Determination of photochemical reaction rates using thermal lens spectrometry

Considering the time dependence of the absorption coefficient due to the photo-induced chemical reaction (PCR) and species diffusion, we calculate the temperature rise in the thermal lens (TL) effect and the TL signal at the detector plane. This theoretical approach removes the restriction that the PCR time constant is much greater than the characteristic TL time constant, which was assumed in a previously published model. Aqueous Cr(VI)-diphenylcarbazide solution is investigated, and quantitative experimental results for the thermal, optical and PCR properties of the sample are obtained. The relative difference between the parameters extracted from the same experimental data of the Cr(VI) solution using the previous and present models is found to be less than 5%, showing the present model can be used to study the PCR. Moreover the present model is more general than the previous one.