Biophotonics

Division 1.2

The Biophotonics division develops optical methods for measuring and characterizing light–matter interactions in molecular and nanoscale systems and functional advanced materials, supporting applications in materials research, life sciences, biomedicine, environmental sciences, photonics and nanotechnology. A key focus is steady-state, time-resolved, and spatially resolved quantitative luminescence spectroscopy from UV to SWIR of linear and non-linear optical emitters. Our work includes the design, fabrication, and traceable characterization of functional organic, inorganic, and hybrid chromophore systems, (nano-enabled) advanced materials, and bioconjugates as optical reporters, probes, sensors, and calibration tools — enabling sensitive analysis, bioimaging, signal enhancement, multiplexing, barcoding, and functional group/ligand/biomolecule analysis.
A core mission is the standardization of fluorescence measurements by developing traceable, certified, format-adaptable reference materials and calibration tools for instrument characterization and validation strategies for fluorescence methods, characterization of scattering and luminescent materials, and absolute quantum yield determination, including organizing interlaboratory comparisons and contributing to national and international standardization activities.

Fields of expertise

Quantitative fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy, including relative and absolute fluorescence quantum yield measurements of liquid and solid, transparent and scattering materials across the UV to short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectral regions (300–1700 nm)
Traceable spectroscopic characterization of chromophore systems, including temperature- and polarization-dependent measurements of absorption, scattering, reflectance, and luminescence
Quantitative characterization of surface functional groups, ligands, and biomolecules on nanoparticles, microparticles, and planar substrates using complementary analytical techniques and automated high-throughput screening approaches
Development and validation of traceable calibration strategies, certified reference materials, calibration standards, and reference methods to ensure reliable, comparable, and standardized optical measurements.

Main activities

Fluorescence spectroscopic and microscopic investigations including the relative and absolute measurement of fluorescence quantum yields of liquid and solid, transparent and translucent materials in the UV/VIS/NIR spectrum range (350–1700 nm)
Traceable, temperature-dependent and polarisation-dependent measurements of optical properties (absorption, scatter, reflection, luminescence) of chromophore systems
Quantification of functional groups, ligands, and biomolecules on particle surfaces and 2D substrates
Traceable calibration strategies and standards

Range of services/technical equipment

Absorption spectroscopy (200–2700 nm)
Fluorescence spectroscopy (250–1700 nm)
Integrating sphere spectroscopy: Transmission, reflection, emission, photoluminescence quantum yield (350–1650 nm)
Time-resolved fluorescence measurements (ps-ms)
Characterisation of upconversion materials: excitation density-dependent fluorescence spectra, luminescence quantum yields, luminescence kinetics
Spectral confocal laser scanning microscopy (UV-vis excitation, detection 400–800 nm, spectral resolution 2 nm), FLIM-FCS (400 ps-2 µs)
Microtiter plate reader (absorption, steady state/time-resolved fluorescence, chemoluminescence)
Laser scanner
Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA)
Spin coater
Photostability setup
Calibrated light sources, detectors

Publications of the division

In the database PUBLICA you will find publications by BAM employees.

Publications of the division Biophotonics in PUBLICA

PUBLICA