How to Turn Your Cell Phone into a Spectrophotometer
What is a Spectrophotometer?
A Spectrophotometer is an instrument that measures wavelength intensity within a spectrum of light that is referenced to a standard light source. In other words, the intensity of parts of the spectrum given off by a sample is compared to a reference light source and the difference measured.
Uses of a Spectrophotometer
A spectrophotometer can analyze the light spectrum of chemical elements or compounds and determine the chemical makeup of the sample. A spectrophotometer can be used for inorganic or organic matter.
Advantages of the Cell Phone Spectrophotometer
Spectrophotometers used in laboratories are traditionally quite expensive. Modern software development and low cost devices to run it on has decreased the cost of many scientific instruments. This new innovation is no exception.
Many university labs can afford a spectrophotometer but they are rarely seen in high school chemistry labs. Even when the lab is equipped with one spectrophotometer students must get in line to use it. With this new technology the spectrophotometer is as common as the cell phone.
Turning a cell phone into a Spectrophotometer
The inventor of the Cell Phone Spectrophotometer is University of Illinois chemistry instructor, Professor Alexander Scheeline. A common light-emitting diode (LED) is used for the reference light powered by a 3-volt battery.
Inexpensive sample holders, such as cuvetts, and diffraction gratings are easily purchased from chemical supply companies. The ability of the cell phone camera to capture the samples spectrum is limited when compared to a commercial unit.
Once the capability of getting data from the sample is accomplished the data can be analyzed with software written by Scheeline. It is a free download and source files are also available for free.
Conclusion
Turning a cell phone onto a spectrophotometer may not replace the more accurate laboratory units, but the technology makes the process easier to understand and apply. It may be possible in the future to expand Scheeline's process and end up with a highly accurate portable device. The future device may eventually replace the large spectrophotometers in the lab.
Liz Ahlberg, "Can you analyze me now? Cell phones bring spectroscopy to the classroom." news.illinois.edu
Published by Dave Bryan
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4 Comments
Post a CommentInteresting.
Interesting for sure! But way over my head!
My husband is a chem engineer, so I've actually heard of a spectrophotometer! He used one of those long before he ever owned a cell phone. He's probably better at using the spectrophotometer than he is at using a cell phone.
Great day!