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FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY EQUIPMENT
The NBL maintains an extensive suite of standard and advanced spectroscopic systems in order to undertake our wide and varied research objectives. We have a mixture of standard steady-state spectrometers for routine analysis and also a number of fluorescence lifetime based systems for time-resolved studies.
We also have the capability to build our own systems as the need arises.
Fluorescence Spectroscopy Equipment
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Most of the fluorescence equipment is located in a the Physical Chemistry section (middle lab.) of the School of Chemistry.
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| This picture (Oct. 2008) shows the main spectroscopy equipment lab with XRF (energy dispersive, Twin-X), fluorescence (Cary Eclipse and PicoQuant FluoTime 200) and UV-Visible (PE Lambda 950) spectrometers.
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This picture (Oct. 2008) shows the middle of the PAT lab with Shimadzu UV-Visble and Perkin-Elmer LS-50B spectrometers nearest the camera. On the other side of this bench are two environmental chambers with time-resolved and steady-state fluorescence systems.
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Fluorescence (steady state)
| Our main steady-state fluorescence spectrometer is a Cary Eclipse (left) which was installed in July 2004.
It has a front surface accessory and polarizers for additional functionality. In 2008 we also acquired a thermostatted multi-cell holder for high throughput studies. This system is primarily used for cell culture media studies. A second Agilent Eclipse (Nov. 2012) is on load from Agilent and has been fitted with a TLC50F temperature controlled cell for anisotropy research. Two Ocean optics fibre coupled spectrometers are also used for routine fluorescence measurements. 
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We also have two Perkin-Elmer LS-50B (left) fluorescence spectrometers can perform a
range of techniques from time resolved fluorescence, phosphorescence
and chemiluminescence measurements.
A front surface sample holder is available for fluorescence measurements of optically dense materials such as crude oils and polymers. One system is configured for temperature controlled studies while the other is used for undergraduate research projects.
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Fluorescence Lifetime: cuvette system 1
The primary fluorescence lifetime system for routine work is a FluoTime 200 system from PicoQuant. The system was delivered in Dec. 2003 (funded by SFI) and replaces a system we had built in house (see below).
| This system is based around a TimeHarp 200 TCSPC card located in a PC above the system (pictured on the left).
This system allows for the automated collection of lifetimes over the 300-850 nm range, the collection of Time-Resolved Emission Spectra (TRES) and Anisotropy data. The following excitation sources are available:
Red Laser Diodes: 635 and 750 nm centre wavelengths. All sources have been obtained from PicoQuant, and have maximum pulse rates of 40 MHz.A Sepia dual channel laser driver is also available. |
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| The sampling chamber (right) is large enough to accommodate a range of sampling accessories including liquid nitrogen cooled cryostats.
A Quantum Northwest TLC-50F temperature controlled sample chamber can also be retrofitted to the system for temperature dependent studies. This system was funded via a Science Foundation Ireland Principal Investigator award.
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Fluorescence Lifetime CUVETTE & portable systems 2, 3, & 4:
These systems can be built up as required using either a Becker & Hickl SPC-730 TCSPC card or a PicoQuant TtimeHarp 100 TCSPC card. Both of these have been recycled from earlier primary systems.A new system based on a PicoQuant PicoHarp 300 is also available. This can be coupled either to the confocal microscopes or to the various cuvette and sample holders depending on requirements. The PicoHarp allows us to undertake Time-Tagged Time-Resolved (TTTR) measurements, as well as standard FCS, and lifetime measurements. At present (Feb. 2013) the system is attached to the TIRFM system.
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uv-visible spectrometers
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Shimadzu UV-1601 is currently used for routine solution phase UV-Visible measurements. This is complemented with a dedicated high specification UV-VIS-NIR system, a Perkin Elmer,
Lambda 950 (March 2008).
This facility was provided under the HEA funded (PRTLI-IV)
National Biophotonics Imaging Platform.
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The system comes with a
Universal Reflectance Accessory for the analysis of thin films and other solid substrates.
We have also available a Harrick Praying Mantis diffuse reflectance accessory for the analysis of powders and solid materials. The system is being setup with a range of predefined analysis routines for complex and difficult adsorption measurements. More details will be posted in the near future. |
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Additional Extras / Sampling Systems:
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Ocean Optics portable fluorescence spectrometers (a USB2000-FLG and a USB4000), and fibre accessories are also available for developing a range of new instrumentation/precision sampling systems for our fluorescence based research. We are going to integrate this spectrometer with a TLC-50F temperature controlled cuvette holder, and the fluorescence lifetime instruments. This will enable us to collect fluorescence steady-state and lifetime data at the same time, while running various temperature profiles.
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VGI 2000M custom built humidity chamber for microscopy and spectroscopy is also avaialbel and we use it for studing hygroscopic polymers. The system is usable over a 10-40 C temperature and 0-100% RH range and can be coupled to Raman, FT-IR, or Fluorescence spectrometers.
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The image on the right shows the heated sample chamber with gas and water lines attached. The left hand image shows the gas /humidity controller and heating control unit. We have currently hooked this up to an Ocean Optics spectrometer to measure spectral changes in thin polymer films as a function of humidity.
As we acquire more equipment and accessories I will update the webpages with details and photos.Historical systems:
Our first ever fluorescence lifetime system was based around a PicoQuant TimeHarp 100 TCSPC module (35 ps resolution) with LED and laser diode excitation sources. The system is contained used to be housed a light proof metal box (on left of picture) and was built up over the spring and summer of 2000. The system has been dismantled and is currently being re-engineered using fibre coupling to assemble a system suitable for the time-resolved analysis of micro scale systems or extreme environmental conditions (low temperature studies of crude oils, protein behavior on surfaces, drug eluting polymers, etc.). This new system will be coupled with the TLC-50 cell and the ocean optics spectrometer to provide multi-dimensional fluorescence data.
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The picture on the right shows the inside of the first fluorescence lifetime system we built and used: The detector (on the right) is a
Single Photon Counting Avalanche Photodiode from Perkin-Elmer and has a dark count of <100 cps.
Dr. Alan G. Ryder
Senior Lecturer, School of Chemistry, NUI Galway,
National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland.
Tel: +353 (0)91 492943 or ext. 2943 (internal)
Fax: +353 (0)91 495576
E-mail: alan.ryder
nuigalway.ie
This page was last updated Monday, February 04, 2013