Laboratories

Central Sciences Laboratory (CSL)

Completed in 2019, the CSL is a state-of-the art Science facility that houses several floors of cutting-edge teaching laboratories and associated analytical suites, as well as a large dedicated computer lab on the top floor. Centrally located on campus, it is within easy walking distance of all the main University facilities. The main chemistry laboratories include the "light lab" (where there is more focus on bench work and analytical chemistry) and the "heavy lab" (where there is more focus on synthetic chemistry work carried out in fume hoods). The new CSL laboratories are well integrated with our "multi lab" that was built earlier in 2009. Most of our undergraduate lab sessions in 1st, 2nd and 3rd year will take place in one of these labs. You can find out more about the Chemistry labs in the CSL on our website.

Lennard-Jones laboratories

The new Central Sciences Laboratory building (CSL) and the original Lennard-Jones Laboratory building are now part of an integrated teaching and research structure that allows seamless movement between them. There are several dedicated research laboratories in the Lennard-Jones building, all kitted out with specialist equipment and facilities for the type of chemistry being carried out. If you enrol on our MChem integrated masters programme, or our standalone MRes masters degree, you might carry out a significant proportion of your research project work in one of these labs, working alongside academic members of staff, post-doctoral researchers, PhD students, and your peers.

Synthesis Laboratory

One of the research laboratories within the Lennard-Jones building, the Synthesis Laboratory underwent extensive refurbishment in 2016, including the installation of 10 new fume hoods. It now houses several research groups and is kitted out with a range of specialist equipment (including a number of automated column chromatography systems, freeze-driers, and a Braun Lab-Star glove box for carrying out manipulations of air-sensitive compounds under inert atmospheres).

Birchall Laboratory

Another of the research laboratories in the Lennard-Jones building, the Birchall Laboratory is particularly geared towards materials chemistry - including catalysis and electrochemistry. The laboratory is supplied with a range of gas feeds. Several furnaces allow catalytic processes to be investigated at high temperatures. Two FTIR spectrometers equipped with high-vacuum pumps and gas input lines allow real-time analysis of a range of chemical reactions with complete purging of residual ambient atmospheric gasses.