ERIC Number: EJ1319530
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Dec
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
The Fluorino: A Low-Cost, Arduino-Controlled Fluorometer
Bullis, Ryan; Coker, Joseph; Belding, Jacob; De Groodt, Adam; Mitchell, Dylan W.; Velazquez, Nancy; Bell, Ashtyn; Hall, Jaycee; Gunderson, William A.; Gunderson, Julie E. C.
Journal of Chemical Education, v98 n12 p3892-3897 Dec 2021
A fluorometer is a device that measures the spectroscopic properties of fluorescent materials, and fluorometry is used widely in chemistry research settings to characterize fluorescent samples. One of the obstacles faced by undergraduate programs looking to implement fluorometer-based experiments into their laboratory curriculum is the high cost of these instruments. We have designed a low-cost fluorometer that is suitable for teaching principles of fluorescence spectroscopy, and in this work, we provide instructions for the assembly and testing of this device. This home-built instrument, which we call the Fluorino, is constructed from inexpensive 3D printable optomechanical components, an Arduino Uno microcontroller, and low-cost optical and electronic components, and it is controlled by open-source software. Once assembled, the Fluorino can be used by students to measure and record fluorescence emission intensities in steady state as well as changes in fluorescence emission intensities in real time. This work represents an effort to expand accessibility to fluorescence spectroscopy education by providing a low-cost alternative to commercial instruments.
Descriptors: Chemistry, Measurement Equipment, Laboratory Equipment, Spectroscopy, Light, College Science, Undergraduate Students, Laboratory Experiments, Science Experiments, Science Instruction, Laboratory Training, Computer Peripherals, Printing
Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A