I am looking for a single 4-inch <100> single-side polished (SSP) silicon wafer coated with 100 nm of gold (Au) and an approximately 5 nm titanium adhesion layer. The substrate will be used for fluorescence spectroscopy measurements.
Gold Coated Silicon Wafers for Fluorescence Spectroscopy
A Principal Investigator requested pricing for a 4-inch silicon wafer with a gold coating for fluorescence spectroscopy research.
Reference #258981 for specifications and pricing.
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Single Crystal Quartz Wafers for Fluorescence Spectroscopy
An Assistant Professor requested single crystal quartz wafers for fluorescence spectroscopy research involving total internal reflection (TIR) measurements in the visible wavelength range.
Requested Specifications
- Diameter: 76.2 mm
- Thickness: 160 μm
- Orientation: 36° Y AT-cut
- Application: Fluorescence spectroscopy and total internal reflection (TIR)
The researcher also noted that alternative orientations, thicknesses, and quantities would be acceptable if they offered a significant cost advantage.
UniversityWafer, Inc. quoted Item #U01-240805-1
| Diameter | Orientation | Thickness | Polish | Primary Flat | Grade | Seed | Top Surface Ra | Back Surface Ra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76.2 ±0.3 mm | 36° Y AT-cut | 0.16 ±0.03 mm | DSP | 22 mm on -X | SAW | With Seed | <1 nm | <1 nm |
Reference #139821 for specifications and pricing.
What is Fluorescence Spectroscopy?
Fluorescence spectroscopy is an analytical technique used to study how a material absorbs light and then emits light at a longer wavelength. Researchers use this method to identify molecules, measure concentration, study optical properties, and analyze biological, chemical, and material samples.
How Fluorescence Spectroscopy Works
- Excitation: A sample is exposed to light from a laser, LED, or xenon lamp at a wavelength absorbed by the fluorescent molecule.
- Emission: The molecule releases energy as light at a different, usually longer, wavelength.
- Detection: The emitted light is measured by a detector to study intensity, wavelength, concentration, and material behavior.
Common Applications
- Biological research: Protein, DNA, RNA, cell, and biomolecule analysis.
- Chemical analysis: Detection and measurement of fluorescent compounds.
- Environmental testing: Monitoring pollutants and trace substances.
- Materials science: Studying thin films, nanomaterials, coatings, and optical substrates.
- Surface studies: Measuring fluorescence behavior on silicon, quartz, glass, sapphire, and coated substrates.
Substrates Used for Fluorescence Spectroscopy
The substrate used in fluorescence spectroscopy can affect background signal, optical transmission, reflection, surface chemistry, and measurement sensitivity. UniversityWafer supplies research-grade substrates including silicon wafers, gold coated silicon wafers, fused silica, single crystal quartz, sapphire wafers, glass, and ITO-coated substrates.
Glass Substrates
Soda-lime glass and borosilicate glass are commonly used when a transparent, low-cost substrate is needed for optical testing, sample support, fluorescence imaging, and laboratory measurements.
- Common format: slides, windows, or wafers
- Typical use: visible wavelength fluorescence measurements
- Polish options: single side or double side polished
Quartz and Fused Silica Substrates
Fused silica and quartz substrates are selected for optical research because they provide excellent transmission, chemical resistance, and low background fluorescence compared with many standard glass materials.
- Common use: total internal reflection fluorescence spectroscopy
- Available as: wafers, windows, slides, and custom pieces
- Useful for: visible, UV, and optical spectroscopy research
Silicon Wafers
Silicon wafers are used when researchers need a flat, polished, semiconductor-grade surface for thin-film deposition, surface functionalization, reflective measurements, or coated substrate experiments.
- Common orientations: <100> and <111>
- Polish options: SSP or DSP
- Available with oxide, nitride, gold, titanium, or custom thin-film coatings
Gold Coated Silicon Wafers
Gold coated silicon wafers are used in fluorescence spectroscopy, biosensing, plasmonics, surface chemistry, and molecular binding studies. A titanium adhesion layer can be added below the gold film to improve coating stability.
- Example request: 4 inch SSP <100> silicon wafer
- Example coating: 100 nm gold with approximately 5 nm titanium
- Used for: fluorescence measurements, surface studies, and optical sensing
Sapphire Wafers
Sapphire wafers are useful for optical research requiring hardness, thermal stability, chemical resistance, and high electrical insulation. Sapphire is often selected for demanding spectroscopy, photonics, and materials science applications.
- Common orientations: C-plane, A-plane, and R-plane
- Polish options: SSP or DSP
- Useful for: optical testing, thin films, and high-temperature experiments
ITO-Coated Glass and Quartz
ITO-coated glass and quartz substrates combine optical transparency with electrical conductivity. They are often used in fluorescence spectroscopy when the experiment requires a transparent conductive surface.
- Common use: optoelectronic and electrochemical fluorescence experiments
- Substrate options: glass, quartz, or fused silica
- Useful for: transparent electrodes, sensors, and optical devices
Why Substrate Selection Matters
Choosing the right substrate helps reduce unwanted background fluorescence, improve signal quality, support thin-film coatings, and match the optical requirements of the experiment. For fluorescence spectroscopy, researchers often compare silicon, gold coated silicon, quartz, fused silica, sapphire, glass, and ITO-coated materials to find the best surface for their sample and wavelength range.