Methods for photoacoustically analyzing chemicals and chemical reactions using photoactive particle-emitting compounds

摘要

Methods for analyzing chemicals and chemical reactions on the nanosecond to microsecond time scales. A liquid sample includes a solvent and chemical(s) of interest. A proton-emitting compound is included in the sample. A laser or other stimulating electromagnetic pulse is beamed onto the sample. The beam causes volumetric changes in the sample which produce pressure waves. The pressure waves are sensed by an acoustic detector. Beam energies and acoustic information are analyzed to extract information from the acoustic signal which is indicative of volumetric changes caused by conformational changes in the chemical of interest or by reactions between molecules.