Optimized Gating Scheme for Rapid Lifetime Determinations of Single-Exponential Luminescence Lifetimes

• Published in: Analytical chemistry (Washington) Vol. 73; no. 18; pp. 4486 - 4490
• Main Authors: Chan, Sing Po, Fuller, Z. J, Demas, J. N, DeGraff, B. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 15-09-2001
• Subjects: Atomic and molecular physics; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; Fluorescence and phosphorescence; radiationless transitions, quenching (intersystem crossing, internal conversion); Molecular properties and interactions with photons; Physics; Radiationless transitions, quenching; Rare earths Complexes; Monte Carlo methods; Time resolved spectroscopy; Aqueous solutions; Luminescence quenching; Organic ligand; Theoretical study; Luminescence spectrometry; Terbium Complexes; Radiative lifetimes; Experimental study; Luminescence decay
• ISSN: 0003-2700; 1520-6882
• DOI: 10.1021/ac0102361

The rapid lifetime method (RLD) for determining excited-state lifetimes uses the ratio of the areas under two regions of the decay. To get good precision with the standard method, prior knowledge of the lifetime is essential to selecting the integration regions. As will be shown, the usual method of selecting integration regions is far from optimal. An optimal gating scheme that is more precise and much more forgiving in the selection of integration region than any of the prior methods will be shown. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to determine the optimal gating. Experimental data was used to confirm the capabilities of the optimized RLD. The speed of the optimal RLD is similar to the standard RLD but without the necessity of matching the integration interval to the lifetime for precise results.