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Compact and Modular Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometer

FluoTime 250

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Compact and Modular Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometer

  • Fully automated compact and modular system
  • Filter based emission selection, optional monochromator
  • Supports both TCSPC and Multi-Channel Scaling data acquisition
  • Step by step application wizards and scripting option
  • Covers lifetime ranges from picoseconds to milliseconds

 

Applications

The FluoTime 250 is a high performance fluorescence lifetime spectrometer suited for studying a broad range of sample in routine and complex applications such as:

  • Time-Resolved Fluorescence
  • Singlet Oxygen with NIR PMT and suitable bandpass filter
  • Time-Resolved Photoluminescence (TRPL)
  • Fluorescence Anisotropy (Polarisation)
  • Materials Science
  • Photochemistry
  • LEDs, OLEDs

Upgrades:

  • Micro-photoluminescence upgrade via confocal microscope coupling
  • Optional UV-Vis monochromator
  • Various sample holders for handling liquid and solid samples with temperature control option

 

A compact spectrometer for routine and complex measurements
The FluoTime 250 integrates all essential optics and electronics for time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy in a compact, fully automated device. This spectrometer is designed to assist the user in carrying out routine as well as complex measurements easily and with high reliability thanks to fully automated hardware components and a versatile system software featuring wizards providing step-by-step guidance.

 

Fully automated with high performance optics

Fully automated with high performance optics
All components (attenuators, polarisers and filter wheel) in the optical beam paths are motorised and controlled by the EasyTau 2 software. Emission wavelength selection is implemented via a motorised filter wheel equipped with various cut-off or bandpass filters as selected by the customer. An optional monochromator is available for the UV/VIS spectral range.

Flexible excitation sources

Flexible excitation sources
The FluoTime 250 uses picosecond pulsed lasers diodes and LEDs from PicoQuant’s LDH and PLS series, covering a spectral range from 255 to 1550 nm. All excitation sources are controlled via a PDL 820 laser driver, which allows not only to vary output power and repetition rates (up to 80 MHz) but also supports burst mode for selected laser heads.

TCSPC and MCS based data acquisition

TCSPC and MCS based data acquisition
Several outstanding data acquisition units are available with various temporal resolutions (from 4 ps to 250 ns). Coupled with the right detectors from the PMA or PMA Hybrid Series, the FluoTime 250 is capable of measuring time-resolved emissions with lifetimes ranging from approximately 10 ps up to several hundreds ms.

Several available detector types

A choice of detectors
The FluoTime 250 can be equipped with a single photon counting detector from either the PMA or PMA Hybrid Series. These detectors offer picosecond temporal resolutions and cover different spectral ranges between 180 and 920 nm. For studies in the near infrared, a PMT module with sensitivity from 950 to 1400 nm is also available. Each detector includes an electro-mechanical shutter, active cooling, and overload protection.

System software EasyTau 2

System software EasyTau 2
The EasyTau 2 software package is the one-stop solution for both full hardware control of the FluoTime 250 as well as for interactive data analysis and fitting. The software offers a Windows-based graphical user interface with dedicated applications wizards guiding users through the optimiSation and data acquisition process for many common applications. Advanced users get full control over all instrumental aspects thanks to a customised mode and scripting language. The integrated analysis and fitting module supports a broad range of time-resolved spectroscopy applications, such as fluorescence and phosphorescence decays, or anisotropy measurements. A powerful report generator allows creating presentation-ready graphical and numerical output.

Optical configuration
  • L-Geometry
Mode of operation
  • Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC)
  • Multichannel Scaling (MCS)
Sensitivity
  • Down to 10 pM (as measured with a coumarin sample, with excitation at 400 nm and emission detected at 500 nm)
Lifetime range
  • < 40 ps to 10 µs with PMT detector and TCSPC electronics
  • < 10 ps to 10 µs with hybrid detectors, TCSPC electronics, and suitable laser
  • Up to several 100 ms with any detector and MCS electronics
Excitation sources
  • Picosecond pulsed diode lasers or LEDs ranging from 250 to 1550 nm with repetition rates up to 80 MHz, common driver unit
Optional monochromator
  • Czerny-Turner type, single monochromator
  • Focal length: 150 mm, one exit slits
  • Stray light rejection typically 1:10-5
Detectors
  • Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs) with various spectral ranges and sensitivities between 185 nm and 920 nm
  • Hybrid-PMT with various spectral ranges and sensitivities between 200 nm and 900 nm
  • Infrared sensitive Photomultiplier Tube (PMTs)  between 950 and 1400 nm
Software
  • System control, data acquisition and analysis via a single software interface
  • Clearly structured data storage workspace, with export and arithmetic features
  • Assisted mode using Wizards for commonly used measurements
  • Customised mode with full hardware control
  • Scripting mode for automation, including remote execution of scripts (extension of automation to 3rd party devices)
  • Lifetime analysis based on numerical reconvolution procedure, up to 5th exponential decay functions, lifetime distributions, anisotropy, global analysis, rigorous error analysis based on the bootstrap method

 

All Information given here is reliable to our best knowledge. However, no responsibility is assumed for possible inaccuracies or omissions. Specifications and external appearances are subject to change without notice.

Specialised sample holders

Temperature stabilised cuvette (for liquid samples)

1x1cm cuvettes holder for liquid samples that can be connected to an external water bath for temperature stabilization via cable glands at the units front size.

 

Front face (for solid samples e.g. thin films and powder)

Holder designed for measuring small solid samples including coated substrates, thin films, or wafers. The sample position and angle with respect to the excitation beam can be manually adjusted.

 

Peltier cooled cuvette (for liquid samples)

1×1 cm cuvette holder for liquid samples that features a Peltier element with a temperature range of -15 to 110 °C. The temperature is fully controlled by EasyTau 2 software and can thus be automated to carry out measurements at various temperatures

 

Liquid nitrogen cryostat (for liquid and solid samples)

The temperature range of the cryostat is 77 to 500 K. The sample mounting unit is equipped with an adapter to fit to the sample chamber.

 

 

FluoTime 250 Datasheet
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