LP980 Upgrades
The upgrade options are modifications or additions to the main body of the LP980. All upgrades are best installed at the time of manufacture, but they can also be retro-fitted by a qualified service engineer during an on-site visit.
All the standard features of the LP980 are retained when an upgrade option has been added. Many of the options can be combined allowing for outstanding flexibility for an instrument of this class.
Emission Kinetics and Spectra Upgrade
Intensified Charge-Coupled Device (ICCD) Camera
The generation of spectra in kinetic mode by successive measurement at different wavelengths requires many excitation flashes. This can be problematic due to photo-degradation and stability of the sample over time. This can be overcome by upgrading to spectral mode and fitting an ICCD onto the instrument.
The ICCD detector has a high dynamic range and an ultra-low readout noise and can be controlled by the L900 software.
Spectral Range: 180 nm – 850 nm (W-AGT photocathode)
Minimum Optical Gate Width: 7 ns
CCD Camera Specification
Full Number of Pixels: 1024 x 256
Number of Active Pixels: 960 x 255
Active Area: 25 mm x 6.7 mm
Cooling: -30°C (-40°C with additional coolant circulation)
Measurement Techniques Upgrades
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)
Sample holder for LIBS measurements. The sample holder consists of an additional internal sample chamber with a horizontal sample mount. The laser is directed down onto the sample and the resultant signal is collected with additional optics and directed towards the emission monochromator.
Note: An ICCD is required for LIBS measurements and is not included as standard with the LIBS upgrade.
Ground and Excited-State Raman
The Raman upgrade adds the ability to measure time-resolved Raman measurements, by using a Q-switched laser operating at 532 nm. An ICCD is used to measure the Raman spectrum to <100 cm-1. Optical delays (or two synchronised lasers) may be used to measure excited state Raman spectra.
Note: A laser source and an ICCD are required for Raman measurements and are not included as standard with the Raman upgrade.
Sample Holder Options
Liquids
Cross-Beam Geometry: Standard sample holder of the LP920. Laser beam and probe beam intersect perpendicular at the sample position. The sample holder is designed to accept standard fluorescence cuvettes. Cuvettes can be positioned so that the probe beam passes through the centre of the cuvette or close to the surface of the incoming laser beam. The sample can be cooled by an external water circulator.
Solids and Powders (non-transparent)
Diffuse Reflectance: A sample holder for solid, non-transparent samples to be measured in Laser Flash Photolysis. This option requires samples to show significant diffuse scattering.
Gases and Low Density Liquids
Quasi Co-Linear Optics: A sample holder for low density liquid samples or gas samples to be measured in Laser Flash Photolysis. Laser beam and probe beam intersect in the sample in an angle of 3 degrees.
Stop-Flow Accessory
Rapid kinetic accessory for manual multi-mixing of samples capabilities. Comprises sample handling unit fitted with three 1 mL drive syringes, 600 mm long umbilical, manually operated drive, square mixing/observation cuvette with standard dimensions (10 mm path way). The stop-flow accessory can be computer-controlled as an option.
Note: This accessory can be used only with the halogen lamp as this is designed for ultimate long-term stability compared to arc-lamps.
Temperature Control Options
Bath/Refrigerator (-10°C – +100°C): Closed cycle water/coolant bath to be used with water-cooled sample holders. The temperature range is -10°C to +100°C. The unit comprises digital display of set and measured temperature. The temperature range at the sample position can be reduced depending on the length and the insulation of the coolant pipes used.
Liquid Nitrogen Cryostat (77 K – 300 K): Oxford Instruments liquid nitrogen cryostat, OptistatDN. The assembly comprises the cryostat head, the temperature controller, and a mounting flange and pedestal, directly compatible to the LP980 sample holder socket. Includes heater and sensor, cuvette holder, optical sample holder and sample rod. Spectrosil B quartz windows are used. Cryostat can be fully controlled by computer and L900 software.
Liquid Helium Cryostat (3.4 K – 300 K): Oxford Instruments liquid helium cryostat, OptistatCF. The assembly comprises the cryostat head, the temperature controller, transfer tube and SV12 adaptor, VC31 gas flow controller, GF4 pump, and a mounting flange and pedestal that is directly compatible to the LP980 holder socket. Includes heater and sensor, cuvette holder, optical sample holder and sample rod. Spectrosil B quartz windows are used. Cryostat can be fully controlled by computer and L900 Software.
Liquid Helium Cryostat Extended Temperature Range (3.4 K – 500 K): Oxford Instruments extended temperature range liquid helium cryostat, OptistatCF. The assembly comprises the cryostat head, the ITC503 temperature controller, the LLT600 transfer tube and SV12 adaptor, VC31 gas flow controller, GF4 pump, and a mounting flange and pedestal that is directly compatible to the LP980 holder socket. All other inclusions as the standard liquid helium cryostat.
TE Cooled Sample Holder Standard Range (-10°C – +105°C): Thermoelectrically cooled 4-window cuvette holder with controller that enables stable temperature control of samples from -10°C to +105°C (-10°C with dry gas flow, 5°C without gas flow). The temperature can be held constant with ±0.02°C precision and can be rapidly changed. A magnetic stirrer (without stirrer bars) is included. The TE cooled sample holder is fully controlled by the spectrometer operating software L900.
TE Cooled Sample Holder Extended Range (-40°C – +150°C): Extended range thermoelectrically cooled 4-window cuvette holder with controller that enables stable temperature control of samples from -40 °C to +150 °C (-10 °C with dry gas flow, 5 °C without gas flow). The temperature can be held constant with ±0.02°C precision and can be rapidly changed. The temperature range can be extended below -10°C and above +150°C with a special cover in place and for temperatures below -10°C chilled coolant fluid will be required. A magnetic stirrer (without stirrer bars) is included. The TE cooled sample holder is fully controlled by the spectrometer operating software L900.
Spectral Range Upgrades
Extended Range PMTs
Extended Red-Sensitive Photomultiplier (200 nm – 1010 nm): photomultiplier in standard LP920 housing. Detector response width of 7 ns, integrated with high voltage power supply.
InGaAs Detectors (NIR Range)
A range of InGaAs detectors are available that cover the range 900 nm – 2050 nm. For more details please contact us.
Software Upgrade
The standard L900 software package can be upgraded to include the FLASH software package. This is used for advanced transient absorption curve fitting and includes features such as lifetime distribution analysis and exponential components analysis. Please click on the link to learn more about FLASH software or contact us directly.