Different Types of Cuvettes and Their Applications

UV spectroscopy, also called UV–visible spectrophotometry (UV–Vis), is a type of spectroscopy that looks at how light is absorbed or reflected in a part of the ultraviolet spectrum and the full visible spectrum that is right next to it.

This method is cheap and easy to use, so it is used a lot in a wide range of applied and basic fields. The only requirement is that the sample must be a chromophore, which means that it must absorb light in the UV-vis range.

Both fluorescence spectroscopy and absorption spectroscopy work well together. Along with the measurement wavelength, what is important is how the absorbance (A), transmittance (percent T), and reflectance (percent R) change over time.

Because glass and most plastics absorb UV light and cause interference, measurements in the ultraviolet region used to be done with uv vis quartz cuvettes.

There are now disposable plastic cuvettes made of certain polymers that are clear to ultraviolet light. Cuvettes made of glass, plastic, or quartz can all be used to measure longer wavelengths, like visible light.

Tandem cuvettes have a glass barrier that goes up about two-thirds of the way in the middle. This makes it possible to take measurements with two different solutions and then again when they are mixed. Most of the time, a 10mm cuvette is used for UV-VIS.

When speed is more important than accuracy in spectroscopic experiments, plastic cuvettes are often used. Plastic cuvettes that can be used between 380 nm and 780 nm (the visible spectrum) can be thrown away after use to prevent contamination from re-use.

They are cheap to make and cheap to buy. Some labs can use disposable cuvettes because the light beam isn't strong enough to change the amount of absorption and the consistency of the value. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and Polystyrene are two types of plastic that are often used to make cuvettes.

Quartz cells last longer than cells made of plastic or glass. Quartz is very good at letting UV light through, and it can be used for wavelengths from 190 to 2500 nm. For UV light with wavelengths shorter than 380 nm, fused quartz cells are used.

The range of IR quartz wavelengths is from 220 to 3,500 nm. It can handle the sample solution's chemicals better than other fluorescence measuring tools.

Sapphire cuvettes are the most expensive, but they are also the most durable, scratch-resistant, and transparent.

The range of wavelengths that can get through is from 250 to 5,000 nm, which is UV light to mid-infrared. Sapphire can handle both changes in temperature and the harsh conditions of some sample solutions.

When using a cuvette to measure absorbance, there are a few things to watch out for. First, a blank measurement should be taken with a cuvette to calibrate the UV vis spectrophotometer.

The signal-to-noise ratio will go down if more dilution is done in a cuvette compartment.

If measurements need to be taken below 190 nm, the sample compartment should be purged with nitrogen that doesn't have any oxygen in it. If you need to measure things below 185 nm, you should keep the sample compartment under a vacuum.