Contact and FAQ – Invisible-Light Labs

CONTACT

We are a highly diverse, multidisciplinary, and international team of scientists and engineers based in the heart of Vienna, Austria.

info@invisible-light-labs.com

Taubstummengasse 11, 1040 Vienna, Austria

Dr. Josiane P. Lafleur

CONTACT

FAQ

Josiane answers the most frequently asked questions about the company and our products.

EMILIE REQUIREMENTS

Can I use Emilie with my commercial FTIR spectrometer?–

Yes. Emilie has been optimized to be used with Bruker’s Vertex 70/70v, Vertex 80/80v, Invenio R and Invenio X FTIR spectrometers. Emilie will display the spectrum right in the Opus software as with any other external detector. Note that you must have the step scan option enabled to use EMILIE.

What are the specific requirements for use with a Bruker Vertex 70 and 80, and Invenio spectrometers?+

You need a Bruker “External Analog Box” to allow EMILIE and PHILL to communicate with the OPUS spectrometer software.

Your spectrometer’s external port must be activated and the light collimated if the external detector version of EMILIE is wished. No activated external ports are necessary to use EMILIE in your spectrometers sample compartment.

Your spectrometer must be configured for step scan mode.

Can I use EMILIE in conjunction with a quantum cascade laser (QCL)?+

An upcoming version of EMILIE for use with QCLs is in development!

What do I need to provide to be able to use Emilie in my laboratory?+

An FTIR spectrometer. Emilie has been optimized to be used with Bruker’s Vertex 70/70v, Vertex 80/80v, Invenio R and Invenio X FTIR spectrometers.

MAKING MEASUREMENTS WITH EMILIE

Can Emilie measure particle size?+

No. The infrared spectra recorded by EMILIE are independent of particle size. The size of the nanoparticles present in your sample can be evaluated with the help of commercially available methods. The choice of method will depend on your sample.

Do I need to scan the surface of the Emilie nanomechanical sampling and sensing chip?+

No. NEMS-FTIR is a bulk characterization method. The entire surface of the EMILIE sampling and sensing nanomechanical chip is illuminated at once by the light source during a measurement.

If my sample is a mixture, will the resulting spectrum show the overlapping chemical fingerprints?+

Yes. NEMS-FTIR is a bulk characterization method. The necessary sample preparation prior to analysis to minimize spectral interferences will depend on the nature of your sample.

Can I analyze volatile analytes with EMILIE?+

No. The EMILIE measurement chamber is evacuated down to a pressure of 10^-3 to 10^-5 mBar during measurements, which will cause volatile analytes to sublimate.

Can I analyze semi-volatile analytes with EMILIE?+

Yes. The EMILIE measurement chamber is evacuated down to a pressure 10^-3 to 10^-5 mBar during measurements. However, a Peltier element actively cools the EMILIE nanomechanical sensing chip during measurements to minimize evaporation and retain semi-volatile analytes on the surface.

Can I control the temperature of the EMILIE nanomechanical sensing chip during measurements?+

Yes. The temperature of the Peltier cooling element inside the EMILIE measurement chamber can be controlled from 5°C to 80°C. This feature can be used to retain semi-volatile analytes on the chipor to perform temperature stability and desorption experiments.

In which size range can EMILIE analyze nanoparticles?+

EMILIE can be used to chemically characterize nanoparticles with sizes below ca. 2000 nm. It is recommended to filter out larger particles prior to analysis or during sampling to avoid damaging the nanomechanical sensing element. If aerosol sampling is used as a method of sample collection, the lower limit for capturing aerosols is 10 nm. Refer to the sampling and handling guide in the Resources section for more information on sampling.

In which wavelength range can EMILIE operate?+

EMILIE’s sensitivity is independent of wavelength, so you can use it over the entire infrared range, from near infrared to far infrared. The only limitation is your light source and optics. The EMILIE measurement chamber has a diamond window to provide the broadest possible range.

Will water cause spectral interferences?+

No. NEMS-FTIR measurements with EMILIE are recorded under vacuum so that no water vapor will interfere with your spectrum.

Can I use spectral features of the EMILIE nanomechanical sampling and sensing chip as an internal standard in quantitative methods?+

Yes. The Emilie nanomechanical sensing and sampling chip is made out of silicon nitride. It features a large absorption peak at 866 cm^-1 which can be used as an internal standard.

Can I use commercially available aerosol sampling systems to collect aerosols on EMILIE nanomechanical sampling and sensing chips?+

You can use our EMILIE sampling accessory and/or mini-MOUDI adapter to collect your aerosolized sample directly on the EMILIE nanomechanical sampling and sensing chips. Refer to the sampling and handling guide in the Resources section for more information on sampling.

What is the minimum amount of sample required to record a signal with Emilie?+

Limits of Detection (LoD) depend on the molecular absorptivity of your sample. The LoD for EMILIE in conjunction with a commercial FTIR is approximately a few hundred picograms . Refer to the sampling and handling guide in the Resources section for more information on sampling.

What is the maximum amount of sample that I can put on Emilie?+

You can do quantitative work with samples in the range of a few picograms to approximately 50 ng, depending on your specific sample. Samples as large as several hundred nanograms can be analysed with EMILIE.

Do I need to know the concentration of my sample prior to analysis with Emilie?+

No. You can do quantitative work with EMILIE. However, the initial concentration of your sample will affect the sampling procedure. High concentrations can easily overload the chip and may require dilution. Very low concentration solutions may require pre-concentration.

How long does it normally take to do one measurement?+

Measurements typically take approximately 5 minutes on an FTIR using the step scan mode. Evacuation of the measurement chamber in between measurements takes a few minutes.

PHILL

PHILL is a positive feedback-based resonance actuating and tracking electronic device. It allows the measurement of the signal of the EMILIE nanomechanical sampling and sensing chip by tracking its frequency. +

How does PHILL work?+

Inside PHILL there is a digital self-sustaining oscillator circuit featuring a frequency counter that can filter transduction noise. In essence, PHILL’s frequency stability performance is precisely equal to a lock-in-based Phase-Locked Loop (PLL), but it is more robust and easier to use.

Can I use PHILL for other MEMS/NEMS applications than EMILIE?+

Yes, PHILL can be used to track the frequency of other MEMS and NEMS resonators. It provides the same stability frequency as lock-in amplifier-based phase-locked loops (PLL). The advantage of PHILL is that it never loses its “lock.” Furthermore, PHILL does not require setting PID parameters to follow the resonator phase, making it more robust and easier to use.