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The Central Analytical Research Facility (CARF) located with the Science and Engineering Centre houses laboratories dedicated to the most advanced electron and light microscopy, analytical chemistry, environmental analysis and molecular genetics.

Fitted with state-of-the-art instruments (worth around $17 million) for analysing the properties of solids, liquids and gases, CARF provides scientists with the tools they need to do everything from analysing the evolution of Australia's topography to locate hydrocarbons and other resources to developing inexpensive plastic solar cells to charge mobile phones.

Zeiss Sigma Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope & Axio Imager Shuttle and Find
•only one of its kind in Australia
•samples are transferred between the two instruments for observations of the same feature down to a few nanometres
•bridges the gap between micro and nano observation.

Key use: Failure analysis of engineering components from fractured gears to corroded pipelines, analysis of geological samples, understanding how the structure controls the function of plant and animal tissues at the cell and sub-cellular level, for example in bone regeneration studies, and how certain fruit flies can pierce hard fruit.

Agilent 8800 Laser Albation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (LA-ICPMS)
•one of only two of this model (triple quadrupole ICP) in Australia
•most inorganic solid materials suitable for LA-ICP-MS analysis, including rocks, minerals, bones, teeth, shells, glasses, ceramics as well as soft tissues and hair
•allows concentrations of elements to be quantified, down to parts per billion in some instances
•ability to analyse volumes smaller than a 'pinhead'.

Key Uses: For research into the evolution of continents, from their molten beginnings and mountain formations through the erosion of mountains and production of sandy beaches and also for research into environmental conditions for life on Earth.

The LA-ICP-MS system can also reveal dietary changes by analysing teeth, analyse trace elements in anything from glass to adhesive tape in forensics to obtaining concentrations of essential minerals in humans and animals by analysing hair or fingernails instead of the more invasive analysis of blood.

Omicron ultra high vacuum scanning tunnelling microscope
•only one of its kind in Queensland
•a tiny metallic tip hovers over the surface enabling researchers to see individual atoms
•samples can be heated up to 1300C and gases introduced via a special valve system to test how surface atoms react in different environments.

Key use: to study new carbon materials for efficient and cheap solar cells and for electronic applications, as well as to develop nanoscale gas sensing devices.

FEI Focussed Ion Beam (FIB)
•only one of its kind in Queensland
•beams of ions are used to dislodge atoms from samples in a process called sputtering
•enables the performance of very precise nano-machining to remove unwanted material and deposit shielding layers or electrical contacts
•prepares extremely thin samples for electron microscope imaging and analysis at the atomic scale.

Key use: Fabrication of micro devices such as photonic arrays to manipulate laser lights and preparation of specimens from very precise locations for other microscopy techniques.

JEOL 7001F Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope
•a powerful scanning electron microscope fitted with the latest generation tools for
microanalysis and crystal structure determination, enabling:
- the highest level of chemical and structural characterisation of any electron
microscope in Queensland
- extremely rapid x-ray mapping to determine the chemical composition across
a sample's surface
- rapid mapping of the crystal structure and orientation of polished samples of metal
or rock down to regions of less than 0.1 micron.

Key use: in industrial scientific research for example the study of texture in sheet steel and aluminium for improved strength and surface finish. In geological applications in understanding the effect of tectonic forces in shaping the landscape and determining mineral make-up.