FREE shipping to on qualifying orders when you spend or more, processed by Ossila BV. All prices ex. VAT. Qualifying orders ship free worldwide! Fast, secure, and backed by the Ossila guarantee. It looks like you are visiting from , click to shop in or change country. Orders to the EU are processed by our EU subsidiary.

It looks like you are using an unsupported browser. You can still place orders by emailing us on info@ossila.com, but you may experience issues browsing our website. Please consider upgrading to a modern browser for better security and an improved browsing experience.

Spectrometer and Accessories


Spectrometers are used to characterise thin film samples and solutions through optical spectroscopy.

Compact Ossila Optical Spectrometer
The optical spectrometer is the most common type of spectrometer

The Ossila Optical Spectrometer is compact and cost-effective, integrating seamlessly into any lab set up. With user-friendly software, our spectrometers are designed for ease of use, making them accessible to as many researchers as possible. Whether your focus is absorption, reflectance, or photoluminescence, our spectrometers deliver reliable and accurate measurements.

The modular design and array of complementary accessories allows you to customize the system to meet your specific research needs. For a complete set up, our optical spectroscopy kit offers unmatched value. It includes everything you need to get started with your measurements, making it an ideal choice for both seasoned researchers and newcomers to the field.

Our low-price spectrometers have a small lab footprint and come with accompanying software to enable fast integration with any lab. We have created the Ossila Optical Spectrometer to facilitate measurements, such as absorption, reflectance, and photoluminescence, for as many researchers as possible. Each spectrometer is equipped with free spectroscopy software and updates. Created to be powerful and simple to use, it eliminates the need for advanced programming skills, allowing you to focus on what really matters – your research.

Browse Spectrometers and Spectrometer Accessories


Optical Spectrometer

Optical Spectrometer

The Ossila Optical Spectrometer is compact, low price, and suitable for taking research-grade optical spectroscopy measurements of thin films or solutions. Controllable via our free software or with simple serial commands, the spectrometer can be set up and adopted into any lab. Covered by our two-year warranty and eligible for free worldwide shipping.

Price £1,250 ex. VAT
Optical Spectroscopy Kit

Optical Spectroscopy Kit

Our best value offering, the optical spectroscopy kit includes an optical spectrometer and plus supplementary spectroscopy equipment and accessories including two light source (broadband and UV) and two sample holders (quartz cuvette holder and four-port substrate holder). Available at a discounted price compared to when bought separately.

Price £2,400 ex. VAT
Broadband White Light Source

Broadband White Light Source

USB-C powered LED light source which exhibits light between 360-900 nm. Ideal light source for measuring transmission or absorbance. Optimised to be used with the Ossila Optical Spectrometer but can be used as a light source for other spectrometers. Align with our optical breadboard or use with optical fibers.

Price £160 ex. VAT
UV Light Source

UV Light Source

USB-C powered UV LED light source with a peak wavelength at 370 nm. This light source is an excitation source for photoluminescence measurements. Optimised to be used with the Ossila spectrometer. Can be aligned so light travels through air or can be used with optical fibres.

Price £180 ex. VAT
Cuvette Holder

Cuvette Holder

Compatible with any standard 10 mm path length cuvettes for absorption, fluorescence, and transmission measurements on solutions. Connect optical fibers for direct transmission through the solution or align with the spectrometer for free air measurement. Removable plugs allow you to measure fluorescence at 90° angles from the illumination source.

Price £170 ex. VAT
Transmission Sample Holder (Two-Port)

Transmission Sample Holder (Two-Port)

These sample holders are designed to hold rigid or flexible substrates up to maximum 6.5 mm thickness. Retractable clamp allows you to fix your samples in place during spectroscopy measurements.

Price £130 ex. VAT
Transmission Sample Holder (Four-Port)

Transmission Sample Holder (Four-Port)

Four-port transmission sample holder for a range of spectroscopy measurements; hold your sample in place while you measure transmission, absorption, reflectivity, and photoluminescence

Price £200 ex. VAT
Optical Fiber

Optical Fiber

Our optical fibres connect directly to our sample holders, light sources, and optical spectrometers. These fibres aid light transport between components, reducing optical losses, and negating the need for alignment. Fibre length 1 m with 400 µm core.

Price £120 ex. VAT
Optical Breadboard Plate

Optical Breadboard Plate

This compact optical breadboard can be used to set up an optical bench on any worktop or desk space. Optical and measurement equipment can be fixed in place to ensure position continuity between measurements. Made of anodized aluminium, this breadboard is rigid but lightweight.

Price £160 ex. VAT
Spectrometer Case

Spectrometer Case

Specially designed protective case for the Ossila Optical Spectrometer. It is important that the spectrometer stays in the same place for the course of a measurement. The spectrometer case can be fixed onto the Optical Breadboard at the various mounting points to ensure consistent position. The case also provides some protection for the spectrometer against falling or physical damage.

Price £160 ex. VAT
Quartz Cuvettes

Quartz Cuvettes

Quartz cuvettes are ideal for taking spectroscopy measurements on solutions. Quartz has high levels of transmission of visible light, so should not interfere with optical spectroscopy measurements, such as absorption and photoluminescence. There are various different cuvettes you can get depending on the solution, with variable path length, volume or transmission wavelength windows.

From £52 ex. VAT
Optical Mirror (20 mm x 15 mm)

Optical Mirror (20 mm x 15 mm)

This optical mirror is a silver mirror coated with SiO2 with reflectivity of over 0.96 above 550 nm. This is a reference sample for reflectivity measurements, as it should represent a completely specular surface.

Price £46 ex. VAT
Ultra-flat Quartz Coated Glass Substrates

Ultra-flat Quartz Coated Glass Substrates

Quartz-coated glass substates are perfect for taking spectroscopy measurements on thin films. Quartz has high levels of transmission of visible light, so should not interfere with optical spectroscopy measurements, such as absorption and photoluminescence. These substrates are extremely smooth to enable you to make smooth, uniform films.

From £95 ex. VAT

Taking Measurements with a Spectrometer


The Ossila Optical Spectrometer has many potential applications that span multiple disciplines. It can be used for the characterisation of LEDs and lasers, (anti)reflection coating efficiency measurements, for investigations into absorbing materials, fluorescence detection, photovoltaics, and much more.

Optical Absorption

Absorbance spectrum sample (also known as the optical density (OD))
Example of an absorption measurement taken with the Ossila Optical Spectrometer

The optical absorption of material will tell you about the wavelengths of light that it will absorb. With this information, along with emission data, you can probe the internal electronic and vibrational structure of atoms and molecules. In some cases, this can give you information about the conformational structure of molecules and polymers within your sample.

Absorbance measurements can also be used to calculate the concentration of absorbing species in a sample or monitor the progress of chemical reactions.

The ability to measure absorption is critical for applications such as chemical synthesis and analysis, material discovery (for photovoltaics, LEDs, or pharmaceuticals) and quality control.

Typically, the spectroscopy light source used for absorption and transmission measurements has a very broad spectrum. Suitable sources include deuterium or tungsten halogen lamps or an LED broadband white light source.

Transmission and Reflectivity

Transmission and reflectivity measurements have applications that range from characterising photonic structures such as dielectric stacks (often used as high-reflectivity or antireflection coatings) to process control in manufacturing. They can be used to detect changes in film thickness, density changes, and even the presence or absence of objects.

Light Scattering

Scattering measurements are much less common, due in part to the difficulties in predicting and detecting where the light will scatter. With the correct procedures, optical spectrometers can be used to calculate the size and distribution of scattering centers within a sample. They are also useful for impurity detection/monitoring in water systems, nanoparticle characterisation and drug loading for pharmaceuticals.

Luminescence

The Ossila Optical Spectrometer can also be used to measure the emission spectrum of materials and devices. Studying the light that is emitted by a material is a complementary technique to absorption spectroscopy, in that it probes how processes lead to the conversion of internal energy to photons, rather than the other way around.

Fluorescence measurement taken with a spectrometer using a 45 degree angle
PFO photoluminescence measurement taken with the Ossila Optical Spectrometer

The Ossila Spectrometer can be used to measure various type of radiative emission measurements including steady-state photoluminescence, fluorescence and phosphorescence. In these cases, the compatible Ossila UV light source can be used as an excitation source. Alternatively, you can use a high energy laser of appropriate wavelength. You can also use the spectrometer to measure the emission of light from non-radiative excitation sources, such as for electroluminescence measurements.

From emission measurements, you can extract information about the electronic and vibrational states of a material, as well as how these materials are interacting with their surroundings. This information can be used to complement (or as an alternative to) absorption measurements for chemical synthesis and analysis, material characterisation and discovery, quality control, and more. In addition, luminescence also has some unique applications. For example, fluorescent molecules are often used as 'tags' or 'tracers' in applications as far-ranging as understanding the processes occurring within living cells, to identifying the paths of water courses.

Optical spectroscopy is invaluable in studying all types of emission. It allows the colour rendering index (CRI) of light sources to be calculated, which is an important factor when developing lighting for specific applications.

Resources and Support


Why Choose a Modular Spectrometer?

Spectrometers (or spectrophotometers) often come in large integrated systems with all components housed in one unit. These have high accuracies and are useful for taking repeat standard measurements – but they also have a large lab footprint and are expensive. These systems are useful for routine measurements, such as monitoring bacterial culture growth, checking sample purity or for very simple characterisation of materials.

Modular spectrometers are typically much smaller than integrated systems, taking up significantly less lab space. Additionally, they can be easily moved and set-up in different labs. Also, they are usually much more affordable than larger integrated set-ups.

One significant benefit of modular spectrometers is their potential for customization. Larger spectrophotometers are not adaptable and cannot be incorporated with other components such as optics, alternative excitation sources or different sample holders. Modular systems allow you to customise the components you use, and to integrate lenses and filters to better suit your optical measurements. Furthermore, modular spectrometers are often much easier to maintain. As they are composed of separate components, they are less prone to breakdown, and any repairs or maintenance can be quickly and easily done by identifying and replacing the faulty part.

Read more...
What is a Spectrometer? Types and Uses What is a Spectrometer? Types and Uses

A spectrometer is a device that measures a continuous, non-discrete physical characteristic by first separating it into a spectrum of its constituent components.

Read more...
How Does a Spectrometer Work? Principles Explained How Does a Spectrometer Work? Principles Explained

Optical spectrometers take light and separate it by wavelength to create a spectra which shows the relative intensity of each. This basic principle has a wide range of applications and uses.

Read more...
What is Spectroscopy? Definition and Types What is Spectroscopy? Definition and Types

Spectroscopy refers to a range of techniques which are used to study the interaction between a radiative energy and matter.

Read more...
UV-Vis and IR Spectroscopy: How to Use a Spectrometer Optical Spectroscopy

Optical spectroscopy (or UV-Vis spectroscopy) is a versatile and non-invasive technique that can be used to study a wide range of materials.

Read more...

Do You Need a Sample Holder?

Sample holders ensure the correct placement and positioning of your sample, maintaining alignment with other optical components and ensuring the consistency of your measurements. In addition, fixed sample holders can protect your sample against vibrations or temperature fluctuations that could occur during the analysis. This reduces potential sources of measurement inaccuracies.

The capability to securely fix the sample in a stationary position streamlines the entire process, making spectroscopic analysis significantly easier and more reliable.

Read more...

Which Light Source Do You Need?

The type of illumination or excitation source needed for a given spectrometer application varies based on the specifics of your experiment. Electroluminescence measurements, for instance, require a testing board connected to an external voltage source. In contrast, most optical material characterizations require incident light.

The type of light source required hinges on the measurements being taken; for instance, photoluminescence measurements need a monochromatic light source with higher energy than the transition under examination, while absorbance measurements require a broadband illumination source.

When selecting light sources for an optical spectroscopy lab, there are several factors you should consider, including the type of measurements you are looking to perform, the specifications of your spectrometer, budget, lab safety restrictions, and the time needed for light source setup and maintenance.

Different optical measurements require different light sources, so to comprehensively characterize organic electronic materials, you may need to have more than one light source in your lab.

Read more...
Spectrometer Optics Spectrometer Optics

Spectrometers can be designed and built using a number of different optical configurations. Careful choice of components and configuration can avoid aberrations, which result in distorted or blurred spectra.

Read more...
UV-Vis spectroscopy troubleshooting UV-Vis Spectroscopy Troubleshooting

It can be incredibly frustrating if you encounter a problem while performing UV-Vis spectroscopy, and usually causes an unnecessary delay.

Read more...
UV-Vis spectroscopy errors UV-Vis Spectroscopy Errors

Like any analytical technique, spectrometers are subject to error, including dark noise, stray light, and spectral bandwidth.

Read more...
Jablonski Diagrams Jablonski Diagrams

Jablonski diagrams are the simplest way to the transitions between electronic and vibrational states. The representative energy levels are arranged with energy on the vertical axis and vary horizontally according to energy state multiplicity.

Read more...
Python for Spectroscopy, Spectra Data Visualization Python for Spectroscopy: Spectra Data Visualization

Optical spectroscopy data can be processed faster and more consistently using programming tools such as Python. This is a step-by-step guide of how researchers process multiple spectra that were taken using the Ossila Optical Spectrometer. The code in this guide is designed for the Ossila Optical Spectrometer.

Read more...
Fluorescence and Phosphorescence Fluorescence and Phosphorescence

Both fluorescence and phosphorescence are types of photoluminescence. Photoluminescence refers to radiative emissions where the absorbance of a photon is followed by the emission of a lower energy photon. The main empirical difference between fluorescence and phosphorescence is the time in between absorbance and the emission of photons.

Read more...
Thin Film Spectroscopy: Setup and Measurement Thin Film Spectroscopy: Setup and Measurement

This article contains some advice from our researchers that should help you get started taking optical spectroscopy measurements of thin films.

Read more...
Measuring Thin Film Fluorescence Measuring Thin Film Fluorescence

To measure the fluorescence of a thin film, you will need an optical spectrometer, a fixed sample holder and a high energy light source (such as a UV laser or the Ossila UV light source). We also recommend using optical fiber cables between modular elements to reduce the attenuation of your signal.

Read more...
Electroluminescence Electroluminescence

Electroluminescence (EL) is the generation of light through the radiative recombination of holes and electrons which have been injected into the material from cathode and anode contacts. The charge carriers are injected into the material due to an applied bias over the cathode and anode. These cathode and anodes are orientated opposite each other.

Read more...
Spectroscopy For Organic Electronics Spectroscopy For Organic Electronics

The different types of spectroscopy can be categorised by either the application it is used for or by type of radiative energy employed. The application of spectroscopic methods in organic (carbon-based) chemistry and organic electronics is known as organic spectroscopy.

Read more...
Absorption Spectroscopy Absorption Spectroscopy

In absorption spectroscopy, the intensity of light absorbed by a sample is measured as a function of wavelength. This can provide important information about the electronic structure of an atom or molecule.

Read more...
Photoluminescence Spectroscopy Photoluminescence Spectroscopy

Photoluminescence is luminescence resulting from photoexcitation. In other words, photoluminescence is when a material emits light following the absorption of energy from incident light from another light source.

>Read more...
Fluorescence Quenching and Non-Radiative Relaxation Fluorescence Quenching and Non-Radiative Relaxation

Photoluminescence occurs when electrons relax from photoexcited states radiatively. Emissions resulting from singlet-singlet transitions are known as fluorescence. However, there are a number of ways in which electrons in these excited states can relax non-radiatively.

Read more...
Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF) Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF)

Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF) is a mechanism by which triplet state electrons can be harvested to generate fluorescence.

ead more...
Exciplex and Excimer Absorption and Emission Exciplex and Excimer Absorption and Emission

An exciplex (or excited complex) is a complex formed between two different conjugated molecules (monomers), one of which is in an excited state.

Read more...
Spectroelectrochemistry (SEC) Techniques Spectroelectrochemistry (SEC) Techniques

Spectroelectrochemistry (SEC) is an experimental technique that combines electrochemistry and spectroscopy. While electrochemical experiments provide information on macroscopic properties like reaction rates, spectroscopic techniques give information on a molecular level, such as the structure of molecules and their electronic configuration.

Read more...
Spectrometer User Manual Ossila Optical Spectrometer User Manual

Ossila's USB powered optical spectrometer has been designed to simplify the optical characterisation of thin films, solutions, nanocrystals, photonic structures, and more. A state-of-the-art enclosure combines with powerful electronics to deliver a fast, reliable, and cost-effective device.

Read more...
Software and Drivers Software and Drivers

The latest software and drivers for Ossila equipment, available to download for free.

Read more...
Return to the top