The Horiba FluoroMax® 4 spectrometer is a powerful tool for measuring fluorescence of solids, liquids, powders and thin films. The instrument is easy to use and is controlled by FluorEssenceTM software with Origin® embedded for sophisticated data analysis. Users may self-train on this instrument.
The sample is illuminated by a 150 W xenon, continuous output, ozone-free lamp. The excitation monochrometer has an optical range of 220 – 600 nm blazed at 330 nm. The emission monochromator has an optical range of 290 – 850 nm blazed at 500 nm. The monochromators can be independently or synchronously scanned for mixtures. The slit widths may be continuously adjusted though the software from 0 - 30 nm bandpass.
The FluoroMax 4 has two detectors. One is a calibrated photodiode reference detector to correct for intensity and temporal fluctuations in the source during excitation scans. The other detector is an R928P red-sensitive PMT used in photon counting mode with signal linearity up to 2 x 106 CPS. With a photon-counting detector, only the signals originating from your sample are measured, noise from the detector is rejected.
The FM-4 includes a single cell sample holder that holds a 1 cm pathlength (4 mL) cuvette as well as semi-micro cuvettes. TEMPO has regular 4 mL cuvettes for users to borrow if needed.
The solid sample holder is designed for samples such as thin films, powders, pellets, microscope slides and fibers. The holder consists of a base with a dial indicating the angle of rotation. Solids are measured at an angle of 30º or 60º.
TEMPO has a complete set of bandpass filters, 350 – 800 nm in 50 nm increments, that users may borrow.
For users whose samples won’t fit in the sample compartment, the fiber optic mount and bundles allow for remote sensing of fluorescence. The mount fits in the sample chamber and the fiber optic cables direct the excitation to the sample and the emission back to the instrument. This technique is ideal for remote testing of non-traditional samples like paper, fabrics, skin and hair.
The Quanta-φ integrating sphere is used to study fluorescence from solid and liquid samples. This sphere has an internal diameter of 6” (15 cm) for higher accuracy and precision. The integrating sphere is particularly useful for measuring photo-luminescent quantum yields (PLQY) without the need for a complicated apparatus or standards. The Quanta-φ integrating sphere features a bottom loading drawer for solid/powder samples, top-loading center-mounted liquid sample holder that fits standard cuvettes, wiring port for light-emitting devices and electroluminescence and an easy-to-use analysis package for calculating PLQY and chromaticity (CIE 1931 and 1976).
The combination of the integrating sphere and the photon-counting detector allows for measurement of the absolute PLQY at any wavelength accessible by the instrument without the need for standards or complex equipment. The PL measurement wavelength range for the FM-4 is from 350 – 800 nm. Users must be trained on the sample prep and set-up of the integrating sphere before they will be given access. Contact Amanda Strom (amanda [at] mrl [dot] ucsb [dot] edu) for training.
MRFN.org is supported by the MRSEC Program of the National Science Foundation. Image in the header is courtesy of CRISP MRSEC.
