Pereira, V.R and Hosker, B.S (2019) 'Low-cost (<€5), open-source, potential alternative to commercial spectrophotometers.' PLoS Biology, 17 (6). e3000321.
Abstract
Spectrophotometry is a fundamental technique in many areas of science, with many applications and uses. The cost of spectrophotometers has acted as a barrier on the teaching and use of the technique. Here, we provide open-source plans to a 3D-printed cuvette holder with an interchangeable narrow–spectral bandwidth light-emitting diode (LED) block that can be used in conjunction with a smartphone’s ambient light sensor (ALS) to perform spectrophotometry. A Lego version with an interchangeable LED block is also presented. Results from the smartphone spectrophotometer in comparison with commercially available spectrophotometers demonstrated functionality, and the model may have many applications, especially in indirect spectrophotometry, such as in the protein assay shown here. The plans for the 3D-printed model are freely available on GitHub, as are editable files to allow customisation by users. We would encourage users to share adaptations with the scientific community.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Note: | The article is available to read at the URL above. Supporting information for the article includes emission spectra of LEDs used, absorbance spectra of solutions, further detail on construction of 3D-printed model, and discussion of adaptations including data for light intensity over time with and without a resistor. This information is available on the article webpage or directly accessible from the URL below. |
| Keywords: | spectrophotometers, cell phones, light, light emitting diodes, spectrophotometry, 3D printing, emission spectra, optical materials |
| Divisions: | School of Sciences |
| Related URLs: | |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Jun 2019 12:42 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Aug 2021 09:52 |
| ISSN: | 1545-7885 |
| URI / Page ID: | https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/12328 |
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