Metrology of photoluminescent materials

Abstract

This paper reviews the basic concepts, metrological requirements and approaches for the precise and accurate measurement of photoluminescent materials. These fluorescence measurements offer significant advantages in terms of sensitivity and selectivity, finding wide use in a range of applications in bioanalytical, analytical chemistry and colour technology. Depending upon the specific metrological requirement, different properties of the photoluminescent material are of interest and different measurement techniques and instrumentation have been developed. The optical properties of interest for both analytical and colorimetric applications are defined along with their basic measurement principles. However, many problems are associated with the comparability of these measurements due to their dependence on both instrument and sample parameters. These considerations and measurement problems are identified and the impacts of standardization methods are illustrated in two typical applications. The paper also gives a detailed description of both the physical transfer standard and chemical transfer standard approaches for obtaining reliable, traceable fluorescence data. However, for many applications, the robust standardization of these measurements and availability of appropriate transfer standards are still in their infancy. This paper concludes with a brief discussion of the state-of-the-art uncertainties in the metrology of photoluminescence.