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Updated: May 28, 2026
Fluorescence detection methods for microfluidic droplet platforms
Published on: December 10, 2011
Broadband cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy for real time, in situ spectral analysis of microfluidic droplets
Simon R T Neil1, Cathy M Rushworth, Claire Vallance
1Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford, UK.
Abstract:
Broadband cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy has been used to record, in real time, the absorption spectrum of microlitre volume aqueous phase droplets within a microfluidic chip assembly. Using supercontinuum radiation and broadband coated external mirrors, the full visible spectrum (430 nm < λ < 700 nm) of each passing droplet is acquired in situ at high repetition rates (273 Hz/3.66 ms acquisition time) and high sensitivity (α(min) < 10(-2) cm(-1)). The possibilities for further improvements in sensitivity and acquisition rate using custom designed chips are discussed.
