Development of low-cost, compact chiroptical imaging systems
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Circular dichroism spectroscopy is a key probe of the structural and optical properties of chiral materials, however, commercial circular dichroism spectrometers are large, prohibitively expensive and rarely offer environmental control of the sample under test. Using Fresnel rhombs as inexpensive broadband quarter-wave plates, we demonstrate two novel, low-cost (<£2000) and portable imaging systems controlled by our own bespoke open-source control software which are capable of spatially mapping the circular dichroism of chiral solid state films. By coupling these imaging systems with a temperature controlled stage, we show that we can rapidly identify the thermal processing conditions required to maximise circular dichroism in chiral solid state films by measuring circular dichroism in situ during thermal annealing of a sample under test. The accuracy and spatial resolution of these circular dichroism imagers are cross-compared against our previous studies using an existing circular dichroism imaging system at the Diamond Light Source and are shown to be in good agreement, with a sensitivity down to 250 mdeg and a spatial resolution of 100 μm.
Date Issued
2024-06-04
Date Acceptance
2024-06-03
Citation
Nanoscale, 2024, 16 (24), pp.11623-11632
ISSN
2040-3364
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
11623
End Page
11632
Journal / Book Title
Nanoscale
Volume
16
Issue
24
Copyright Statement
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2024. Open Access Article. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001245183700001
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2024-06-04