UV-Vis-NIR Spectrophotometers
UV-Vis-NIR Spectrophotometers
Ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) spectrophotometers are powerful tools used in analytics. UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy measures the amount of light transmitted or reflected when a sample is irradiated with light. From these data, we can obtain information such as concentration, color, and optical characteristics.
Versatile, non-destructive, and cost-effective, this technique delivers high accuracy and precise measurement. Further to this, UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometers are able to analyze liquids, solids and thin films with minimal sample preparation. This is why UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometers are frequently used across a wide range of industries including pharmaceuticals, environmental science, food safety, and materials research.
Shimadzu’s own UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometers are renowned for their performance, featuring high-resolution optics, intuitive software and innovative accessories. The instruments are also highly efficient, with faster scanning speeds, wide wavelength range and real-time analysis.
How it works
UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy measures the transmittance, absorbance and reflectance of a sample. UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometers measure the amount of light that passes through the sample, comparing it to the light that was incident, thereby highlighting characteristics of the molecules within the sample. Operating on the principle of absorption, UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometers measure the energy gain that occurs when the energy state of its electron transitions from the ground state to the excited state. The type of spectroscopy used depends on the wavelength range being measured. Most UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy operates in the optical range between 185 nm to 3300 nm.
Concentration measurement using a UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer is guided by the Lambert-Beer Law. Asserting that the amount of light absorbed is directly proportional to the concentration of solute in the solution and path length under analysis, the Lambert-Beer Law underpins the spectroscopy and has been indispensable in interpreting spectroscopic data.
Key components of UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometers include the light source, such as deuterium lamps (UV) or tungsten-halogen lamps (Vis-NIR), the monochromator, which disperses light into its component wavelengths; and the detector, which converts transmitted or reflected light into measurable data. A wide variety of sample holders are available to measure a variety of samples.
Calibration is critical to ensure accurate measurements when using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Shimadzu’s UV-Vis spectrophotometers incorporate automated calibration and self-diagnostic features. They also offer high-resolution detectors for minimal deviation, extended wavelength range and long life light sources for easy maintenance.
Applications
Incredibly popular in labs across various industries and applications, UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometers are invaluable tools. In the pharmaceutical industry, they are widely used for impurity analysis of pharmaceutical products and stability testing, as specified in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and European Pharmacopeia (EP). Spectroscopy is also used in material science for thin film characterization, polymer analysis and nanomaterial studies. Quality control is another application of this approach to analysis, with food and beverage manufacturing benefiting from spectroscopy’s ability to identify additives, contaminants and colorants. In addition to being used for environmental water quality analysis, UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometers also aid in biotechnology. The versatility and simplicity of analysis using UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometers make them a key piece of equipment making them essential instruments in laboratories around the world.
FAQs
What is the UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer?
UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometers measure the amount of light ”Transmission" or “Reflection" by irradiating light on a sample. These instruments are frequently used to determine sample concentration and other properties.
What is the basic principle of UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy?
By irradiating a light on a sample, the spectrophotometer can measure the intensity of light passing through it and compare it to the intensity of the incident light. In doing so, UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometers yield data pertaining to the concentration, color, and optical characteristics..
What can be detected by UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy?
UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy can detect a wide variety of molecules including organic compounds, nanoparticles and biomolecules. UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy is used to identify compounds in drinks for quality control, track cell growth in bacterial culturing and measure the absorbance of hemoglobin absorbance in clinical research.