Project Case | Chongguang Successfully Delivered the University of Western Australia’s Integrating Sphere Thermal‑Cold Test Rig

Release date: 2025-11-06

Summary: The custom‑designed thermal‑cycling integrating sphere from the University of Western Australia enables dynamic monitoring of solid‑powder UV–Vis DRS over a broad temperature range—from −50°C to 300°C—by simulating real‑world thermal conditions, such as temperature increases in photocatalytic reactions and cooling in low‑temperature energy‑storage applications.

In the field of molecular science, the UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra of solid powder materials—such as photocatalytic semiconductor powders, MOF functional powders, and organic optoelectronic small-molecule powders—serve as a crucial basis for elucidating their band structures (via Tauc‑plot analysis), light‑response ranges, and thermally induced photophysical properties.

The custom‑designed hot–cold stage for the integrating sphere at the University of Western Australia enables dynamic monitoring of solid‑powder UV–Vis DRS across a broad temperature range from −50°C to 300°C, by simulating the thermal conditions encountered in real‑world applications—such as temperature elevation during photocatalytic reactions or cooling in low‑temperature energy‑storage scenarios.

Technical Specifications:

Temperature range: -50°C to 300°C

Temperature control method: Digital PID temperature control (self-tuning)

Temperature control accuracy: ±0.1

Temperature measurement resolution: 0.01℃

Heating rate: 1–15 °C/min; continuously adjustable

Maximum cooling rate: -10°C/min; continuously adjustable

Temperature sensor: platinum resistance thermometer

External dimensions of the temperature-controlled chamber: 58 mm × 55 mm × 28 mm

Sample stage material: Red copper

Sample stage dimensions: 9 mm × 7 mm (compatible with dedicated powder samples)

Heating method: heating plate heating

Cooling method: liquid nitrogen cooling

Observation window specifications: Face window diameter: Integrating sphere window

Atmosphere: Vacuum, none (atmosphere)

Targeted Breakthrough: In-Depth Adaptive Design of the Chongguang Integrating Sphere Cold/Hot Stage and the UV Spectrometer

Addressing the pain points of traditional technologies from four key dimensions:

Powder sample compatibility: An inert-atmosphere protective chamber (purged with Ar/N₂) is employed to prevent high-temperature oxidation and low-temperature moisture absorption of solid powders.
Temperature control accuracy of 0.01°C: Precise temperature regulation not only minimizes measurement uncertainties in solid‑powder molecular‑level parameters, ensuring the reliability of experimental conclusions, but also enables sensitive real‑time monitoring of “temperature‑induced critical points,” capturing molecular‑scale responses.
Interference-free UV optical path alignment: The coaxiality between the integrating sphere’s optical chamber and the UV spectrometer’s input/output optical paths has been optimized (deviation ≤ 0.1 mm), and a quartz window with UV transmittance ≥ 92% in the 200–800 nm range is employed, ensuring that optical‑path energy loss remains ≤ 3% under temperature variations and maintaining baseline stability for UV–Vis DRS measurements (fluctuation ≤ 0.008 AU).
Dynamic testing support: Equipped with a real-time temperature-control and spectral-synchronization acquisition interface, it can seamlessly integrate with UV–Vis spectrometer software to automatically record UV–Vis DRS spectra at multiple temperatures (e.g., −50°C, 25°C, 150°C), eliminating the need to interrupt measurements for sample changes and significantly enhancing the efficiency of molecular-level studies on temperature‑induced properties.

Empirical Data Confirms: Temperature-Change Test Results for Solid Powders

Figure: Test results obtained by a university client using our company’s integrating-sphere thermal‑cold stage.

To support more molecular-level research on solid powders, we offer customized solutions.

Whether you are conducting thermally induced activity studies on photocatalytic powders, performing temperature‑dependent adsorption–spectroscopy correlation analyses of MOF powders, or measuring the photophysical properties of organic small‑molecule powders, this integrated “integrating sphere with temperature‑controlled stage + UV spectrometer” system offers a comprehensive, end‑to‑end solution—covering everything from custom sample‑stage design (to accommodate powders of varying particle sizes) and inert‑atmosphere configuration to software‑driven automation.

If you would like to purchase or customize a tailored solid powder testing solution, please contact us via the following methods:

Manager Peng 13100616637 (Huazhong Region)

Manager Peng 18871633576 (East China region)

Manager Wang 18171289006 (Southwest and South China)

Manager Li 18502799852 (Other regions)

We provide precision tools for molecular science research, always advancing in step with scientific teams.

Keywords: Project Case | Chongguang Successfully Delivered the University of Western Australia’s Integrating Sphere Thermal‑Cold Test Rig

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Integrating Sphere Heating and Cooling Stage

TS200N-IS, TT300N-IS

TT300N-IS, equipped with an atmosphere interface, enables simultaneous temperature‑controlled measurements in various atmospheres while using an integrating sphere. A rear‑mounted channel allows for the addition of a temperature sensor to measure the sample’s internal temperature. This model is compatible with integrating spheres featuring a 40 mm‑diameter window. TS200N-IS is compact and does not rely on vacuum to prevent sample frosting; the sample is positioned close to the observation window, making installation straightforward. It can be paired with the Lambda 750s from PerkinElmer (USA) and is well suited for temperature‑dependent electrochemical analyses of batteries.

Compact in size and does not rely on vacuum to prevent sample frost formation.

The sample is positioned close to the observation window, making installation convenient.

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