• Universitat de València
• Universitat Politècnica de València

• Guillermo Muñoz Matutano
• Salvador Sales Maicas

Time-resolved photoluminescence (or fluorescence) techniques are common techniques for the analysis of electronic states with optical transitions of species in Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, as well as in Materials Science and Solid State Physics/Chemistry. This technique is a powerful tool as it offers a direct analysis of the wavelength, the photoluminescence/fluorescence peak intensity, as well as the lifetime of the electronic state responsible for the photoluminescence/fluorescence. Typically, the experimental photoluminescence device consists of an excitation laser, a spectrometer and a single or multichannel detector. Currently, the most commonly used technique for optical lifetime measurements is based on the Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) technique, although there are others such as those based on the use of Streak Cameras, up-conversion techniques, stroboscopic synchronisation or boxcar methods. However, these systems have several disadvantages, such as low dynamic ranges of synchronisation, high economic costs, or high experimental complexity of the measurement system. It is therefore necessary to offer an alternative to the state of the art, which makes it possible to obtain more efficient, low-cost and versatile systems and methods than the known ones.

Researchers from the Universitat de València, in collaboration with the Universitat Politècnica de València, have developed a novel and fast system for the measurement and analysis of temporary light signals, which makes it possible to transform, by deflection, a temporally variable light signal into a spatially variable light signal. The system for the analysis of temporally modulated pulsed light signals allows the deflection frequency to be varied in order to synchronise it with the frequency of the temporal modulation of the pulsed light signals. This system allows a significant cost reduction in the manufacture of compact and modular temporary light analysis equipment, as it is based on a cost-effective technology.

The system can be realised in a compact equipment for spectral and temporal analysis of Photoluminescence/Fluorescence using the same multichannel detector (CCD type), which would be applicable in sectors as diverse as biosciences (biology, microbiology, nano-medicine, pharmacology, biophysics, biochemistry, ...), chemistry and materials science, solid state physics/chemistry, among the most outstanding ones.

The main advantages provided by the invention are:

• The light scattering for each angle is linear because the speed of rotation can be kept constant with high precision.
• Considerable cost reduction of a temporal light analysis equipment, since the technology to manufacture this type of beam deflection mirrors is inexpensive.
• Low acquisition time needed for measurement.
• Modularity: time-resolved and wavelength-resolved measurements (spectra) can be made under a single unit.
• Higher performance than current systems using micro-mechanical beam deflectors and higher sensitivity CCDs.

• Patent granted