Detection and Analysis of Fluorescent Nanoparticles Using an In-house Built Spectrofluorometer

Understanding the nanomaterials at a laboratory level for many students in one shot is difficult. Also, one step quick initial interaction about to study the basic experimental condition is mandatory. This requires a separate spectrofluorometers for labs to analyse synthesized nanoparticles and quantum dots. Thus, in-situ development of a portable cost-effective systems will enable students to qualitatively analyses the samples for individual understanding. The spectrofluorometer was developed and tested using known fluorescent nanomaterials like Iron Nanoclusters (FeQCs) and Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs). The system was interfaced with optical filters with wavelength ranges of 500nm for FeQCs and 600nm for CQD to transmit only a specific wavelength of light to the detector. Using a diffraction grating with 1000 lines per mm, the incident light of 405 nm was split into its spectral components. The detector in the system was a CMOS sensor, capable of low-light detection, and the components were arranged in a straight line to the detector lens. Finally, the system was communicated to the open-source software Theremino in order to record the emission peaks from the fluorescent samples. The samples, which included CQD and FeQCs, were serially diluted. The emission peak was recorded between 572 nm for 100% concentrated CQD and the lowest concentration ratio of 1: 8, which obtained the peak at 547 nm, which is referred to as sample 1. For sample 2 FeQCs, comparable peak values were obtained between 571 nm for a 1:2 ratio and decreasing the concentration to 1: 8, and the peak was at 538 nm. The above emission wavelengths were also compared with a commercial spectrofluorometer, and analysis showed that the peak values of the two instruments were similar. The wavelength and transmission percentage were obtained as CSV files from the Theremino software, which further paved the way for us to determine the solution's absorbance. Because the developed device can record nano samples, we can conclude that it can be used to record peaks of any sample.