Dynamic light scattering in turbid colloidal dispersions: a comparison between the modified flat-cell light-scattering instrument and 3D dynamic light-scattering instrument

It remains a challenge to measure dynamics in dense colloidal systems. Multiple scattering and low light-transmission rates often hinder measurements in such systems. One of the well-established techniques for overcoming the problem of multiple scattering is cross-correlation techniques such as 3D dynamic light scattering (3D-DLS). However, a high degree of multiple scattering, i.e., vanishing single-scattering contribution in the signal, limits the use of the 3D-DLS technique. We present another approach to measure turbid media by way of upgrading our flat-cell light-scattering instrument (FCLSI). This instrument was originally designed for static light-scattering (SLS) experiments and is similar to a Fraunhofer setup, which features a flat sample cell. The thickness of the flat sample cell can be varied from 13 mum to 5 mm. The small thickness increases the transmission, reduces multiple scattering to a negligible amount, and therefore enables the investigation of dense colloidal systems. We upgraded this instrument for DLS measurements by the installation of an optical single-mode fiber detector in the forward scattering regime. We present our instrumentation and subsequently test its limits using a concentration series of a turbid colloidal suspension. We compare the performances of our modified flat-cell light-scattering instrument with that of standard DLS and with that of 3D-DLS. We show that 3D-DLS and FCLSI only have a comparable performance if the length of the light path in the sample using the 3D-DLS is reduced to a minimum. Otherwise, the FCLSI has some advantage.