Chemical analysis and imaging
Gain advanced insights into the composition, molecular and crystal structure of materials with our rapid and comprehensive chemical analysis services
With specialist expertise and powerful chemical imaging and analysis tools, we can help you understand the properties of a material or solution, or the interactions within a biological sample or a chemical process.
Gain the data you need about the chemical composition, molecular and crystal structure of your sample with techniques such as:
- X-ray diffraction
- Electron diffraction
- High-resolution mass spectrometry and chromatography
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- Raman, near infrared and infrared spectroscopy
- Non-linear spectroscopic imaging
Through our characterisation and chemical analysis services we can obtain dynamical information from femtoseconds using laser spectroscopy, through to microseconds or seconds by studying phase transitions, molecular mobility, and exchange with NMR and crystallographic approaches.
We can also map chemical distributions and molecular alterations in complex and living systems using Raman, near infrared and non-linear spectroscopic methods.
With a thorough understanding of your requirements, we’ll select the most suitable characterisation techniques and/or chemical analysis tests to deliver the insights you need.
Talk to us about your chemical analysis and imaging requirementsWe can work with a wide range of sample types, including:
Pure compounds
Complex mixtures
Fuels
Powders
Crystalline disordered solids
Catalysts
Semiconductors
Volatiles
Real-time reactions
Biofluids
Biomaterials
Biological systems
Why work with CChES?
State-of-the-art, industry-ready facilities including a one-of-a-kind electron beam diffraction service for analysis of smaller crystals and nanoparticles
Access to the optimum techniques for your material or process – CChES hosts an unrivalled range of instruments in terms of spectral region, length scale and dynamics.
Delivered by specialists who are recognised globally for developing theory, techniques, methodologies, hardware and open-source simulation tools.
Explore our facilities for chemical imaging and chemical analysis
X-ray diffraction
- Encompasses a range of techniques from simple phase identification to complex materials analysis
- Uses include material identification, analysis of nanomaterials and thin films, quantifying crystalline forms and quality control
Electron diffraction
- One of only a handful of electron diffraction instruments available to industry worldwide
- Enables single-crystal structure analysis of crystallites too small for single-crystal X-ray diffraction
High-resolution chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis
- Typically used for small gaseous molecules, volatile organic compounds, small molecules, biomolecules, synthetic polymers and inorganics
- Supports R&D in areas such as volatile emissions from materials, drug discovery, clinical screening, petrochemicals and biofuels
Multinuclear NMR spectroscopy
- Typically used to characterise liquids, gels, solids and other states of matter at a molecular level
- An invaluable technique for quality control and product development, for example to compare different batches of chemical compounds, examine complex electrochemical systems such as batteries, or establish whether a new synthesis works
Magnetic resonance microimaging
- Generates detailed information about the chemical structure, dynamics, and environment of molecules in a sample
- Especially valuable for complex organic and inorganic compounds, showing molecular architecture and interactions at the atomic level
Raman spectroscopy and imaging, near and mid infrared spectroscopy
- Typically used in materials and biological analysis for chemical fingerprinting
- Maps chemical distributions and molecular changes in complex and living systems with Raman and non-linear spectroscopic techniques
- Can be used in conjunction with chemical nanoanalysis scanning
Meet our chemical analysis and imaging experts
Dr Julie Herniman
Chromatography, mass spectrometry, supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-resolution mass spectrometry
Dr Neil Wells
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy
Professor Geraint (Taff) Morgan
Analytical chemistry, specialising in novel assays for the quantification of volatile organic compounds in complex samples
Dr Mark Light
X-ray diffraction for materials characterisation
Dr Robert Bannister
Advanced crystallographic techniques, electron diffraction, chemical analysis of air-sensitive compounds
Dr Daniel N Rainer
3D electron diffraction, single-crystal structure determination, porous framework materials, electron microscopy, facility management
Professor Sumeet Mahajan
Advanced Raman, near-infrared and multimodal non-linear spectroscopic analysis and imaging using coherent techniques of biological and environmental samples. Non-destructive compositional analysis including moisture measurements
Professor Simon Coles
Crystallography, structural chemistry and digital chemistry