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Nanomaterial Catalysts for
Sustainable Energy Technologies

FACILITIES

Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Catalysis and Device IntegrationStudents in the Higgins group have access to many state of the art nanomaterials characterization facilities available at McMaster University, along with advanced experimental equipment within the Higgins laboratory. Information on facilities and equipment is provided here. Combined, these tools enable the synthesis, characterization, electrochemical activity testing and device integration of nanomaterial catalysts for sustainable electrochemical energy technologies.

Canadian Centre for Electron
Microscopy (CCEM)
CCEM provides world-class electron microscopy capabilities and expertise for nanomaterials research and development. Transmission electron microscopy capabilities include sub-Angstrom imaging and atomic-scale chemical analysis.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Facility
The NMR facilities at McMaster houses and operates 8 different NMR spectrometers that allow studying and analysis of a number of different nuclei using both solution and solid state NMR.

Biointerfaces Institute
The Biointerfaces Institute at McMaster University is a state-of-the-art facility used to investigate the nature of the biological/material interfaces. Particularly, the Biointerfaces Institute houses tools used for X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, FT-IR and contact angle measurements.

McMaster Regional Centre for Mass Spectroscopy (MRCMS)
MRCMS provides expertise and state of the art infrastructure for quantification, analysis and identification of various organic, inorganic, and biochemical materials using gas or liquid chromatography techniques.

Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research (BIMR)
The BIMR is an interdisciplinary research organization with the mandate to develop, support and co-ordinate all materials research-related activities at McMaster. The CCEM and MAX facilities are housed within BIMR.

Centre for Emerging Device Technologies (CEDT)
The CEDT is an organization that facilitates study of the optical, electrical, mechanical, and biological properties of semiconductors and related materials and promotes the development of technology based on these materials. CEDT houses cleanroom facilities, along with various characterization and synthesis tools, including rapid thermal annealing, etching and vapour deposition methods.

McMaster Analytical X-Ray Diffraction Facility (MAX)
MAX is a teaching and research facility housing state of the art instruments for
X-ray diffraction analysis of nanomaterial crystallinity and structure.

Equipment

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Mandel SRI 8610C Gas Chromatograph (GC)

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Pine Research Rotating Disk Electrode (RDE) and Rotating Ring Disk Electrode (RRDE)

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BioLogic VSP-300 Multipotentiostat

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Thermo Scientific Lindberg/Blue M Mini-Mite Tube Furnace C2

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Thermo Scientific Sorvall™
Legend™ X1 Centrifuge

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VWR® Forced Air
Oven 2.3 CF

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Milli-Q® Reference Water Purification System by Merck 

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Mettler Toledo XSR105DU DualRange Analytical Balance

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VWR® Digital Lab Balance
Scale Weighing 

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VWR® Symphony Ultrasonic Cleaner with Digital Timer and Heater 

VWR® Analog Vortex
Mixer Vortexer 

Harvard Apparatus Syringe Pump 11 Elite 

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 VWR® Hot Plate
Stirrer

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Thermo Scientific Cimarec
Stirring Hot Plate

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VWR® High Performance
Single-Channel Pipettors 

© 2025 Drew Higgins, Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University

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