We have a new addition to the chemistry department instrumentation park. Please welcome our new Horiba spectrofluorometer.

What is a spectrofluorometer?

A spectrofluorometer is an optical instrument that measures light emanating from chemical substances in liquid or solid states. A typical spectrophotometer uses a light beam that goes directly through the sample. Our new equipment collects the light off a sample at a 90-degrees angle with respect to the direction of illumination of the sample.

Since the spectrofluorometer measures emitted light at a straight angle, there are more uses for the instrument.

“Our new equipment significantly broadened our capabilities because it can operate through all usable ranges of wavelengths from ultraviolet to near-infrared, which is very useful for chemistry and biology,” said Dr. Nikolay Gerasimchuk. “Plus, it has seven different operating modes as opposed to only three in old instruments.”

Gerasimchuk, professor of chemistry, is excited for the new equipment. The previous fluorometers in the department were 10-20 years old. They were also not performing well enough to do reliable research.

Students and professors alike will use the new spectrofluorometer.

Funding for the instrument

Gerasimchuk was also proud of how they acquired the machine. The office of the provost, CNAS and the chemistry department saved funds to purchase the spectrofluorometer.

Horiba, an optical equipment manufacturer, also negotiated with chemistry to take a lower asking price, saving the department more than $8,000.