A simple optical cell for measuring the spectra of small amounts of volatile solutions under pressure at temperatures up to 300°C

The description is given of an absorption cell which has been designed to measure the spectra of solutions of temperature sensitive species in volatile solvents with optical path lengths of 1 mm and less at temperatures up to 300°C. The solutions were kept in the liquid state by applying a suitable pressure of nitrogen gas (up to 2200 lb in-2). The cell has been tested, at room temperature, up to 10000 lb in-2 under hydrostatic pressure. Using Suprasil windows, reproducible spectra have been obtained down to 190 nm. The cell and furnace will fit in a Unicam SP 700, Cary 14 and a 14-H spectrophotometer and most other models.