A Fluorescence Spectrophotometer, also known as a fluorometer or spectrofluorometer, is an instrument used to analyze the fluorescence of a sample. It works by using a beam of light, usually ultraviolet light, that excites the electrons in molecules of certain compounds and causes them to emit light.
The process involves the following steps:
- The species being examined is first excited, by absorbing a photon, from its ground electronic state to one of the various vibrational states in the excited electronic state.
- Collisions with other molecules cause the excited molecule to lose vibrational energy until it reaches the lowest vibrational state from the excited electronic state.
- The molecule then drops down to one of the various vibrational levels of the ground electronic state again, emitting a photon in the process.
As molecules may drop down into any of several vibrational levels in the ground state, the emitted photons will have different energies, and thus frequencies. Therefore, by analyzing the different frequencies of light emitted in fluorescent spectroscopy, along with their relative intensities, the structure of the different vibrational levels can be determined.
This technique is used in various fields, including biological systems where it assays the state of a system by studying its interactions with fluorescent probe molecules. It’s also used in devices like the Agilent Cary Eclipse spectrofluorometer, which measures fluorescence, phosphorescence, bioluminescence, and chemiluminescence.
The function of a Fluorescence Spectrophotometer is to measure the intensity of light emitted by a substance after it has been excited by a certain wavelength of light. This method is employed to investigate the characteristics of molecules and detect the presence of specific chemicals in a sample. Fluorescence spectrophotometry has wide applications in various fields.
Excitation: A specific light beam, predominantly in the ultraviolet range, is used to stimulate the electrons present in certain molecular compounds.
Emission: Upon excitation, these electrons release light, often within the visible spectrum.
Chemistry: Used to research the characteristics of molecules and identify unknown substances.
This technique stands distinct from absorption spectroscopy, another approach that investigates the light absorption properties of molecules.
The common models of fluorescence spectrophotometers we have are F93, F96S, F96PRO, F97PRO, and F98. Let us know if you need any further information.