FTIR accessory: PA301S

Versatile analysis 

The PA301 improves laboratory productivity and safety by enabling extremely versatile and rapid analysis of solid, semi-solid, and liquid samples in any form without sample preparation.

The insensitivity to sample surface morphology and the depth profiling capabilities provide wide applicability in many areas of chemical and biological research which no other single accessory can match.

Due to the ultra-high sensitivity of the Gasera’s novel cantilever sensor, ambient air can be used as the carrier gas to obtain a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that is still significantly  better compared to other commercial photoacoustic detectors used with helium carrier gas. The quickness and the ease of use make the PA301 a must-have accessory for every lab.

Photoacoustic detection 

Photoacoustic spectroscopy directly measures a sample’s infrared absorption. The absorption of infrared radiation in the sample creates heat which is transferred into the surrounding gas and a photoacoustic signal is generated via thermal expansion.  Thus the measurement is non-destructive and the signal is independent of the surface roughness. The measurement depth can be controlled by varying the mirror velocity or phase angle of detection, and thus depth-varying information can be obtained.

Ultra-sensitive optical microphone 

The heart of the system is the patented optical microphone comprising of a MEMS cantilever coupled with a laser readout interferometer that can digitally measure microscopic movements of the cantilever sensor, having a dynamic range greater that any analog circuitry can ever obtain.

Applications include 

lDark samples

lPharma quality control

lSoil samples

lPaper and wood analysis

lOil analysis

lTissue and hair samples

lFood analysis

lForensics

lCosmetics

lArt conservation

lPolymers

lPaint and pigment analysis

lGemstones

Features 

lMeasures solid, semi-solid and liquid samples.

lInsensitive to sample morphology – hard crystalline materials or powders can be easily measured.

lHighly absorbing “black” samples are well suited for the instrument due to the photoacoustic measurement principle.

lSpectral range from UV to far-infrared.

lCapability for depth profiling.

lSample space with the maximum sample size of 10 mm and 9 mm in diameter and height

lAutomated purge gas control for nitrogen or helium.

lPhotoacoustic detector with cantilever enhanced optical microphone.

lPatented ultra-sensitive optical microphone based on a MEMS cantilever sensor coupled with a laser interferometer to measure microscopic movement of the cantilever sensor.

lComplies with the following standards or other standardization documents under the Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC and EMC Directive 2004/108/EC: EN 61326-1:2005, EN 61010-1: 2001 12 months warranty

Technical specifications 

lDimensions (baseplate and fitting parts to FTIR not included): 17 cm W x 9,5 cm H x 18 cm D (6,7 in W x 3,8 in H x 7,1 in D)

lWeight (baseplate and fitting parts to FTIR not included): 3.0 kg

lOperational conditions:

Temperature range: 15 °C – +35 °C

Humidity range: Below 90% RH, non-condensing

Pressure range: Ambient level

Dust/water resistance: IP20 (IEC 529)

Shock/vibration endurance: Strong vibrations can affect the measurement results Acoustic sensitivity: Loud sounds can affect the measurement results

lStorage conditions:

Temperature range: 0 °C – +60 °C

lSample requirements:

Max size: 10 mm and 9 mm in diameter and height

Sample cups available in two different sizes

Sample cup material is aluminum

lPurge gas connection:

Connector type: Tube connector for 2,4 mm (i.d.) tube

lElectrical connections:

Power supply unit:

Input voltage: 100 - 240 Vac, 50 - 60 Hz

Input power max: 30W

Analog outputs:

Output connectors: BNC

Output signal voltage span: ± 3.3 V

Output signal frequency band: Low pass filtered, 0-10kHz

Output load: >2k resistive

lMeasurement specifications:

Repeatability: 5% of measured value in operational conditions

FTIR scan speed range: ~5 Hz – 30 kHz  (HeNe frequency)

Spectral range defined by window material, all common window materials are  available

Noise level of the detector: 2 µPa/sqrt(Hz)

Microphone sensitivity:  Approx. 10 V/Pa

lFits to following FTIRs:

Bruker Tensor and Vertex series

Thermo Nicolet 6700/8700, Nexus series, iS10 and iS50

Perkin-Elmer Frontier, Spectrum One, Spectrum 100

Varian/Bio-Rad 3000/4000/6000/7000

Agilent/Varian 640/660/670/680

Jasco FT/IR-4000/6000

Shimadzu IRAffinity-1 /IRPrestige-21