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Quantum Northwest, Inc.Liberty Lake, WA(509) 624-9290

qpod 2e™

Peltier Temperature Control for Avantes Spectrometers

Enoch W. Small, Ph.D.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

The qpod 2e™ is a highly versatile sample compartment for spectroscopy.

The qpod 2e™ is a sample compartment for fiber optic spectroscopy,

including:

• a Peltier-controlled cuvette holder with magnetic stirring

• fused silica lens systems with SMA fiber optic connectors

• accessories such as filter holders and polarizers

Add a light source and a fiber optic spectrometer, and get a powerful

system for a fraction of the cost of a traditional spectrometer.

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The qpod 2e™ has features generally found in much more expensive spectrometers.

• Integrated PID temperature controller

• Variable speed magnetic stirring

• Dry gas purge

• Optical slit holders to limit exciting or emitted light

• Thermometer probe input to measure sample temperature

• Standard lens packages for absorbance and fluorescence measurements

• USB or wireless Bluetooth automated control

• Highly customizable with wide range of accessories

PRODUCT INFORMATION

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PRODUCT INFORMATION

The qpod 2e™ is highly versatile and customizable.

Four optical ports surround the cuvette holder. A wide variety of

optics and accessories are available that may be inserted into

these ports. These include:

• collimating lenses

• imaging lenses

• spherical mirrors

• holders for optical probes such as fiber bundles or Raman

probes

• accessories for direct excitation using the Avantes AvaLight™

sources

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FLUORESCENCEABSORBANCE

The qpod 2e™ has two main measurement modes.

To set the qpod 2e™ up for absorbance measurements, insert a

collimating lens on each side.

To set the qpod 2e™ up for fluorescence, insert imaging lenses on two

sides and mirror plugs opposite them.

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Three standard kits are available.

product components price image

qpod 2e/ABSAbsorbance

· qpod 2e™ Sample Compartment· two QCL-UV Collimating Lenses

$3,440

  

qpod 2e/FLFluorescence

· qpod 2e™ Sample Compartment· two QIL-UV imaging lenses· two QMP mirror plugs

$3,940  

qpod 2e/MPAbsorbance and

Fluorescence

· qpod 2e™ Sample Compartment· two QCL-UV collimating lenses· two QIL-UV imaging lenses· two QMP mirror plugs

$4,360  

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Q-Blue software plots temperatures and automates experiments.

• Set a target temperature

• Turn magnetic stirring on or off

• Plot temperatures vs time

• Use a tools menu to control temperature

ramping

• Load a script of simple text commands to

control complex experiments

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The qpod 2e has extraordinary temperature performance.

A SPECIAL MODIFICATION PERMITS TEMPERATURES TO 150 °C!

Time (Minutes) Time (Minutes)

Deg

rees

˚C

Deg

rees

˚C

Note the crisp temperature changes as a qpod 2e™ was cycled

through 20, 50, 0, -15, 80 and 20 °C settings.

With ice water as a circulating fluid, a qpod 2e™ was set to a very low

temperature. Note how rapidly the qpod 2e™ dropped to well below

the -30 °C minimum temperature specification.

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There are three primary uses for temperature control with the qpod 2e™.

Repeatability - Spectroscopic properties are often sensitive to temperature. A careful experimenter will always maintain the

temperature of a sample to ensure the repeatability of results.

Assays - Many chemical assays must be performed at a known, stable temperature in order to provide reliable results.

Melting - Spectroscopy is often used to observe physical changes in chemical systems at the temperature undergoes a linear change.

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Use the qpod 2e™ for thermal melting experiments.

DNA MELTING BY HYPOCHROMISM

0.25

0.27

0.29

0.31

0.33

0.35

0.37

0.39

20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60

temperature (deg C)

abso

rban

ce (a

vg 2

57-2

69 n

m)

absorbance of Poly d(A-T) in 0.01 M phosphate at neutral pH vs

temperature measured in a CUV-qpod-ABSKIT controlled by Serial

Control V2.2

Temperature ramped at 0.5 °C per

minute through the transition

Absorbance of DNA vs temperature

The 260 nm absorbance of a synthetic DNA

was measured vs temperature. Note the

sharp melting transition at about 45 °C.

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For sensitive fluorescence measurements, use the Avantes AvaLight™ to directly excite the

sample.

qpod 2e ACCESSORIES

Fluorescence sensitivity may be enhanced by

exciting the sample without an intervening fiber.

Use the AvaLight Support (1) and the AvaLight

Transfer Lens (3) to focus the excitation light.

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The older qpod®

is still available.

The older qpod®

(in contrast to the qpod 2e™) is still

available for applications in which it is inconvenient to have

internal electronics. The qpod®

is controlled by an external

TC 125 controller.

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TC 125

The qpod 2e™ is often built into custom prototype spectrometers.

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This prototype spectrometer uses a laser

to irradiate a protein sample and an

Avantes spectrometer to measure

absorbance at 90°.

We manufacture custom spectrometers based on the qpod 2e.

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The qpod 2e forms the core of a custom

spectrometer that we manufacture for an oil

services company. The final instrument is

shipped throughout the world and used in the

analysis of petroleum and fuels. To date we

have manufactured 24 units.

Combine the qpod 2e™ with a light source and fiber optic spectrometer, and get a

temperature-controlled spectroscopy system that is more capable than large, table-mounted

spectrometers at a small fraction of the cost!

Summary

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• The qpod 2e™ is frequently used for absorbance or fluorescence measurements, using standard Quantum Northwest, Inc. kits.

• Many uses take advantage of the customizability of the qpod 2e™ for measurements with fiber optic bundles, Raman probes and

other devices.

• The qpod 2e™ is often built into custom prototype spectrometers, providing totally new capabilities at low cost.