| Abstract | This chapter covers the topic of spectral fluorescence measurements. These fluorescence measurements offer significant advantages in terms of sensitivity and selectivity, finding wide use in a range of applications in analytical and color technologies. The accurate measurement of fluorescent optical quantities, such as spectral excitation and emission curves and quantum yields, has become increasingly important because of the increasing use of fluorescent materials in manufacturing for enhancing appearance, for example, whiteness, brightness, colorfulness, and conspicuity, and for bioanalytical applications, for example, medical diagnostics. Conventional spectrophotometric instrumentation and procedures may not give meaningful results because the measured spectral fluorescence data will not only depend on the intrinsic optical properties of the fluorescent sample but are also strongly influenced by the instrument characteristics and its interaction with the sample and its environment. The extent of this distortion depends on the details of the instrument design, including its spectral, geometric, polarization, and temporal characteristics, and on the characteristics of the sample itself. This chapter discusses these basic principles, specialized terminology and instrumentation, and experimental calibration and measurement procedures that are used for reliable and accurate measurements of fluorescent materials. This includes a description of both one- and two-monochromator methods. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. |
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