UV-Vis Spectrophotometers Accessories

Significance of the Topic

Selecting the optimal accessories for UV-Vis spectrophotometers is key to unlocking their full analytical potential. Tailored sample holders, flow cells, integrating spheres, and temperature-control modules enable accurate measurements across diverse sample types—liquids, suspensions, films, powders, and solids—while addressing challenges such as low or high absorbance, micro-volume handling, reflectance analysis, and in situ process monitoring.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note presents Shimadzu’s extensive portfolio of UV-Vis and UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer accessories. It guides users in model compatibility and accessory selection for basic transmittance and reflectance assays, micro-volume and multi-sample kinetics, temperature-controlled measurements, automated sampling, fiber-optic coupling, and specular/diffuse reflectance using integrating spheres.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Key accessory categories include:

• Sample cells (optical path lengths from 1 to 100 mm; materials: quartz S-cells and IR-cells)
• Short- and long-path cells with spacers and holders for high or low absorbance samples
• Micro-volume solutions: super-micro, micro, semi-micro black cells, and multi-cell holders (8/16 wells) for volumes down to 10 µL
• Temperature control: Peltier based holders (TCC-100, S-1700), circulating water jackets (202-30858-44), and multi-cell positioners (CPS-100, MMC-1600C)
• Automated analysis: sipper units (160L/T/C/U), syringe sippers (Np/N, CNp/CN), and sample changers (ASC-5, ASX-560/280)
• Process monitoring: fiber-optic coupler (206-54175-41) and crossflow cell (206-53570-13)
• Reflectance/transmittance for opaque and suspension samples via integrating spheres (ISR-2600/2600Plus, ISR-603, ISR-1503/1503F) and specular attachments (ASR-3105, ASR-3112, ASR-3130, ASR-3145)
• Variable angle units for custom incident/reflection angles
• NIR extension by replacing PMT (R5108)

Main Results and Discussion

Shimadzu’s accessories enable:

• Precise path-length selection to match sample absorbance, improving sensitivity and dynamic range
• Micro- to ultra-micro-volume handling minimizing sample consumption in biochemical and clinical assays
• Reliable temperature-controlled kinetics for enzymatic studies and melting-curve analysis
• High-throughput workflows via multi-cell holders and automated samplers, reducing hands-on time
• Continuous, in-line monitoring using flow cells and fiber optics for process control applications
• Quantitative diffuse and specular reflectance/transmittance measurements of films, powders, and solids across UV, visible, and NIR regions

Equipment Used

Shimadzu UV-Vis/UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer models: UV-1280, UV-1800, UV-2600/2700 (including iPlus series), UV-3600(i) Plus, SolidSpec-3700(i)/3700(i) DUV, UVmini, MultiSpec-1500. Accessories: cells (P/N 200-34442 to 200-66579 series), holders (204-..., 206-..., 207-... series), flow cells (204-06222-4x), temperature controllers (202-30858-44, 206-29500-XX, 206-29510-XX, S-1700, TMSPC-8ip), sippers (160L/T/C/U, Np/N, CNp/CN), autosamplers (ASC-5, ASX-560/280), integrating spheres (ISR-2600/2600Plus, ISR-603, ISR-1503/1503F), specular reflectance attachments (ASR-31xx), fiber optics (206-54175-41, 206-53570-13), PMT replacement R5108.

Benefits and Practical Applications

By choosing the right accessory configuration, analysts can achieve robust method sensitivity, reproducibility, and compliance in pharmaceutical QC, environmental monitoring, food and beverage testing, biochemical assays, materials research, color measurement, and thin-film characterization. Automation and multi-cell formats streamline high-throughput laboratories, while temperature control and micro-volume handling support advanced kinetic and biological studies.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging needs point to further miniaturization (lab-on-chip flow cells), enhanced automation with AI-driven method development, expanded deep-UV and extended NIR capability, integration with LIMS and IoT for real-time process analytics, and multifunctional probes combining spectroscopy modalities. Improved disposables and rapid-exchange sample interfaces will accelerate clinical diagnostics and field testing.

Conclusion

Shimadzu’s comprehensive accessory range empowers users to tailor UV-Vis spectrophotometric workflows across an exceptionally broad application spectrum. Proper accessory selection optimizes data quality, extends analytical scope, and enhances laboratory productivity.