Focus on spectroscopy and materials

Hiden Analytical’s Catlab FB system for the study of catalyst core specimens provides multistream gas and vapor flow control and mass spectral analysis of feed and downstream gases. The furnace houses a horizontal quartz reactor tube with an in-bed thermocouple for thermal precision, a standard 26-mm internal diameter, and a 150-mm uniform central hot zone. It is programmable from 50 °C to 1000 °C, with the fastest ramp rate being 20 °C/min. The system has the capacity for up to 12 mass-flow-controlled gas streams, including corrosive feed gases. Flow rates are selectable from 0.1 l/min to 10 l/min. In the pulse chemisorption (PCS) operation mode, the gas pulse injector system provides timed, measured, and monitored injection of the sorbate to the reactor to determine the active metal surface area and acid site surface density. The optional vapor feed system enables vapor reaction characterization in both PCS and continuous flow modes. Hiden Analytical Inc, 37699 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia, MI 48150, http://www.hidenanalytical.com

A new copper foam material from Goodfellow with pore sizes between 300 µm and 600 µm and a relative density of around 37% provides a higher surface area than traditional copper foams. Microporous copper foam is produced using a lost carbonate sintering process. Pure copper powder is mixed with a carbonate powder and then compacted and sintered. That forms a matrix of copper ligaments with the carbonate powder in between them. After cooling, the carbonate is dissolved in water and recycled or decomposed using heat. The structure that results is rigid, highly porous, and permeable with a controlled density of metal per unit volume and per unit time. Applications include air, liquid, and board-level electronics cooling; heat exchangers; power electronics; and electromagnetic interference shielding. Goodfellow supplies microporous copper foam as disks and sheets ranging in thickness from 4 mm to 10 mm. Other thicknesses may be available on request. Goodfellow Corporation, 125 Hookstown Grade Road, Coraopolis, PA 15108-9302, http://www.goodfellow.com

Mad City Labs’ single-molecule fluorescence microscope for total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy features the company’s TIRF lock and TIRF module. The module provides simple adjustment of the TIR excitation beam to achieve epifluorescence of the sample. It controls the angle of illumination and the focusing of the excitation beam onto the back focal plane of the objective lens. After users set up TIR illumination and establish the desired sample z position, the TIRF lock keeps the sample in the focal plane by measuring the displacement of the exiting TIRF beam and maintaining that position via software feedback. The single-molecule fluorescence microscope can be combined with other instrumentation for applications such as localization-based superresolution microscopy, atomic force correlated microscopy, and photoacoustic imaging. Mad City Labs Inc, 2524 Todd Drive, Madison, WI 53713, http://www.madcitylabs.com

Master Bond’s vulcanizing silicone system for bonding, sealing, and coating in medical device applications, MasterSil 912Med, meets US Pharmacopeial Convention biocompatibility and International Organization for Standardization cytotoxicity standards. It resists sterilization techniques such as gamma radiation, ethylene oxide, and some liquid sterilants. The one-part system has a paste viscosity and noncorrosive cure with a tack-free time of 15–30 min at room temperature. The translucent adhesive is serviceable over a −75 °F to 400 °F temperature range and has a tensile strength of 700–1100 psi. It adheres well to many materials, including metals, composites, ceramics, glass, rubbers, plastics, and other silicone substrates. The flexible system can withstand rigorous thermal cycling and thermal and mechanical shock. It is a reliable electrical insulator with a volume resistivity greater than 10¹⁵ ohm-cm. Master Bond Inc, 154 Hobart Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601, http://www.masterbond.com

McPherson offers extended lifetime deep and vacuum UV absorption spectrometer (VUVAS) systems suitable for analyzing doped crystalline materials, deep-UV optics, and coatings. The long-life systems enable research and quality control measurements of diverse samples with wavelengths as short as 120 nm. They directly measure absolute transmission and variable angle reflectance. Gas purge inhibits the formation of organic films from residual contaminants in evacuated systems and thus improves the systems’ lifetime and stability. Applications include optical characterization of transmission, reflection, and VUV absorbance; spectral characterization of coatings, filters, and photocathodes; calibration and metrology; and semiconductor and photonics components manufacturing. Some McPherson VUVAS systems are available with both long-life purged and vacuum operations, so users can select the mode for the application at hand. McPherson Inc, 7-A Stuart Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824-4107, http://www.mcphersoninc.com

The RF-6000 spectrofluorophotometer from Shimadzu Scientific Instruments offers high sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratios equal to or greater than 1000 RMS and 350 peak to peak. The high sensitivity allows quantitative measurements of fluorescein concentrations down to 1 × 10⁻¹³ mol/l. High-speed scanning at 60 000 nm/min enables the acquisition of a 3D fluorescence spectrum in a short time, with individual scans acquired in 1 s. Shimadzu’s new LabSolutions RF software, which comes with the RF-6000, features functionality ranging from standard fluorescence to 3D measurements of fluorescence spectra at any wavelength interval. Available accessories allow for a wide range of applications in the chemical, environmental, and life-sciences fields—for example, quality control of drug products and analysis of LED, solar cell, and organic electroluminescence devices. Shimadzu Scientific Instruments Inc, 7102 Riverwood Drive, Columbia, MD 21046, http://www.shimadzu.com

Toptica’s new offset-free difference frequency comb (DFC) is suitable for complex experiments that require more accurate and reliable optical frequencies than can be achieved with conventional active stabilization techniques. To achieve those high frequencies, femtosecond laser pulses centered at 1560 nm are generated with a mode-locked erbium (Er³⁺)-doped fiber oscillator. The absence of an electronic feedback loop for phase stabilization reduces system complexity and circumvents electronic noise limitations. The core unit, DFC-CORE, provides four ν_CEO-stabilized outputs at 1560 nm. Extensions are available to convert the outputs to wavelengths from 420 nm to 2200 nm. Complete systems include the DFC-CORE, requested wavelength extensions, beat detection units, stabilization electronics, wavelength meters, and CW lasers. The systems are suitable for applications such as high-resolution spectroscopy, optical clocks, and frequency comb spectroscopy. Toptica Photonics Inc, 1286 Blossom Drive, Victor, NY 14564, http://www.toptica.com

The OptoPIC imaging camera from Optronis features an exposure time of 200 ps and a high repetition rate. Developed for scientific research, the camera uses the time-of-flight process, which is suitable for such applications as the production of fluorescence emission imaging, time-resolved spectroscopy, and 3D measurement. It has a repetition rate of 70–110 MHz, and the exposure uses image averaging to achieve a high level of sensitivity and a good signal-to-noise ratio. The programmable delay allows for shots to be taken automatically at various intervals in order to record a sequence of images that present in super-slow motion the quick changes in light emission. The camera uses a specially developed image intensifier to realize the short exposure. Optional accessories include up to three pulsed light sources and a filter wheel that can be integrated into the camera. A LabVIEW application provides flexible camera control. Optronis GmbH, Ludwigstrasse 2, 77694 Kehl, Germany, http://www.optronis.com/en

Laser Components has developed a new extended indium gallium arsenide (xInGaAs) detector for shortwave IR spectroscopy. The line sensor IG22 has 256 pixels measuring 30 µm × 250 μm each with a pitch of 50 µm. In cooled operation, the spectral range is covered up to 2.1 µm, which represents the 20% bandwith fall-off point. According to the company, the xInGaAs has advantages over conventional InGaAs detectors. For example, the input offset of the amplifier acts as bias voltage. In the IG22 array, the undesired voltage is reset to zero after each readout. The amplification can be finely adjusted individually per pixel at eight levels, so the optimal dynamic range per pixel can be used. The thermal design consists of a two-stage Peltier element that allows the array to be cooled from room temperature to −40° C. An anti-alias low-pass filter is integrated into the detector before the sample-and-hold circuit. Laser Components USA Inc, 116 South River Road, Building C, Bedford, NH 03110, http://www.lasercomponents.com

Princeton Instruments has added the ProEM-HS:1024BX3 to its line of high-speed electron-multiplying (EM) CCD cameras. According to the company, the 1024- by 1024-pixel, back-illuminated camera with eXcelon3 technology offers high detectivity, effective fringe suppression in the near-IR, and single-photon sensitivity. Enabled by 30-MHz analog-to-digital converter readout capability, the ProEM-HS delivers 25 frames/s. It uses high-speed custom readout modes to provide more than 4400 fps with a reduced region of interest and more than 20 000 spectra/s. The ProEM-HS camera is thermoelectrically cooled to below −65 °C. It is suitable for low-light imaging and spectroscopy applications such as single-molecule fluorescence, astronomy, Bose–Einstein condensates, and plasma studies. Princeton Instruments, 3660 Quakerbridge Road, Trenton, NJ 08619, http://www.princetoninstruments.com

Photonis has announced a new segmented monolithic reflectron lens capability in its resistive glass line of products. The process used to manufacture resistive glass creates an electric field to direct charged particles. Reflectron lenses are used in time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) to create an electrostatic field to alter ion flow, which provides for a longer flight path and thus greater resolution. According to the company, current reflectron-type TOF-MS instruments use complex, multipiece stacked rings that require time-consuming assembly and cleaning and a voltage divider in each layer to control the electric field. Photonis says a reflectron lens made with its resistive glass provides a solid replacement for a stacked ring assembly and the same ability to alter ion flow. The new technology enables instrument designers to produce nonlinear and dynamic fields within the lens, which augments instrument performance. Photonis USA Inc, 660 Main Street, Sturbridge, MA 01518, http://www.photonis.com

Morgan Advanced Materials manufactures lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric materials that deliver reliable sensing and monitoring in environments above 200 °C. They are suitable for vibration and pressure sensing for power generation, process and plant control, and automotive and aerospace applications. When used for long-term nondestructive testing, they allow in situ continuous fault detection at temperatures up to 250 °C. According to the company, manufacturers of similar materials have had to compromise between piezoelectric activity and maximum operating temperature, with rapid thermal degradation taking place at temperatures above 200 °C. Available in tailored formulations, Morgan’s PZT materials exhibit d₃₃ piezoelectric charge coefficients exceeding 400 pC/N. Testing has also shown mechanical resistivity at elevated temperatures, which enables a large sensing bandwidth in high-sensitivity applications. Morgan Advanced Materials plc, Quadrant, 55-57 High Street, Windsor SL4 1LP, UK, http://www.morganadvancedmaterials.com

Ocean Optics now offers four spectroscopy accessories that fit with existing UV-visible and near-IR spectrometers to make dynamic sampling measurements of solids and liquids simple and reliable. A diffuse reflectance (DR) probe integrates a light source and collection optics into one unit to measure 45° diffuse reflectance. The DynaCup is a rotating device that presents samples to the DR probe and allows it to scan the sample multiple times to collect a more representative spectrum of inhomogeneous samples such as grains. The multiplexer accessory is a mechanical actuator that distributes light through 10 customizable channels from a single light source. It is useful for any type of light transmission and any optical fiber size. DynaFlux, an integrated transmission and absorbance flow cell for flow applications, is an all-in-one accessory to dynamically sample liquids for near-IR and UV-visible transmissive measurements. Ocean Optics Inc, 830 Douglas Avenue, Dunedin, FL 34698, http://oceanoptics.com