Application of thermal lens microscopy (TLM) for measurement of Cr(VI) traces in wastewater

A Differential Thermal Lens Spectrometry Method for Trace Detection

Thermal lens spectroscopy (TLS) is a high-sensitivity method to determine the concentration of light-absorbing species in samples. Here, we implemented a transient configuration of the technique, with a focused pump and a collimated probe beam coaxially propagating. A Fabry-Perot optical resonator is incorporated allowing multi-passing of the probe beam through the sample to enhance sensitivity. We show how the low detection limit of the method can be reduced approximately by half by making differential measurements of the signal at a far field in the center point of the probe beam spot and that obtained by spatial filtering of the same beam, the so-called eclipsed signal. Measurements were performed in test samples of Deyman's organic dye, Strawberry 2143 v.7, dissolved in ethanol. The thermal lens signal measured as a function of the dye concentration in water at the center of the beam was compared with the differential signal resulting from this and the eclipsed beam.

Compact photothermal self-mixing interferometer for highly sensitive trace detection

A self-mixing interferometer combined with the photothermal spectroscopy is utilized as a remarkable sensor for highly sensitive trace detection, featuring the beneficial property of a He-Ne laser with back-mounted photodiode, to the best of our knowledge, acting as an excitation laser, also as a probe laser, and even more, as a detector. Utilizing the novel implementation of the photothermal self-mixing (PTSM) interferometer with an external cavity modulation, the concentration of the sample is directly measured by the PTSM parameter extracted from the PTSM signal. The metrological qualities of the PTSM interferometer were investigated by methylene blue trace detection. For a low excitation power of 5 mW, a 7.7 nM of the limit of detection was achieved with a relative standard deviation of ∼3%. The compact and simple structure with high sensitivity has guiding significance to a robust analytical tool for the analysis of photosensitive compounds and in the detection of aquatic product hazards in aquaculture.

Enhanced photothermal signal detection by graphene oxide integrated long period fiber grating for on-site quantification of sodium copper chlorophyllin

An enhanced photothermal signal detection method based on graphene oxide (GO) integrated long period fiber grating (LPFG) for on-site sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC) quantification is proposed. SCC, as a porphyrin compound, can be photonically excited to induce a stronger photothermal effect. GO offers superior molecular adsorption and thermal conductivity properties; depositing it on the LPFG surface significantly improves the sensitivity and detection efficiency of the SCC photothermal signal, when irradiated with a 405 nm laser. The experimental results showed improved performance compared with those from uncoated LPFG, with a sensitivity of 0.0587 dB (mg L^-1)^-1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.17 mg kg^-1, which is also an order of magnitude lower than that of traditional high-performance liquid chromatography. The proposed method has potential applications in the fields of real-time food safety monitoring, environmental pollutant detection, and disease diagnosis.