or electrochemical studies. By minimizing variability, the oven enhances accuracy of characterization results. Its uniform heating ensures reliable datasets on material stability, adhesion, and surface quality.
The IoT kit provides real-time transmission and characterization of sensor data in wireless environments. Datasets include latency, transmission delay, signal stability, and power efficiency of sensor nodes. Researchers can measure how biosensor signals behave during wireless integration and cloud upload. It enables system-level analysis such as data integrity and continuous logging stability. These results validate the transition of bench-scale sensors to functional IoT devices.
The stirrer enables uniform nanoparticle synthesis, electrolyte preparation, and catalyst dispersion. While it does not directly measure data, it ensures sample homogeneity that supports accurate characterization by SEM, DLS, or potentiostat testing. Datasets obtained indirectly include nanoparticle size distributions, electrolyte conductivity values, and catalytic surface area performance. Proper mixing reduces variability and improves reproducibility of experimental results. Thus, the magnetic stirrer contributes to consistent data quality across multiple experimental workflows.
The CHI system enables cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and pulse voltammetry (DPV, SWV). It is used for analyzing redox potentials, diffusion-limited processes, sensitivity, and detection limits of analytes. Data includes peak current values, separation potentials, catalytic turnover rates, and quantitative detection of biomarkers. With reduced noise and high sensitivity, this instrument generates reliable voltametric signatures for studying modified electrodes and thin films. It provides reproducible baseline datasets for both educational and applied electrochemical characterization.
Shared Research Facilities
In addition to its in-house capabilities, LI³TMES leverages the state-of-the-art shared core facilities at UTRGV to support advanced materials research, device fabrication, and characterization. These centralized resources provide access to high-resolution imaging systems such as the Zeiss Sigma VP FE-SEM and TEM, structural analysis tools like the RIGAKU MiniFlex600 XRD, and surface characterization using the Thermo Scientific K-Alpha XPS system. Spectroscopic and molecular analysis is enabled through instruments including the Bruker VERTEX 70 FT-IR Spectrometer and JEOL ECZL R-series 500 MHz NMR. Thermal and mechanical properties are studied using DSC 214 Polyma, TG 209 F3 Tarsus, and precision tensile testing systems, while electrochemical performance is evaluated with the Metrohm Autolab PGSTAT302N and CH Instruments 1240C potentiostats. By utilizing these shared facilities, our researchers can conduct end-to-end development—from nanomaterial synthesis and membrane fabrication to sensor integration and performance evaluation—using industry-grade instrumentation. This collaborative infrastructure enhances research quality, accelerates innovation, and enables LI³TMES to pursue multidisciplinary projects in biomedical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and energy technologies.