An inexpensive 3D printed periscope-type smartphone-based spectrophotometer for emission, absorption, and fluorescence spectrometry

Abstract

We present the design of a periscope-type VIS spectrometer foreducational purposes that combines strong features from various earlier designs andadds new ones. Three 3D-printed pieces that hold a small thin mirror sheet, a 1/8thwedge of a DVD, and two razor blades are easily assembled and facilitate insight into itsconstruction. A new feature is the permanent attachment of theflexible back cover ofany smartphone, allowing for repeated removal and insertion of the smartphone withprecision alignment for recording spectra. An optional fourth 3D-printed piece actingas a container for a PMMA UV semimicrocuvette, a white LED and a UV LED, and a 9V battery attaches to the front. Beyond commonly applied absorption spectroscopywith similar devices, our design also allows forfluorescence spectroscopy. We reportresults of straightforward experiments illustrating the various uses of this less than $40MiniSpectroscope.