For their research activities, NISM Institute researchers rely on technology platform teams, each of which houses state-of-the-art equipment, technical know-how and cutting-edge expertise. They are accessible to the scientific community as well as to industry.
The Lasers, Optics and Spectroscopies (LOS) Platform
The LOS platform applies advanced optical measurements to the characterization of matter, light and light-matter interactions for fundamental or applied research. Optical phenomena are used to study matter in gas and solid phases, with target topics related to the study of air pollutants, properties of nanostructured surface/interface materials, biological and bio-inspired systems and biosensor devices.
The Morphology and Imaging Platform (MORPH-IM)
The MORPH-IM (Morphology and Imaging) platform provides expert advice and support to UNamur staff and external users, from sample preparation to image acquisition and analysis. It enables applied and fundamental research in materials and life sciences. Our major strength is our ability to link different types of imaging, thanks to state-of-the-art equipment and constant development. The platform enables observation (fluorescence microscopy, visible light microscopy, electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and flow cytometry (FACS)) as well as quantification of various parameters for biological or materials samples, including nanofilms and nano-objects.
The physico-chemical characterization platform (PC2)
The PC2 platform comprises a wide range of instruments including: nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers (liquid and solid state), X-ray diffractometers for single crystals and powders, instruments for the analysis of textural properties (N2 physisorption, mercury porosimetry, .) and chemical composition (combustion chemical analysis, ICP, etc.), as well as separation techniques (chromatography, centrifugation, etc.). The combination of these techniques with the presence of 2 full-time technicians dedicated to sample analysis and highly qualified researchers for the development of advanced applications represents a strategic feature of this platform. Among these characterization techniques, solid-state NMR and X-ray diffraction have emerged as advanced characterization tools.
The high-performance computing platform (PTCI)
High-performance computing is a key step in the current development of new technologies and fundamental science, but it is also essential for the analysis of large quantities of data. The PTCI platform offers users access to high-performance computing (HPC) equipment combined with top-level technical support. Our cluster is dedicated to general-purpose jobs, and handles large numbers of simultaneous jobs from multiple users with varying requirements. The PTCI is part of the shared infrastructure of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation CÉCI (Consortium des Équipements de Calcul Intensifs).
The Synthesis, Irradiation and Analysis of Materials (SIAM)
Platform SIAM is active in both the synthesis and characterization of materials and nanomaterials. SIAM carries out fundamental research in materials science, surfaces, interfaces and ion/matter interaction. Different types of materials and/or samples, from materials sciences, life sciences but not only (evaluation of materials in a biological matrix) can be analyzed in depth. One of SIAM's key assets is its unique expertise in various spectroscopic techniques (high and low energy), which can be coupled with nuclear analysis. Investigations can be carried out thanks to state-of-the-art equipment, a philosophy of constant development and a highly qualified team.