CharFac results collage, showing several results from research

Welcome to the CharFac

CharFac News

CharFac announces new pilot initiatives                                                                                                New SEM installed 

Electron Microprobe (EPMA) now part of CharFac                                                                                More News

Shared instrumentation facilities: Benefiting researchers and universities, and sustaining research excellence —
read the full MRS Bulletin on how the Characterization Facility facilitates research


What's new in CharFac?

CharFac is now partially supported by the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) program. NNCI support will “help scientists and engineers in diverse fields solve challenging convergent research problems.”

Support from NSF will allow us to recruit more users and therefore keep the usage cost as low as possible.

Statement to include in all publications and presentations containing/describing results obtained in the CharFac: "Parts of this work were carried out in the Characterization Facility, University of Minnesota, which receives partial support from the NSF through the MRSEC (Award Number DMR-2011401) and the NNCI (Award Number ECCS-2025124) programs".  

Please visit our News page for all CharFac updates.

Related Links

  • Nanotechnology News - from the Characterization Facility and the Minnesota Nano Center.
  • MINIC - Midwest Nano Infrastructure Corridor (NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure)
  • MRSEC - Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and MRFN - US network of MRSECs.
  • IPRIME - Industrial Partnership for Research in Interfacial and Materials Engineering (affiliated consortium)
  • Other instrumentation facilities at the University of Minnesota (e.g., other measurements, microscopies, fabs)
  • Internal Staff Hub

CharFac Virtual Tour and Brochure

Find out all that the Characterization Facility has to offer. View our electronic brochure, and see below for our virtual tour!


 

About the Characterization Facility


  • Mission — CharFac directly connects to the core learning, research, and service/outreach missions of the University of Minnesota.
  • Locations — The Characterization Facility is located at four sites on the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities East Bank campus: Shepherd Labs, Nils Hasselmo Hall, Tate Hall, and Moos Tower.
  • History — Born in an NSF engineering center in 1988, extending to biological and health sciences as of 2002, presence in dental school as of 2011. CharFac has added increasingly sophisticated / state-of-the-art instrumentation, developed increasingly advanced methodologies, and extended its scientific purview.
  • Interactions — Since CharFac's inception, it has a rich background of serving higher education, industry, and public outreach in many forms. 

Visit the About Us webpage for more about our mission, locations, history, and diverse background serving many groups.