Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy uses the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter to characterize optical, thermal, mechanical and electronic properties of materials. The MRL facilities include conventional, state-of-the-art spectroscopic tools in addition to techniques and instrumentation developed in house.
Spectroscopy Equipment
Photoluminescence
Measures luminescent emission spectra upon photoexcitation (fluorescence and phosphorescence). Our custom-built experimental setup has discreet excitation wavelengths available, in the range from 266 nm to 1050 nm. It allows for measurements from 4.2 K to 300 K using a liquid He bath cryostat.
Thermo Nicolet Nexus 670 FTIR
The Thermo Nicolet Nexus 670 Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer is equipped to measure transmission, reflection, diffuse reflection and attenuated total reflection (ATR) in the mid-IR (800 cm-1 to 4000cm-1). Its multibounce ATR attachment can measure solid and liquid specimens.
Time-Domain Thermoreflectance
TDTR is a modality of femtosecond pump/probe spectroscopy. It is used to observe optically-induced changes in optical properties on a 100’s of fs time-scale. Primarily applied to study thermal properties of thin films and across interfaces, our two custom-built instruments, have accessories to allow for time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr-effect measurements. These instruments are based on Spectra-Physics Tsunami ultrafast Ti:sapphire lasers.
Time-Resolved Photoluminescence
Enables time-resolved measurements of luminescent emission spectra upon photoexcitation (fluorescence and phosphorescence) to determine the lifetime of emitting states with single photon sensitivity and < 1 ns temporal resolution. Several excitation wavelengths are available in the range from 380 nm to 900 nm.
Varian Cary 5G and Agilent Cary 5000
The Cary spectrophotometers are able to do measurements of transmission and reflection in the UV, visible, and near-IR (190 nm to 3300 nm). Modes of measurement include transmission, absolute specular reflection, integrated total fluorescence, diffuse transmission (190 nm to 2500 nm), diffuse reflection, and combined diffuse reflection and transmission (190 nm to 2500 nm).
Newport Solar Simulator
Measures I-V curves under solar spectrum or monochromatic illumination.
OL 750 Spectroradiometer
The OL 750 is a spectroradiometric measurement system for internal and external quantum efficiencies (IQE, EQE). It is equipped with a white light bias accessory that allows solar cells active area to be brought up to a typical operating energy level while measuring the spectral response simultaneously.
SLM/ISS Fluorometer
Measures photo-fluorescence of liquid samples. Excitation ranges from 200 nm to 800 nm. Emission between 200 nm and 900 nm. Samples can be heated or cooled from – 20°C to 100°C.
Two-Color Time Domain Thermoreflectance - TRMOKE
TDTR is a modality of femtosecond pump/probe spectroscopy. It is used to observe optically-induced changes in optical properties on a 100’s of fs time-scale.