Abstract:

By using the light sensor of smartphone, a simple photometer was designed. Also, an Android APP was developed to show the online signal and calculate the absorbance automatically. This photometer uses a flow cell of HPLC UV-detector as sample absorption cell and an optical fiber to transfer the light signal. The mobile-phone photometer can greatly reduce the amount of reagents used. Only 200 μL sample is needed to run a test, which effectively reduces laboratory waste. There is a good linear relationship with R² value 0.9991 while using the photometer to measure the iron ion standard solution, which means it can replace the traditional spectrophotometer in chemical experiments. Students can enhance their understanding of the instrument principles and inspire their creativity by using this DIY photometer.

Key words: Photometer, Light sensor, Mobile phone, Iron