Vis Cuvette Selection (not UV)
The first factor to consider when performing spectroscopy measurements is to know the range of spectrum in which you work. The selection of cuvette material is based on this range, and if you are on a tight budget, this will help to save you a lot.
To begin with, “VIS” is short for “visible” which means the visible light spectral range. The visible light spectrum is the electromagnetic spectrum portion that the human eye can see. A VIS cuvette is the cuvette that works in the transmission range of about 380-700 nm [NASA]. These types of cuvettes are the cheapest among all materials that are used for making cuvettes (UV-vis Cuvettes, IR Cuvettes, UV-vis-IR Cuvettes).
Source: science.nasa.gov
What are the materials available for vis cuvettes?
Please see our article for a basic idea of the various cuvette materials we offer: UV vis Cuvette Selection: Cuvette Material and Path Length.
Please check the below table a list of cuvette materials that work under visible spectral wavelength range, including each material’s complete range of transmission. The materials are listed from price low to high.
| Name | Usable Range | Usable Spectrum |
| Polystyrene | VIS | 340-900 nm |
| Acrylic | VIS | 285-900 nm |
| UV Plastic | UV-VIS | 220-900 nm |
| Optical Glass | VIS | 340-2,500 nm |
| UV Quartz | UV-VIS | 190-2,500 nm |
| IR Quartz | UV-VIS-IR | 250-3,500 nm |
Could I use a vis cuvette for fluorescence?
Definitely! A vis cuvette will work for fluorescence measurements with four polished sides. If your vis cuvette has two parallel sides clear and the other two frosted, it’s not gonna work. Check a list of our in stock fluorescence cuvettes.
Standard Fluorescence Cuvettes
Some suggestions on Vis disposable cuvettes
Because of the low cost, many researchers like to choose disposable cuvettes for Vis measurements. And the disposable cuvettes usually come in 100pcs/pkg, no need to clean and wash. Fantastic!
Here are some basic instructions on how the disposable cells can be used:
- Make sure that 2 – 3 cuvettes are checked when zeroing the machine to confirm their transmission are similar. The output of plastic cuvettes can differ by different batches.
- Make sure the optical surfaces have no scratches or imperfections, as plastic cells can scratch very easily.
- Keep the cover on the cuvettes whenever not in measurement to avoid contamination in the cells.
- Keep fingers away from the optical surfaces, always remember to hold the frosted sides.
- You can remove drops in the cuvette corners with a micropipette if you intend to reuse the sample.
- Keep in mind that plastic cuvettes are intended to use only once.
If you need further assistance with our technical information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The iCuvets.Com Team