Ultrasensitive fluorescence analysis in levitated microdroplets
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN (USA)
The extreme sensitivity of fluorescence spectrophotometry results from the fact that a molecule can undergo many excitation-emission cycles before destruction by photochemical degradation. Sufficient signal exists for single molecules to be detectable. Detection limits for molecules in solution have been limited to {approx}10{sup {minus}13} M by background signal from solvent Raman scattering and fluorescence. Fewer numbers of molecules are detectable by reduction of analysis volume. In our experiments the measurement volume, and hence the background signal, is reduced by observing a single microdroplet of solution levitated in an electrodynamic trap. An argon-ion laser is used to excite fluorescence from R6G molecules contained in glycerol droplets. We estimate our current detection limit at {approx}100 R6G R6G molecules in 20-{mu}m diameter glycerol droplets.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6798381
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-900402-; CODEN: ACEPC
- Journal Information:
- American Chemical Society, Division of Environmental Chemistry, Preprints; (USA), Vol. 30:1; Conference: 199. national meeting of the American Chemical Society, Boston, MA (USA), 22-27 Apr 1990; ISSN 0093-3066
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
MOLECULES
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
FLUORESCENCE
GLYCEROL
MEASURING METHODS
MICROANALYSIS
PROCEEDINGS
SOLUTIONS
ALCOHOLS
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LUMINESCENCE
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
540310* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (1990-)
400102 - Chemical & Spectral Procedures