Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (FLUORATE)
The FLUORATE facility comprises a versatile and high-end steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence (PL) spectrometer. The core system is an FSL1000 spectrometer from Edinburgh Instruments, which is equipped with two detectors (visible and NIR-PMT) thus providing sensitivity from about 200 nm up to 1600nm and with multiple lamps and excitation sources to provide excitation tuning in the visible and NIR.
Steady-state PL
Sensitivity from about 200nm to 1600nm with high-power xenon lamp and double monochromator for excitation, allowing also for emission spectra as a function of excitation wavelengths, to create so-called PLE maps. The setup is equipped with powder, film and liquid sample holders and has moreover also an integrating sphere for accurate emission quantum yield determinations. Polarisers are also included for polarization-dependent PL experiments.
Time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC)
For ultrafast time-resolved PL down to timescales of about 100-300ps (depending on excitation source and detector) up to microseconds. A pulsed supercontinuum laser is integrated before the double monochromator to allow for variable wavelength excitation (variable rep rate up to 78MHz, NKT Photonics, 390 – 1100 nm) as well as a pulsed UV LED (320 nm). The system can be further extended with other laser sources if needed.
Multi-channel scaling (MCS)
For phosphorescence lifetime measurements from microseconds to seconds, a pulsed microsecond flash lamp is available (200-1000nm).
Low-temperature PL experiments
An oxford CFV optical cryostat is available and fits into the sample chamber to do experiments from about 5K to 500K (liquid helium is required for the low temperature measurements).