STATION 0.2
Laser Flash Photolysis/FRRFNOT AVAILABLE

Description

The station provides nano-second laser flash photolysis facilty to study excited states and free radicals at the molecular level with applications in technology, biology and medicine.
Nd:YAG laser - 15ns 266nm, 355nm and 532nm pulses, up to 500mJ.
Time-resolved detection systems - optical absorption and emission, conductivity, resonance Raman at variable temperatures (77K - 350K).
Singlet oxygen detection system
Fully staffed for complete service.
Fully equipped support laboratories.
EU funding provides access to users from the European Union and Associated states

Functional Description

The station provides nano-second laser flash photolysis facilty to study excited states and free radicals at the molecular level with applications in technology, biology and medicine.
Some of the programmes that are currently being carried out at the station:

• Formation and reactivity of free radicals in 5-hydroxylmethyl-2-furaldehyde
• Antioxidant properties of phytoestrogens
• Photoionizaton of alpha-tocopherol and related molecules.
• Antioxidant properties of betanin
• The photodegradation of triazine based herbicides
• Photophysical properties of fullerenes
• Photoprotection using natural sunscreens derived from lichens
• Photochemical reactions upon UV irradiation of collagen and the reaction of collagen with reactive oxygen species
• Melanin radical reactions for the photochemical bleaching of hair

Technical Description

Laser Source: Q-switched JK Lasers System 2000 Nd-YAG oscillator and Nd-glass amplifier; frequency doubling, tripling and quadrupling crystals

Available Wavelengths: 1064, 532, 355 or 266 nm

Maximum Output Pulse Energies: 1.5 J at 1064 nm; 500 mJ at 532 nm; 100 mJ at 355 nm; 100 mJ at 266 nm

Output Pulse Duration: 15 ns standard; 7 ns using additional pulse chopper

Measurement Systems: Primarily optical absorption or luminescence; AC conductivity also available; system layout readily adaptable to other modalities

Light Sources: Pulsed or continuous xenon arc lamp

Sample Handling: Cuvette or flow system; temperature controlled optical cell system; cell mounting adaptable to other requirements

Optical Detection Systems: High radiance monochromator with range of diffraction gratings; selection of photomultiplier tubes, silicon and germanium photodiodes; spectral coverage approximately 200 nm to 1.5 µm; cooled and non-cooled high sensitivity time-resolved detectors for singlet oxygen 1270 nm luminescence

Data Acquisition and Analysis: Tektronix TDS380 digital oscilloscope - 2 GHz maximum sampling rate; dedicated PC and local printer; well-developed flash photolysis-specific software; network links to central file-servers for secure data storage

Benchmark

Typical experiment takes anything from a few minutes to an hour.

Support

Scientific and Technical support is provided by two dedicated scientists attached to the station.