Specialized Laboratory of Spectroscopy and Photochemistry

We offer various instruments and spectral techniques that can be used in research as well as in analytical, kinetic, structural, environmental and industrial studies. Our equipment is capable of measuring electronic and IR absorption, fluorescence, and phosphorescence in the temperature range of 4 to 500 K for various types of samples: solutions, glasses, polymer films, crystals, powders, gases, cryogenic matrices made of frozen gases. Measurements of transient absorption and emission make it possible to detect short-lived transients and to characterize the kinetics of their formation and decay with time resolution ranging from picoseconds to hours.
         
The samples can be photolysed using intense lamps and ultrashort laser pulses. The photoproducts can be subsequently analyzed by the techniques of stationary and time-resolved spectroscopy, and EPR. We can also generate unstable transient species by electrochemical methods, coupled with electrochemiluminescence detection.
         
The use of polarized spectroscopy, both in absorption and emission, provides information about the transition moment directions, about the orientation of molecules in the investigated sample, and about the kinetics of the processes that are accompanied by a change in the transition moment direction. We offer measurements of linear dichroism, magnetic circular dichroism, and luminescence anisotropy.
 

Our equipment includes:

• various UV/VIS/IR spectrophotometers (Shimadzu and Cary)
• spectrofluorometers for stationary and time-resolved measurements (Jasny, Edinburgh Instruments)
• spectropolarimeter for measurements of circular dichroism (CD) and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) (OLIS)
• numerous CW and pulsed  lasers (Ar, ring, diode, excimer, nitrogen) 
• intense lamps for UV/VIS irradiation
• homebuilt transient picosecond absorption/emission spectrometer (based on a Nd:glass/OPO combination (Light Conversion))
• homebuilt transient nanosecond/microsecond/millisecond absorption spectrometers
• gated intensified CCD camera (S&I) coupled to an Acton spectrograph
• FTIR spectrometers (Bruker, Nicolet)
• Raman microscope (Renishaw)
• homebuilt single molecule fluorescence spectrometers
• AFM setup
• several cryostats (open/closed cycle)
• matrix deposition lines
• homebuilt electrochemiluminescence spectrometer
• EPR spectrometr (JEOL) 

 
         Many of the instruments have been custom-designed and built by Jan Jasny. These include, i.a., a unique transient absorption spectrometer working in the whole visible range with time delays between -2 - 100 ns (1 ns resolution), spectrographs with CCD or photodiode array detection, dye lasers, laser diode single mode selector.