UCT In-situ Magnetometer/Raman Device Raman Spectrometer

The equipment is an instrument for magnetic characterisation of ferro-magnetic nano-materials in a controlled environment ("in-situ") combined with a Raman spectroscopy probe. The magnetic properties of these properties of these materials (total magnetisation (maximum external field strength: 2T), remnant magnetisation, coercive field, full hysteresis) as well as Raman specta can be measured at varied temperatures (up to 550◦ C) and elevated pressures (up to 100 bar) under flow conditions using a variety of different gases and or liquids. In addition "external" samples can be characterised in the set-up.

Many nano-materials, such as heterogeneous catalysts, contain supported metal crystallites in the nanometer size range, typically 1 to 50 nm. The size of these crystallites can change during calyst pre-treatment, and importantly also during the application/reaction which is under investigation. Often undesired crystallite growth ("sintering") of crystallites occurs; moreover phase changes, such as oxidation or carbidisation, can take place during reaction/application. Both the change of crystallite size of magnetic particles (and size distribution in the nano-meter range, 1 - 50 nm) as well as phase changes can be monitored in real time with this novel device.