Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectroscopy measures the difference in luminescence intensity between left-and right-circularly polarized light, and is often used to analyze the structure of chiral molecules in their excited state. Recently, it has found an increasing range of applications in the analysis of molecules that emit circularly polarized light and can be employed in 3D displays. Thus, the number of articles focusing on CPL spectroscopy has increased dramatically. However, since the luminescence dissymmetry factor (g lum ) for organic compounds is generally <|0.01|, CPL spectrometers must offer high sensitivity and produce spectra that are artifact-free for chiral molecules. Until now, the principal targets of CPL measurements have been solution samples. However, for practical device applications, it is also necessary to be able to measure the CPL spectra of solid-state samples. In addition, since electronic devices often operate at high temperatures, it is important to evaluate the thermal dependence of the CPL characteristics. Moreover, in the measurement of solid-state samples, the degree of anisotropy of the samples must be evaluated, because a large degree of anisotropy can cause artifacts. Therefore, we describe methods to evaluate the degree of anisotropy of solid-state samples and their high-temperature applications.

Fluorescence-detected circular dichroism (FDCD) spectroscopy is applied for the first time to supramolecular host-guest and host-protein systems and compared to the more known electronic circular dichroism (ECD). We find that...

Because of the increased use of circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy as a routine technique by nonspecialists to determine the conformational/configurational properties of biomolecules, we have decided to present here some criteria to accurately check the ordinate scale calibration of a CD spectrometer particularly in the critical low-wavelength UV region, to understand, and correct, where possible, the potential limitations coming from the hardware. We also analyze some wavelength calibration methods, and some standards for the CD-scale calibration, and we discuss the critical characteristics of current instrumentation affecting measurements. The example of the bovine catalase CD spectrum is considered.

Integrating spheres are widely used with UV‐Vis and occasionally with infrared spectrophotometers to measure different types of samples, either in transmission mode (scattered transmission accessories) or in total/diffuse reflectance mode. We built a prototype sphere of the demountable type, which fits easily the sample compartment of a commercial CD spectropolarimeter, requiring neither any alignment nor the use of a dedicated photomultiplier. Samples can be inserted either at the sphere entrance (for scattered transmission mode) or in the center of the sphere (for total reflectance experiments). Selected experimental data are presented to evaluate sphere efficiency, its wavelength range and results with a single sample in different forms. Chirality 12:291–294, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.