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About The Characterization Facility

Mission, objectives, and strategies

Facility Specialists

Our Background

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The Characterization Facility ("CharFac") is a multi-user, shared instrumentation facility for materials research spanning from nanotechnology to biology and medicine.  Our analytical capabilities include microscopy via electron beams, force probes and visible light; elemental and chemical imaging including depth profiling; elemental, chemical and mass spectroscopy; atomic and molecular structure analysis via X-ray, ion or electron scattering; nanomechanical and nanotribological probes; and other tools for surface and thin-film metrology.

CharFac resides administratively under the Institute of Technology (college of physical sciences, engineering and mathematics) with additional support from the Medical School.  Well over 100 faculty research programs use our capabilities; these researchers originate from dozens of University of Minnesota departments under several colleges.  We also work with some 60 industrial companies in a typical year, ranging from small start-ups to multinational corporations; these interactions include analytical service, training for independent use, and research collaboration.  Finally, we are supported by the National Science Foundation as a key node in the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network to work with external academic institutions including research universities, 4-year colleges, technical colleges, and K-12 schools.


The Characterization Facility is located in the basements of Shepherd Labs and Nils Hasselmo Hall on the East Bank campus of the University of Minnesota.


Shepherd Labs

Shepherd Labs photo
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Nils Hasselmo Hall

Nils Hasselmo Hall photo
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Shepherd Labs Basement Map

Shepherd Labs basement layout