Modular Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometer

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

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
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
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
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.

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
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.

Sample holders

Peltier cooled cuvette sample holder
This sample mounting unit for 1×1 cm cuvettes features a peltier cooler cooler with a temperature range of -15 to 110 °C. The holder is fully controlled by the EasyTau 2 system software and can thus be automated to carry out measurements at various temperatures.

Temperature stabilised cuvette sample holder
Sample mounting unit with temperature stabilised holder for 1x1cm cuvettes. This sample holder can be connected to an external water bath for temperature stabilisation via a series of cable glands at the units front side.

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

Cryostats

Liquid nitrogen cryostat
The sample mounting unit is provided with a liquid nitrogen cryostat. 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.

Closed cycle helium cryostat
The closed-cycle helium cryostat is a compact, axially symmetrical, closed-cycle cryocooler. This cryostat enables low temperature photoluminescence measurements from 4 to 500 K.

NIR-PMT detector

This special photomultipliers are suitable for single photon counting in the NIR. The PMT features an InGaAsP photocathode and is sensitive in the wavelength range from 950 to 1400 nm (1700 nm). The module has a thermally insulated sealed-off housing evacuated to a high vacuum. No liquid nitrogen, vacuum pumps nor water cooling is necessary.

FluoTime 250 Datasheet

Contact Laser 2000

Contact Laser 2000