A VARIABLE TEMPERATURE, U.V. LUMINESCENCE SPECTROGRAPH FOR SMALL SAMPLES

Abstract— A variable temperature spectrometer suitable for recording phosphorescence, fluorescence and luminescence spectra is described. The instrument has been chiefly used for emission spectroscopy at temperatures between 80° and 370°K but may be used for excitation spectroscopy as well. The samples are contained in quartz tubes with inside diameters of 1.5 mm and are generally optically thick at the excitation wavelength. The sample volume can be as small as 10μl. Absolute quantum yields may be obtained with ease and the use of phase sensitive detection makes it possible to record in 30 sec a fluorescence spectrum with 30 Å resolution and a quantum yield of 10^--⁴ with a signal to noise ratio of 20. The instrument has also been useful for photochemical irradiations.