Photochemistry in Photonic Crystal Fiber Nanoreactors

Chen JSY, Euser TG, Farrer NJ, Sadler PJ, Scharrer M, Russell PSJ (2010)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2010

Journal

Chemistry - A European Journal Wiley

Book Volume: 16

Pages Range: 5607-5612

Journal Issue: 19

DOI: 10.1002/chem.201000496

Abstract

We report the use of a liquid-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) as a highly controlled photochemical reactor. Hollow-core PCFs have several major advantages over conventional sample cells: the sample volume per optical path length is very small (2.8nL cm$-$1 in the fiber used), long optical path lengths are possible as a result of very low intrinsic waveguide loss, and furthermore the light travels in a diffractionless single mode with a constant transverse intensity profile. As a proof of principle, the (very low) quantum yield of the photochemical conversion of vitamin B12, cyanocobalamin (CNCbl) to hydroxocobalamin ([H$_2$OCbl]+) in aqueous solution was measured for several pH values from 2.5 to 7.5. The dynamics of the actively induced reaction were monitored in real-time by broadband absorption spectroscopy. The PCF nanoreactor required ten thousand times less sample volume compared to conventional techniques. Furthermore, the enhanced sensitivity and optical pump intensity implied that even systems with very small quantum yields can be measured very quickly---in our experiments one thousand times faster than in a conventional cuvette.

Authors with CRIS profile

Philip St. John Russell Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik (Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Professur)

Additional Organisation(s)

Exzellenz-Cluster Engineering of Advanced Materials

Involved external institutions

University of Warwick GB United Kingdom (GB) Max-Planck-Institut für Physik (Werner-Heisenberg-Institut, MPP) / Max Planck Institute for Physics DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Chen, J.S.Y., Euser, T.G., Farrer, N.J., Sadler, P.J., Scharrer, M., & Russell, P.S.J. (2010). Photochemistry in Photonic Crystal Fiber Nanoreactors. Chemistry - A European Journal, 16(19), 5607-5612. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.201000496

MLA:

Chen, Jocelyn S. Y., et al. "Photochemistry in Photonic Crystal Fiber Nanoreactors." Chemistry - A European Journal 16.19 (2010): 5607-5612.

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