EP4264209A1 - Spektrometer - Google Patents
SpektrometerInfo
- Publication number
- EP4264209A1 EP4264209A1 EP21810546.8A EP21810546A EP4264209A1 EP 4264209 A1 EP4264209 A1 EP 4264209A1 EP 21810546 A EP21810546 A EP 21810546A EP 4264209 A1 EP4264209 A1 EP 4264209A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- quantum dots
- light
- spectrometer
- secondary light
- light source
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
- G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
- G01N21/27—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands using photo-electric detection ; circuits for computing concentration
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K11/00—Luminescent materials, e.g. electroluminescent or chemiluminescent
- C09K11/08—Luminescent materials, e.g. electroluminescent or chemiluminescent containing inorganic luminescent materials
- C09K11/66—Luminescent materials, e.g. electroluminescent or chemiluminescent containing inorganic luminescent materials containing germanium, tin or lead
- C09K11/661—Chalcogenides
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K11/00—Luminescent materials, e.g. electroluminescent or chemiluminescent
- C09K11/08—Luminescent materials, e.g. electroluminescent or chemiluminescent containing inorganic luminescent materials
- C09K11/88—Luminescent materials, e.g. electroluminescent or chemiluminescent containing inorganic luminescent materials containing selenium, tellurium or unspecified chalcogen elements
- C09K11/881—Chalcogenides
- C09K11/883—Chalcogenides with zinc or cadmium
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
- G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
- G01J3/02—Details
- G01J3/10—Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
- G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
- G01J3/28—Investigating the spectrum
- G01J3/30—Measuring the intensity of spectral lines directly on the spectrum itself
- G01J3/32—Investigating bands of a spectrum in sequence by a single detector
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
- G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
- G01J3/28—Investigating the spectrum
- G01J3/42—Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
- G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
- G01N21/31—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
- G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
- G01N21/31—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry
- G01N21/35—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light
- G01N21/359—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light using near infrared light
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/015—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on semiconductor elements having potential barriers, e.g. having a PN or PIN junction
- G02F1/017—Structures with periodic or quasi periodic potential variation, e.g. superlattices, quantum wells
- G02F1/01791—Quantum boxes or quantum dots
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10F—INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- H10F77/00—Constructional details of devices covered by this subclass
- H10F77/10—Semiconductor bodies
- H10F77/14—Shape of semiconductor bodies; Shapes, relative sizes or dispositions of semiconductor regions within semiconductor bodies
- H10F77/143—Shape of semiconductor bodies; Shapes, relative sizes or dispositions of semiconductor regions within semiconductor bodies comprising quantum structures
- H10F77/1433—Quantum dots
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
- B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- B82Y20/00—Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
- B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- B82Y40/00—Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
- G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
- G01J3/02—Details
- G01J3/0294—Multi-channel spectroscopy
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
- G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
- G01N33/58—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving labelled substances
- G01N33/588—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving labelled substances with semiconductor nanocrystal label, e.g. quantum dots
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a spectrometer.
- Spectrometers are used to determine the properties of various objects. For example, when analyzing the chemical composition of everyday objects, food, waste, materials, raw materials, recyclable materials, farmland and pharmaceuticals, there is a great need to have an absorption or to determine the reflection spectrum. Furthermore, spectroscopy offers numerous possibilities in medical diagnostics. In particular, the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength range is of great relevance, since here, among other things, characteristic and material-specific overtone and combination vibrations of molecular components occur. The analysis of the absorption and reflection spectra defined by these vibrations allows conclusions to be drawn about the origin, the degree of ripeness and the quality of food or the composition of the samples to be analyzed, such as raw materials.
- the term “absorption spectrum” is understood to mean a transmission spectrum, i.e. a spectrum of the light transmitted through the sample.
- the term "spectrum” designates a distribution of the amplitude of the reflected or transmitted light as a function of the wavelength or frequency of this light.
- a wavelength or frequency-dependent resolution of the amplitude possible.
- the wavelengths emitted by the light source used are classified in the wavelength or Frequency range resolved. Accordingly, one can, if necessary not continuously but only for individual points, for which incident wavelengths determine which reflection or Transmission intensity these correspond.
- Such absorption or Reflectance spectra are obtained by measuring the attenuation of the transmitted or reflected electromagnetic radiation of one or more specific wavelengths by the sample material.
- the usual spectrometers are based on an adjustable monochromatic light source and a detector.
- the adjustable monochromatic light source usually consists of a broadband light source, such as a halogen or deuterium lamp, and a monochromator.
- the latter usually consists of one or more diffraction gratings and columns, whereby the wavelength can be selected by rotating the grating(s).
- the use of mechanical components means that such a spectrometer can only be miniaturized with difficulty.
- the use of a wavelength-selective detector array is proposed, for example.
- the pixels of the detector array z. B. provided with different filters that are transparent for different wavelengths.
- the transmitted or reflected light intensity can be determined at different wavelengths.
- Such spectrometers are described, for example, in US 2014/0061486 A1 or in US Pat. No. 10,066,990 B2.
- Another approach is to use a matrix of switchable light sources with different emission wavelengths. These can be different LEDs, for example, whose emission wavelengths result from the use of different semiconductor materials. It is also possible to use color converters/phosphors to adapt the LED wavelength.
- Such methods are described, for example, in US Pat. No. 10,458,845 B2, JP 2008/020380 A, US Pat. A similar method is also described in US Pat. No. 10,041,833 B1.
- spectral information means that the wavelengths or frequencies incident on the sample may not necessarily be resolved in the output. For example, when determining the water content of a sample, it may be sufficient to determine the cumulative absorption of the light at a wavelength of 1950 nm and 1450 nm in order to be able to draw conclusions about the water content of the sample.
- spectral information means properties that are based on measurements of the transmission or reflection properties of the sample, but which are not necessarily enable wavelength or frequency resolution. The determination of a spectrum is therefore a special case of determining spectral information.
- the present invention relates to a spectrometer which can be used to measure by a Sample material reflected or transmitted light Absorption and reflection spectra or to obtain such spectral information.
- the spectrometer is configurable and easy to manufacture.
- a spectrometer has a plurality of arrangements of quantum dots.
- Quantum dots also known as Quantum Dots (QDs)
- QDs Quantum Dots
- Charge carriers ie electrons and/or holes
- QDs are restricted in their mobility in at least one spatial direction in QDs due to the small particle size. This restriction leads to a change in optoelectronic properties, in particular the absorption and emission behavior (size quantization, "quantum confinement").
- quantum dots typically contain an order of magnitude of 10 3 - 10 5 atoms.
- Quantum dots can exist in different forms, for example as spheres with a diameter of 1-200 nm, preferably 2-100 nm, more preferably 2-50 nm Shapes such as rods, tetrapods, nanowires or platelets are also possible In these cases, at least one dimension must be subject to size quantization. For core/shell structures, at least one dimension of the core must be subject to size quantization.
- These multiple arrays of quantum dots have a function of color converters and are arranged in the beam path of the primary light in such a way that primary light emitted by a light source can strike them and these Excites quantum dots so that the quantum dots emit secondary light.
- the quantum dots convert light emitted by a light source, changing the spectral distribution of the light by excitonic states in the quantum dots being excited and then relaxing with the emission of secondary light.
- the secondary light has a different spectral distribution than the primary light. This secondary light can be incident on a sample and can then be used to determine the transmission or to determine the reflection behavior of this sample, so that its absorption or Reflection spectrum or, more generally, transmission or reflectance spectral information.
- the spectrometer also has at least one detector.
- a detector can be, for example, a photodiode or a photoconductive sensor (e.g. InGaAs, InAs, InSb, PbSe, PbS) or e.g. B. Act a CCD array that can receive the secondary light reflected or transmitted by the sample.
- a photoconductive sensor e.g. InGaAs, InAs, InSb, PbSe, PbS
- Act a CCD array that can receive the secondary light reflected or transmitted by the sample.
- any other device is possible which can receive the emitted light and which can be used to detect the intensity of the reflected or transmitted secondary light in a specific wavelength range.
- an evaluation device which is designed to determine spectral information of the secondary light received by the at least one detector. If a spectrum is recorded, it does not have to be continuous—it is sufficient if intensity values are determined for one or more discrete wavelengths.
- quantum dots to convert the light from a primary light source has advantages in that it has been shown that the emission wavelength of the quantum dots and thus their conversion behavior from primary light to secondary light can be adjusted practically steplessly through the choice of the synthesis parameters, their composition and, in particular, their particle size can set .
- Such quantum dots that differ from one another in terms of the spectra mean that one can excite different wavelength ranges of the sample and thus spectral information/a spectrum can be determined over a large range.
- quantum dots can also be excited by photons of a wide range of wavelengths above their band gap energy, but they show a narrow-band emission whose wavelength corresponds approximately to the band gap energy. This leads to great flexibility when selecting suitable primary light sources for exciting the quantum dots.
- formulations of different quantum dots behave very similarly in terms of their separability, which means that a high degree of configurability and flexibility is achieved in the manufacture of the spectrometer.
- quantum dot color converter arrays with pixels of different emission wavelengths can be obtained inexpensively by applying different quantum dot segments.
- QDs of different sizes can be mixed, so that individual pixels can also be obtained whose emission spectra z. B. contain multiple bands and are matched to the absorption spectra of any target analytes/mixtures.
- Such a spectrometer can thus be easily and flexibly configured during production and thus enables greater flexibility.
- QDs usually exhibit a high photoluminescence yield and are superior to organic fluorophores, especially in the NIR range.
- high conversion efficiencies and light intensities can be obtained by using QDs.
- the spectrometer also has a light source arranged in such a way that the primary light it emits is incident on the arrays of quantum dots. While it is possible in principle for the spectrometer to use ambient light such as sunlight as the primary light, it is advantageous if the spectrometer has a light source. This allows the spectrometer to be used regardless of whether and, if so, what type of ambient light is present. Such a light source also has a defined emission intensity and can be configured in such a way that it is particularly well suited to exciting the quantum dots.
- a device When ambient light is used, a device is needed to selectively admit ambient light to the arrays of QDs or, in the case of simultaneously illuminating all or multiple arrays of QDs, to selectively allow their emission to the sample.
- Examples of such devices are LCDs, shutters or micro-optoelectromechanical components. These can be arranged between the array of QDs and the sample or between the light source and the arrays of QDs and thus selectively prevent light from the respective array from impinging on the sample.
- At least two of the plurality of quantum dot arrays have different emission spectra. This is advantageous in that not only the transmission or reflectance spectrum is determined at a single wavelength, but that this can also be used for several wavelengths determined (spectra recording) . Such a transmission or reflection spectrum is significantly more meaningful.
- Different emission spectra mean that the peaks of the maximum intensity of the spectra are shifted from one another by at least 1 nm, preferably at least 10 nm, more preferably 50 nm, even more preferably 100 nm and most preferably 200 nm.
- the standard deviation of the peaks of maximum intensity differs by at least 50 nm, preferably 100 nm.
- the spectrometer is designed in such a way that only one of the arrangements of quantum dots with different emission spectra emits secondary light in such a way that it can impinge on the sample. In other words, only one of the arrangements results in secondary light being incident on the sample.
- This allows the sample to be selectively illuminated with secondary light from one of the arrays, with the result that one can study the spectral behavior of the sample versus different excitation wavelengths/ranges.
- the light emitted by the individual arrangements to be modulated, so that they are no longer controlled in a "binary" manner, i.e. on-off, but in an analog manner. In particular, it is possible to ensure that the light is wave-shaped (e.g. sinusoidal) is modulated.
- the light source has a plurality of sub-light sources, each of which is coupled to one of the arrays of quantum dots in such a way that light emitted by the respective sub-light source is (only) incident on the respective array.
- the control device is designed in such a way that it can control which of the sub-light sources emits primary light, as a result of which the described controllability is achieved. This means that power consumption can also be reduced, since light sources do not have to be operated unnecessarily.
- the light source ( 11 , 111 ) can have a plurality of selectively translucent windows. These are controlled by the control device in such a way that they selectively allow light from a (single) primary light source to pass through.
- the primary light source is a light source that provides light for some (preferably: all) of the windows, which light then falls on the arrangements. The light is transmitted through the windows and then strikes only the associated array, exciting its QDs.
- a plurality of selectively translucent windows are provided, which are controlled by the control device in such a way that they selectively let through secondary light from the arrangements, the secondary light being generated by primary light from a single primary light source.
- the windows can be implemented by LCDs or shutters or micro-optoelectromechanical elements. As a result, only a single light source is required, which means that the complexity of the arrangement can be simplified.
- the light source be entirely external and independent of the spectrometer. So the light source z. B. ambient light or be sunlight. It is of course also possible to use a specialized lamp as the light source. The primary light emitted by the external light source can then fall on the arrangements.
- the spectrometer then also has a device which controls from which of the arrangements secondary light is incident on the sample.
- a device can, for. B. Have means which are designed to selectively prevent primary light from the light source from being able to impinge on one or more of the arrangements. As a result, it is possible to control which of the arrangements is incident on which primary light is incident and which is thus excited. Spectral information can thus be obtained by this selective control of the arrangements.
- the device can have means that are designed to selectively prevent secondary light emitted by the arrangements from impinging on the sample. Thus, in contrast to the previously described embodiment, it is not the primary light but the secondary light that is blocked. This also enables spectral information to be obtained.
- the means for blocking the primary light and/or the secondary light preferably have shutters and/or LCD elements and/or micro-optoelectromechanical elements. Such means are easy to implement.
- the cost and energy consumption of the spectrometer can be reduced.
- the particle sizes and/or compositions of the quantum dots in at least two of the plurality of arrangements of quantum dots differ from one another are different .
- the emission behavior can be well controlled by using different particle sizes and/or compositions.
- quantum dots which have emission spectra that differ from one another. This allows the emission of these arrays of quantum dots z. B. be adapted to the absorption behavior of analytes.
- At least some of the quantum dots are preferably designed in such a way that they emit secondary light in the near infrared range.
- the emission of such secondary light in the near-infrared range is of great practical relevance, as explained above.
- the wavelength of the primary light is preferably shorter than that of the secondary light.
- Such a downconversion is of particular practical relevance since secondary light in the near-infrared range in particular can be easily generated in this way.
- the quantum dots are preferably embedded in a matrix.
- a matrix can e.g. consist of the ligands of the nanoparticles and/or of compounds suitable for cross-linking of quantum dots.
- the quantum dots can alternatively/additionally be introduced into an organic matrix (eg polymer matrix) or a matrix made of an inorganic material. This is particularly advantageous for applying quantum dots.
- Ligands of the quantum dots can, for example, be molecules that carry one or more functional groups with which they can bind to the surface of the quantum dots.
- functional groups are thiols, disulfides, amines, phosphines, phosphonic acids, carbamates, thiocarbamates, dithiocarbamates, carboxylic acids, polyethers, phosphine oxides, dihydroxyphenyl groups and nitrile groups.
- Suitable compounds for cross-linking quantum dots include molecules that have multiple of these functionalities and are sterically suitable for binding to more than one quantum dot. By choosing an appropriate cross-linking compound, composites of quantum dots can be made whose properties, such as the distance between the quantum dots, can be tuned. Inorganic compounds such as metal chalcogenides can also serve as ligands/crosslinkers [Kovalenko et al. Science 2009, 324, 1417].
- organic substances such as polymers
- examples include photoresists (e.g. SU-8), (UV-curable) adhesives such as Norland Optical Adhesive (NQA60, N0A61, NOA63, NOA65, NOA68, etc.), dendrimers, mercaptoesters, thioesters, dithioesters, polythioesters, polydithioesters, polythiols, polythioethers , Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonates, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethanes, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamides, polyethylene glycol, polylactides, polyimides, polyisoprene, polyethers, polyesters, and their copolymers or mixtures.
- photoresists e.g. SU-8
- UV-curable adhesives such as Norland Optical Adhesive (NQA60, N0A61, NOA63,
- Inorganic compounds which are transparent to the primary and secondary light can be used as inorganic matrix materials.
- Silicone aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, silicates, indium tin oxide, silicon dioxide, so-called spin-on glass, zirconium dioxide, sodium fluoride, sodium yttrium fluoride, lanthanum phosphate, lanthanum phosphorus vanadate, lanthanum vanadate, yttrium vanadium phosphate, hafnium oxide, HSQ lacquers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), yttrium oxide, zinc oxide, silicon nitride and mention mixed phases.
- PDMS polydimethylsiloxane
- Photostructurable matrix materials (which can be cured by light or can be destroyed by light) such as photocrosslinkable ligands or photoactive crosslinker molecules, suitable photoresists, or UV-curable adhesives have proven to be advantageous. These materials allow easy (direct) photolithographic patterning of the quantum dot arrays. Methods such as masking with photoresists with subsequent lift-off processes or etching processes can be used to structure other materials.
- formulations of quantum dots and matrix materials can be prepared, e.g. by incorporation of solvents. After deposition of the formulation, the solvent can then optionally be removed to obtain the quantum dot arrays.
- the quantum dots can be introduced into formulations with precursor compounds of the matrix materials.
- the precursor compounds of the matrix materials can yield the matrix material and thus the arrays of quantum dots under, for example, photo- or heat-induced reactions.
- Optimum deposition properties e.g. viscosities and processing temperatures of formulations/inks, compatibilities with surfaces, adhesion to surfaces
- mechanical characteristics of the coating/composites can be adjusted by selecting the matrix material.
- the quantum dots can also be protected (e.g. from (photo)oxidation) by the matrix from external influences (e.g. air, water).
- the arrangements of quantum dots are preferably applied to a surface of the light source. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous since the positioning of the quantum dots with respect to the light source is now fixed and can no longer be changed.
- the quantum dots for example embedded in a matrix material, e.g. B. be applied directly to the LED chip or the LED housing.
- a transparent or non-transparent substrate for example. a glass substrate or a wafer to arrange.
- This substrate can then be used as a multispectral color conversion filter z. B. be placed on an array of primary light sources or in the beam path of an array of primary light sources.
- a suitable matrix material e.g. a polymer
- films containing quantum dots can be produced without an additional substrate, which can be used as quantum dot-based color converters on an arrangement of primary light sources or in be introduced into the beam path of an arrangement of primary light sources.
- the quantum dots in one or more of the arrangements consist of a plurality of material domains, the material domains preferably having a core-shell arrangement or a Janus arrangement.
- Such quantum dots have proven to be particularly advantageous for use as emitter materials in spectrometers.
- Examples of core-shell arrangements in quantum dots are given, for example, in [Jang et al., Chem. Commun. 2017, 53, 1002-1024] or WO 2014/033213 A2, the latter in particular disclosing production processes for such particles.
- Such core/shell quantum dots can be made, for example, from CdSe/CdS, ZnSe/ZnS, ZnTe/ZnSe/ZnS, CdSe/CdS/ZnS or InP/ZnS, InP/ZnSe, InP/ZnSe/ZnS and other combinations for the visible wavelength range PbSe/CdSe, PbSe/CdSe/CdSe [J. On. Chem. Soc.
- the core/shell materials do not have any discrete transitions, but mixed phases between material domains.
- the particles can carry passivating shells, e.g. made of insulating materials such as oxides, e.g. silicon dioxide.
- the primary light is incident on the plurality of arrays of quantum dots in a modulated, even more preferably pulsed, manner.
- a modulated or pulsed incidence of the primary light the sensitivity of the spectrometer can be increased, since the use of a Lock-in amplifier is possible.
- the primary light that falls on different arrays of quantum dots can be modulated with different frequencies, so that the secondary light that is emitted by these arrays of quantum dots is also modulated with these different frequencies.
- This offers the advantage that light reflected or transmitted by the sample from different secondary light sources has modulations with different frequencies and the spectral behavior of the sample can thus be analyzed by differentiating the intensity signals measured at the detector in the frequency domain.
- a sinusoidal modulation has proven to be particularly easy to implement and analyze.
- the quantum dots that are provided in at least one (preferably: all) of the multiple arrangements of quantum dots are preferably identical to one another. This leads to a high level of homogeneity in the secondary light emitted by them.
- the word "identical” is understood to mean that they are identical in terms of size and composition insofar as this is made possible by the manufacturing processes for quantum dots within the scope of manufacturing tolerances.
- individual arrangements of quantum dots can also contain mixtures of quantum dots of different size and/or composition. This offers the advantage that the spectral distributions of the light emitted by these arrays of quantum dots can contain multiple emission maxima that can be matched to the absorption/reflection spectrum of one or more target analytes. As an extreme case, it is also possible to produce arrangements of quantum dots that emit a broadband NIR spectrum. Such light sources can only with difficulty be realized in a conventional manner, for example with direct-emitting semiconductors.
- the quantum dots in at least one of the arrays are made of a semiconductor.
- a semiconductor is preferably a IV-VI, II-VI, III-V or I-III-VI semiconductor and even more preferably a IV-VI semiconductor.
- Such semiconductors have led to particularly good conversion behavior. Even more preferably, it is a lead chalcogenide semiconductor.
- Other materials that can be used are, for near-infrared secondary light, PbS, PbSe, PbTe, InAs, InSb, InAsSb, InAsP, CuSe 2 , CdTe, HgTe, SnTe, SnSe, InP, Cu x In y Te Z; Cu x In y Se Z; Cu x In y S z , CuInSe 2 , CuInS2, Ag x In y Te z , Ag x In y Se z , Ag x In y S z , AgInSe2, AgInS2 and for secondary light in the visible range SnSe, SnS, CdSe, CdS, ZnS, InP, Cu x In y Se z Cu x In y S z , CuInS2, Ag x In y Se z , Ag x In y S z .
- a method for producing a spectrometer produces the arrangements of quantum dots by spin coating, dip coating, drop coating or a printing process.
- the spin coating and the dip coating are particularly preferably carried out in connection with lithographic structuring. Such methods are well characterized and established and thus lead to a homogeneous, controlled deposition and a spectrometer with good properties as far as spectral analysis is concerned.
- FIG. 1 schematically shows a spectrometer according to a first embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 2 shows the emission behavior of quantum dots.
- FIG. 3 shows a more detailed embodiment of the spectrometer of FIG.
- FIG. 4 schematically shows a spectrometer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 schematically show an absorption spectrometer 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
- a light source 11 is provided, which in the present case has the form of four sub-light sources 11' in the form of LEDs. It should be noted that the number of sub-light sources is not limited. Instead of LEDs z. B. deflectable lasers or VCSELs can also be used.
- This light source 11 emits primary light in a wavelength range from UV to near-infrared light, ie. H . a wavelength in the range 200 to 3500 nm, preferably 300 to 2000 nm, more preferably 350 to 1100 nm.
- the primary light emitted by these sub-light sources 11' is incident on arrays 12 of quantum dots arranged at the sub-light sources 11'.
- the quantum dots in the arrangements are essentially identical, but differ in terms of their diameter and thus have a different color conversion behavior.
- the quantum dots in the arrangements 12 are thus excited by the primary light from the light source 11 and then relax while emitting secondary light 13 .
- the secondary light 13 has here typically a longer wavelength than the primary light, which is known as down-conversion. In principle, however, it is also possible for an up-conversion to take place and for the secondary light 13 to have a shorter wavelength than the primary light.
- the wavelength of the secondary light 13 is typically in the range of 300-5000 nm, preferably 390-3500 nm, more preferably 450-2500 nm. Due to the different particle sizes of the quantum dots in the arrangements 12, the wavelengths differ to X4 of the secondary light 13 emitted by the arrays 12 .
- FIG. 2 The dependency of the wavelength of the emitted secondary light 13 on the size of the quantum dots is also shown in FIG.
- This figure shows (dashed lines) emission spectra of quantum dots based on CdSe and those (solid lines) based on PbS for different particle sizes in each case.
- the Y-axis is normalized here, so that the maximum value of the emission is 1 in each case.
- the emission behavior of the quantum dots is strongly influenced by changing the particle size.
- the secondary light 13 is then incident on the sample 21 to be analyzed.
- the light 31 transmitted by this is then detected by the detector 32 .
- Detector 32 may be a broadband detector using a semiconductor sensor, such as Semiconductor sensor can be based, for example, on CdS, CdSe, PbS, PbSe, InAs, InGaAs, InSb, HgTe.
- An intensity spectrum is recorded in the time domain by sequentially switching on and off or modulating one or more of the sub-light sources 11'.
- FIG. 1 A more detailed depiction of the spectrometer of FIG. 1 can be seen in FIG. Because the lower light sources 11 ′ are operated in a pulsed manner, the secondary light 13 emitted by the arrangements 12 is also emitted in a pulsed manner, which then results in the transmitted light 31 also being emitted in a pulsed manner and thus being detected by the detector 32 in a pulsed manner. This enables the arrays 12 to be driven sequentially.
- the output of the detector 32 is converted via an amplifier and analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 33 to a digital signal 34, which in turn is fed to e.g. a microcontroller, field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or digital signal processor (DSP) 35 is issued.
- ADC analog-to-digital converter
- FPGA field-programmable gate array
- DSP digital signal processor
- the microcontroller/DSP/FPGA 35 serves to output control signals 37 to the light source 1 and the sub-light sources 11'.
- the microcontroller/DSP/FPGA can still interpret the spectrum and show the user any information about the sample properties.
- the spectrometer can be connected to a computer or a network, e.g. to be used to monitor (automated) processes.
- FIG. 1 Another embodiment is shown in FIG. As far as control and analysis are concerned, this works essentially like the spectrometer shown in Figures 1 and 3 is shown, which is why a description of the identical aspects is omitted. Essentially the same reference numbers are used as in FIG. 1, with 100 being added in each case.
- the spectrometer 100 shown in FIG. 4 is a reflection spectrometer which records a reflection spectrum of the sample 121. It should be noted that neither the angle of incidence of the secondary light on the sample nor the angle of exit are fixed and are chosen arbitrarily. The same also applies to the remaining dimensions and angles in the embodiments. It should also be noted that (e.g. in the case of scattering on a rough surface) the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection do not have to be identical.
- a light source 111 consists of several (here: four) sub-light sources 111', on each of which an array 112 of quantum dots is provided.
- the spectrometer according to the second embodiment of the invention can generate a reflection spectrum.
- Quantum dots a size quantization effect on .
- the band gap of the semiconductor material depends on the particle size.
- the electronic transitions leading to photoluminescence are therefore also dependent on this particle size. Since the nanoparticles can now be produced in essentially any size, the emission wavelength of the quantum dots can also be adjusted almost continuously. This is a significant advantage over the use of conventional inorganic or organic phosphors and emitters.
- quantum dots show a large Stokes shift. This means that particles with different emission wavelengths of the secondary light can be excited with primary light of the same wavelength. This simplifies the construction of the light source since, for example, a homogeneous LED array can be used as the primary light source.
- the quantum dots in the form of inks can also be applied to the primary light emitter, or to a suitable substrate which is applied to a primary light emitter, using comparatively simple processes such as spin coating, dip or drop coating or printing processes based on inkjet printing can be applied.
- the quantum dots with different emission wavelengths also behave essentially similarly in terms of the targeted coating processes.
- the selection of the nanoparticles and the emission wavelengths and thus analysis wavelengths of the spectrometer for the specified application case can be adjusted without heavily in the having to intervene in the manufacturing process.
- the spectrometers can easily be adapted to the question to be examined.
- the QD arrays can also consist of mixtures of QDs, so that their emission behavior is similar to the absorption behavior of potential target analytes, and these can be detected more efficiently.
- the generation of multi-band emission spectra is extremely difficult to implement with single conventional LEDs or lasers.
- the use of QD arrangements with a plurality of coordinated emission bands thus leads to savings in space, costs and resources.
- quantum dots offer a high photoluminescence quantum yield of up to 1, which leads to a high light intensity. Quantum dots are thus superior to organic fluorophores, particularly in the near-infrared range.
- a spectrometer as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, can be used in a large number of areas of application. This applies in particular to the identification, analysis and quality assurance of food, products, materials, raw materials, arable land and waste products, etc. Furthermore, such a spectrometer can also be used in medical diagnostics. Due to the possible miniaturization, portable and configurable spectrometers can be developed that a user can use on site. In principle, it is also possible to install such a miniaturized spectrometer in a portable device such as a tablet or mobile phone. Even if the spectrometers described have advantages in particular in Lead in the near infrared range, they can also be used in the visible and ultraviolet range.
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Abstract
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Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE102020216283.2A DE102020216283A1 (de) | 2020-12-18 | 2020-12-18 | Spektrometer |
| PCT/EP2021/081056 WO2022128259A1 (de) | 2020-12-18 | 2021-11-09 | Spektrometer |
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| Publication Number | Publication Date |
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| EP4264209A1 true EP4264209A1 (de) | 2023-10-25 |
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| EP (1) | EP4264209A1 (de) |
| DE (1) | DE102020216283A1 (de) |
| WO (1) | WO2022128259A1 (de) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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| US7839301B2 (en) | 1995-06-08 | 2010-11-23 | Western Strategic Products, Llc | Surface condition sensing and treatment systems, and associated methods |
| US20070262294A1 (en) * | 2006-05-15 | 2007-11-15 | X-Rite, Incorporated | Light source including quantum dot material and apparatus including same |
| JP2008020380A (ja) | 2006-07-14 | 2008-01-31 | Aloka Co Ltd | 吸光度測定装置 |
| CN102494776B (zh) | 2007-04-03 | 2014-11-19 | 武藤工业株式会社 | 分光光度计和方法 |
| US20120327410A1 (en) | 2011-06-23 | 2012-12-27 | Cvg Management Corporation | Non-contact media detection system using reflection/absoption spectroscopy |
| MX2014009454A (es) | 2012-02-21 | 2014-10-23 | Massachusetts Inst Technology | Dispositivos de espectrometro. |
| US10458845B2 (en) | 2012-06-14 | 2019-10-29 | Medibotics Llc | Mobile device for food identification an quantification using spectroscopy and imaging |
| DE102012215421B4 (de) | 2012-08-30 | 2019-08-29 | Centrum Für Angewandte Nanotechnologie (Can) Gmbh | Verfahren zur Herstellung von Kern/Schale-Nanopartikeln |
| US9423083B2 (en) * | 2013-03-07 | 2016-08-23 | Pacific Light Technologies, Corp. | Multiple quantum dot (QD) device |
| US9995623B2 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2018-06-12 | Integrated Plasmonics Corporation | Ambient light assisted spectroscopy |
| US9759652B2 (en) * | 2015-02-28 | 2017-09-12 | Board Of Supervisors Of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College | Quantum dot light emitting diodes for multiplex gas sensing |
| US10066990B2 (en) | 2015-07-09 | 2018-09-04 | Verifood, Ltd. | Spatially variable filter systems and methods |
| US10041833B1 (en) | 2016-04-05 | 2018-08-07 | The United States of America as Represented by the Adminstrator of the NASA | System and method for active multispectral imaging and optical communications |
| WO2017188930A1 (en) * | 2016-04-26 | 2017-11-02 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Integrated computational elements containing a quantum dot array and methods for use thereof |
| US10697830B1 (en) * | 2016-08-31 | 2020-06-30 | Apple Inc. | Multicomb light source and spectrometer |
| CN106768331B (zh) | 2016-12-22 | 2018-10-26 | 杭州盗火者科技有限公司 | 量子点阵列光谱传感器 |
| CN108956469B (zh) | 2018-08-15 | 2021-01-26 | 京东方科技集团股份有限公司 | 一种光谱仪系统和光谱分析方法 |
| CN110823845B (zh) * | 2018-08-08 | 2021-05-25 | 京东方科技集团股份有限公司 | 光谱仪及其制作方法 |
| US11049900B2 (en) * | 2018-08-30 | 2021-06-29 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Monolithically integrated nanoemitter light source assembly |
| US20210080386A1 (en) * | 2019-09-18 | 2021-03-18 | Yi-Sheng Ting | Light emitting apparatus, light emitting method, spectrometer and spectrum detection method |
| CN111562004B (zh) * | 2020-04-23 | 2022-12-30 | 中国科学院上海技术物理研究所 | 一种无分光系统的量子点光源芯片光谱仪及光谱重构方法 |
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| WO2022128259A1 (de) | 2022-06-23 |
| DE102020216283A1 (de) | 2022-06-23 |
| US20240035959A1 (en) | 2024-02-01 |
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