Supporting World-Class Labs at the University of Manchester

Since its creation in 2004, the University of Manchester has focussed on building its reputation for world-class research, and has risen rapidly in world university league tables. It now ranks within the top 36 institutions in the world. Our stated aim is to to provide state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, and pioneer arrangements for their more efficient use, including sharing. Now we propose to use our EPSRC Core Equipment Award to support researchers in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, by providing state-of-the-art equipment in fields aligned with University of Manchester strategic priorities. Following a round of competitive bidding, the projects we have chosen for investment are: * A high throughput mass spectrometer for 24 h rapid measurements that are required to monitor new molecules as they are synthesised. This is particularly useful for studying the molecules used in biomanufacturing, or in the bio-synthesis of pharmaceuticals, molecular machines, and nanostructures. This will replace an ageing instrument that is prone to technical faults. The instrument will be available to researchers in the University of Manchester, other universities and a wide range of industry users, and will be used in the training of PhD researchers studying in our Centre for Doctoral Training in Integrated Catalysis . * A state-of-the-art high power pulsed laser system, that will be used for a programme of work driven by our early career researchers studying nanomaterials, such as nanowire lasers, micro-LEDs, integrated optoelectronics, single-photon sources and nano-photovoltaics. It will replace an ageing and low-reliability laser system with a modern and cutting-edge tool, that will be coupled to 7 co-located experiments to simultaneously provide multiple different measurements on new materials and devices. This will enable us to continue to provide technical training to the cohort of PhD researchers in our Photon Science Institute, and will be used by 10 research groups working in advanced materials, and their external partners and others in universities around the world, the Henry Royce Institute and in industry. * A novel new system of coupled lasers operating by a principle called 'asynchronous optical sampling' which will allow us to study very fast dynamical processes in nanomaterials at high throughput. It brings a completely new capability to Manchester which none of our (ageing) existing laser systems have to study complex materials systems such as 2-dimensional materials - or even how enzymes work. We will also use it with a very high-field pulsed magnet system to help design next generation magnet materials. It will be used in the training of PhD researchers studying in the Photon Science Institute and in our Centre for Doctoral Training on Graphene (Graphene NOWNANO), and by 8 research groups in Manchester and their and their external partners and others in universities around the world, the Henry Royce Institute and in industry.