DOCTORAL CANDIDATE 10
Optimising photothermal spectroscopy for use in scalable and connectable microreactors
Technische Universität Wien
Location: Vienna, Austria
Supervisor: Prof. Bernhard Lendl
Munster Technological University
Location: Cork, Ireland
Supervisor: Dr. Venkata Vamsi Bharadwaj Yallapragada
OBJECTIVES
First, employing standard optical components, a benchtop system for photothermal lens and photothermal mirror spectroscopy will be set-up at TU-WIEN and the DC will be trained in the fundamental physics of indirect spectroscopy, PAS and PTS. This basic set-up shall be operated with the dedicated EC-QCL from IAF (DC 4) and will allow for fundamental scientific studies. A well defined simple model system will be selected in hardly absorbing (organic solvent) and strongly absorbing solvents (water). Using the dedicated EC-QCL for time resolved studies a good fundamental understanding of the underlying mechanism of indirect (photoacoustic and photothermal) spectroscopies will be elaborated. This know-how will be used to design a scalable PIC based readout system at MTU. Different formats will be built. Examples include single small volume reaction vessels for in-situ reaction monitoring but also scalable reaction monitoring approaches which benefit from the pluggable connectivity. In a final design, optimal sample excitation will be realized by using metasurfaces which will be seamlessly coupled with PICs for readout of the induced refractive index changes. With this set-up we will focus on pH and/or temperature induced denaturation of α-lactalbumin, an important milk protein. DC10 will develop their core expertise in PTS instrumentation essential for in-situ monitoring assay/reaction monitoring and chemometric data analysis.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This project will yield in-depth know-how on the generation and detection of photo-induced phenomena on time scales ranging from a few ns to ms by using single digit nanosecond pulses of high energy. In doing so we expect to record first photoacoustic phenomena at a time scale of a few hundreds of ns followed by the subsequent and slower development of the photothermal sample response. By fitting the recorded transient profiles, material properties can be extracted from the recorded data. It is expected that this know how will be beneficial in the design of fully integrated PIC readout technology leading to sensing capabilities in ultra-small volumes. Optimising sample excitation by means of metasurfaces will open the path to a more sensitive and ruggedized measurement platform. We will focus on pH and/or temperature induced denaturation of α-lactalbumin, an important milk protein.
Planned Secondment:
InsuCaps Ltd
Ph.D. Awards From:
Technische Universität Wien
Munster Technological University
N.B. Secondments are indicative and may be subject to change
This project is part of Work Package 1
for Work Package 1 Overview