Standardization in Transmission Spectrophotometry in the Visible and Ultraviolet Spectral Regions

In an instrument as complex as a spectrophotometer there are many potential sources of error. Because of this it is useful to have available standard materials whose spectral transmittances are known accurately. Periodic measurement of such standards provides a useful indication of whether a spectrophotometer is producing accurate results. If the spectral transmittance functions of these standards are chosen suitably, the measurements can provide diagnostic information to indicate what type of error is occurring. Among the factors that most often lead to errors in spectrophotometry are the slit-width, the wavelength scale, the photometric scale, and stray radiation. Suitable material standards can provide indications of the occurrence of these errors. However it is sometimes difficult to identify a particular error since often several errors will occur at the same time. Several sets of standards for testing spectrophotometers are available or can be constructed easily. Most of these are glass filters, but interference filters, perforated screens, and rotating sectors are also used. Liquid filters have some advantages, especially in the ultraviolet where glass filters absorb too strongly to be useful. However difficulties in preparing and handling liquid filters can introduce uncertainties. It is important that standard materials are insensitive to environmental conditions (such as temperature) and that they are stable over a long period of time. Unfortunately, many of the materials with the most suitable spectral characteristics are least suitable in these respects, and it would be very useful if new and better materials could be developed.