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Spectrophotometry: Introduction

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Spectrophotometry is the quantitative measurement of the absorption, reflection, diffraction, or transmission of electromagnetic radiation through a material as a function of the intensity and wavelength of the radiation. A spectrophotometer is a device used to measure the change in the radiation intensity caused by its interaction with the material.
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An Introduction to Processing, Fitting, and Interpreting Transient Absorption Data

An Introduction to Processing, Fitting, and Interpreting Transient Absorption Data

Published on: February 16, 2024

Teaching, learning, and using spectroscopy with commercial, off-the-shelf technology.

Alexander Scheeline¹

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.

Applied Spectroscopy

|September 11, 2010

Summary

This study introduces a low-cost "Cell Phone Spectrometer" for educational purposes. While not for routine analysis, it effectively teaches optical instrumentation principles using readily available technology.

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Area of Science:

Analytical Chemistry
Optical Physics
Educational Technology

Background:

Sophisticated electronics, including cameras in cellular telephones, are globally prevalent.
There is a need for inexpensive methods to teach instrumental analysis and spectrophotometry.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate the use of readily available consumer electronics for teaching spectrophotometry.
To propose a low-cost instrumental analysis curriculum.

Main Methods:

A grating spectrophotometer was constructed using a white light-emitting diode (LED), plastic cuvette, holographic transmission grating, and a JPG-output camera.
Optical characteristics were analyzed, and a sample working curve was generated.

Main Results:

The
Cell Phone Spectrometer
demonstrates optical principles effectively.
The device is suitable for teaching, though not for routine quantitative analysis.

Conclusions:

Consumer-grade electronics can be repurposed for effective science education.
This approach offers an exceptionally low-cost method for developing instrumental analysis curricula.