Which Experimental Assumption Have You Never Questioned?
That fast events cannot be measured with both precision and speed, because spectrophotometers must be either fast or sensitive?
That CD and CPL will be contaminated by linear artifacts, requiring extra experiments or leaving lingering doubt?
That UV/Vis demands clear solutions and all the effort required to produce them?
Some “facts” are so deeply embedded in scientific practice that they go unquestioned for decades.
Not here. Here, we have spent 50 years developing instruments which expand what scientists can measure.
OLIS Spectrophotometry Systems Remove Accepted Experimental Constraints, Allowing You to Obtain the Right Answer from the Sample You Choose, Not the Sample your Instrument Requires.
What is OLIS
Hand-crafted, individually-produced, and supported with professional, personal attention, each OLIS product
is designed to support your most ambitious research goals efficiently, effectively, and economically.
Brilliant Breakthroughs Happen…Ours can Lead to Yours.
Visit the About Us page to learn about the uniquely gifted inventor, founder Dr. Richard J. DeSa, whose career opened with Science papers on bioluminescence (1963) and computerizing kinetic spectrometers (1969) to development of today’s best circularly polarized luminescence instruments.”
With him for decades, his daughter Julie Ann DeSa Lorenz runs the business and shares his passion for advancing science with instrumentation that opens new doors to better measurements and — along the way — reduces waste in science.
✓ The OLIS RSM 1000 for 1,000 scans per second during dynamic flow processes.
✓ The CLARiTY UV/Vis for accurate absorption measurements on all light absorbing samples (not just clarified ones!)
✓ The HarmoniX CD & CPL spectrometer for pure chirality and pure orientation spectra with each experiment.
Designed-in upgradability for modularity and longevity.
Software (digital) over hardware (analog) for reliability and flexibility.
Every design criterion priorities the best answer.
Hallmarks of all things OLIS
The Right Answer on the Right Sample.
Software-driven instruments for unique and powerful performance advantages.
Designed-in upgradability, so that every OLIS is obsolete only until it is upgraded.
Spectrophotometers for Samples which are Clear, Turbid, and/ or Chiral
Clear Samples
Cuvette-based UV/Vis, NIR, and IR spectrometers with available sample holders for transparent solids.
Turbid Samples
Integrating cavity (not sphere) UV/Vis spectrophotometers for accurate studies on not-clear samples, e.g., aggregating proteins, living cells, particulate materials, low-concentration solutions, etc.
Chiral Samples
Chirality is ubiquitous. For ground-state, circular dichroism (CD); for excited stage, circularly polarized luminescence (CPL).
Production Samples
Beer, wine, syrup … Single wavelength visible models for color readings.
Software
Every OLIS system comes with instrument-specific data acquisition and control software.
Accessories
OLIS systems can be enhanced with OLIS and third-party accessories for temperature control, rapid mixing, titration, magnetic field alignment, thinfilm analysis, and more.
Spectrophotometers for Samples which are
Clear, Turbid, and Chiral
Clear Samples
UV/Vis, NIR, and IR spectrometers for purified and clarified samples:
When you need the highest accuracy 280 nm for protein concentration or 430 nm for beer color, or other explicit wavelength reading, no scanning needed, choose an IC series CLARiTY
Turbid, Scattering Samples
Open up your research to include UV/Vis spectroscopy on aggregating proteins, living cells, particulate nanomaterials, and other ‘impossible’ samples.
OLIS software is the most important attribute of our products’ reliability, flexibility, and power.
Our first 15 years was writing code to computerize other companies’ spectrophotometers. Today’s Win 11 OLIS software is arguably what you’ll love most about your OLIS.
Chiral Samples
Circular dichroism for ground-state studies. Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) for excited state studies. Our exclusive advances ensure your success with these challenging measurements. Models for UV/Vis, NIR, and IR.
For lanthanides and OLEDs to proteins:
Suitable OLIS and third-party accessories can be added at time of purchase or later to add temperature control, stopped-flow, magnetic field alignment, thin film analysis, and more.
OLIS Products
Publications using OLIS instruments
CPL
Materials science, lanthanides, and more in peer-reviewed publications
Pyrene-Containing ortho-Oligo(phenylene)ethynylene Foldamer as Ratiometric Probe Based on Circularly Polarized Luminescence
Minh H. Nguyen, Masashi Imanishi, Taichi Kurogi, Xuemei Wan, Jane E. Ishmael, Kerry L. McPhail, and Amos B. Smith III
The Journal of Organic Chemistry 2018, 83, 8, 4287-4306
Enantiopure distorted ribbon-shaped nanographene combining twophoton absorption-based upconversion and circularly polarized luminescence
Carlos M. Cruz, Irene R. Márquez, Inês F. A. Mariz, Victor Blanco, Carlos SánchezSánchez, Jesús M. Sobrado, José A. Martín-Gago, Juan M. Cuerva, Ermelinda Maçôas, and Araceli G. Campaña
Chem. Sci., 2018,9, 3917-3924
Undecabenzo[7]superhelicene: A Helical Nanographene Ribbon as a Circularly Polarized Luminescence Emitter
Carlos M. Cruz, Dr. Silvia Castro Fernández, Dr. Ermelinda Maçôas, Prof. Juan M. Cuerva, Dr. Araceli G. Campaña
Volume57, Issue45, November 5, 2018, Pages 14782-14786
CLARiTY:
Whole cell studies, nanomaterials, and more in peer-reviewed publications
Use of an integrating cavity spectrometer to easily determine beer SRM color without filtration, centrifugation or numerical correction
Scott C. Bailey-Hartsel, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Title of upcoming 2023 publication
Obtaining absorbance spectra from turbid retinal cell and tissue suspensions Beating the light-scatter problem
Federico Gonzalez-Fernandez, M.D. , Ph.D., VA Medical Center, Jackson, MS
Title of accepted publication in 2023 Experimental Eye Research
Transition-Metal Isocorroles as Singlet Oxygen Sensitizers
Simon Larsen, Joseph A. Adewuyi, Gaël Ung , and Abhik Ghosh
norg. Chem. 2023, 62, 19, 7483 7490 Publication Date:May 4, 2023
Example publications citing OLIS equipment
Circularly Polarized Luminescence spectrometers:
CLARiTY UV/Vis spectrometers
Whole cell studies, nanomaterials, and more in peer-reviewed publications
Use of an integrating cavity spectrometer to easily determine beer SRM color without filtration, centrifugation or numerical correction
Scott C. Bailey-Hartsel, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Title of upcoming 2023 publication
Obtaining absorbance spectra from turbid retinal cell and tissue suspensions Beating the light-scatter problem
Federico Gonzalez-Fernandez, M.D. , Ph.D., VA Medical Center, Jackson, MS
Title of accepted publication in 2023 Experimental Eye Research
Transition-Metal Isocorroles as Singlet Oxygen Sensitizers
Simon Larsen, Joseph A. Adewuyi, Gaël Ung* , and Abhik Ghosh*
norg. Chem. 2023, 62, 19, 7483–7490 Publication Date:May 4, 2023
Materials science, lanthanides, and more in peer-reviewed publications
Pyrene-Containing ortho-Oligo(phenylene)ethynylene Foldamer as Ratiometric Probe Based on Circularly Polarized Luminescence
Pablo Reiné, Jose Justicia, Sara P Morcillo, Sergio Abbate, Belen Vaz, Maria Ribagorda, Ángel Orte, Luis Álvarez de Cienguegos, Giovanna Longhi, Araceli G Campaña, Delia Miguel, Juan M Cuerva
The Journal of Organic Chemistry 2018, 83, 8, 4287-4306
Enantiopure distorted ribbon-shaped nanographene combining twophoton absorption-based upconversion and circularly polarized luminescence
Carlos M. Cruz, Irene R. Márquez, Inês F. A. Mariz, Victor Blanco, Carlos SánchezSánchez, Jesús M. Sobrado, José A. Martín-Gago, Juan M. Cuerva, Ermelinda Maçôas, and Araceli G. Campaña
Chem. Sci., 2018,9, 3917-3924
Undecabenzo[7]superhelicene: A Helical Nanographene Ribbon as a Circularly Polarized Luminescence Emitter
Carlos M. Cruz, Dr. Silvia Castro Fernández, Dr. Ermelinda Maçôas, Prof. Juan M. Cuerva, Dr. Araceli G. Campaña
Volume57, Issue45, November 5, 2018, Pages 14782-14786
Our Story
For our first twenty years in business (1974 1994), you would have come to OLIS computerize your best spectrophotometers. Laboratories large and small continue to choose to modernize their trusted HP 8453, Cary 14, Cary 17, Aminco DW 2/000, and PerkinElmer 983 spectrometers with us.
Since 1994, we have hand-crafted hundreds of all-new Olis products which will likewise stand the test of time for optical excellence
For researchers interested in circularly polarized luminescence, the OLIS CPL Solo the only commercial small and affordable model available. Models for UV/Vis, Vis/NIR, NIR, and IR are available. The world s best CPL systems, used worldwide.
Phosphorescence lifetime measurements at rates to 4000 decays per second to arbitrarily slow to assess whether the emission is fluorescence or phosphorescence. Add to your CPL or purchase as a free-standing system.
Scatter does not matter when you have CLARiTY. Make accurate AU/cm readings on all light absorbing samples. You choose the level of turbidity, not the spectrophotometer.
Diffuse and specular reflectance can be added to many OLIS spectrophotometers.
Fluorescence models are available for exceptional sensitivity and precision, enabling the accurate measurement of fluorescence emission and spectra to study the behavior of fluorophores and probing their interactions with other molecules.
Reducing waste in science drives our product excellence, reliability, and modularity. It is also why all OLIS products have designed-in upgradability. Recall, too, that our first 20 years was only upcycling the still outstanding HP, Cary, and PerkinElmer models; all OLIS instruments can be upcycled, too. OLIS instruments have double, triple, and longer lifespans than any other commercial choices, reducing waste and minimizing the environmental impact of scientific research with zero compromise to performance.
Ground state chirality studies from 170 2600 nm. Choose among UV or NIR optimized models. All use an entirely digital data acquisition method which can only result in the correct answer.
NIR studies are becoming increasingly important in fields such as pharmaceuticals, food science, and environmental analysis. Absorbance, fluorescence, CD, and CPL spectrometers support the analysis of complex samples and the identification and quantification of various compounds.
Anisotropy measurements, which are useful for understanding the orientation and mobility of molecules, is available on all CPL and properly enhanced fluorescence systems.
Easy rearrangement of components makes many OLIS instruments the most modular on the market, both for our ease in producing exactly what you need and your ease in customizing it on your end. Why buy multiple instruments if one can be configured for multiple measurements?
For researchers interested in circularly polarized luminescence, the OLIS CPL Solo the only commercial small and affordable model available. Models for UV/Vis, Vis/NIR, NIR, and IR are available. The world s best CPL systems, used worldwide.
After developing computerized spectrophotometers for his own research, 1966-1974, Dr. DeSa founded OLIS to computerize spectrophotometers for others. Today, a percentage of our work continues to be updating classics including the HP 8453, Cary 14, Cary 17, and PerkinElmer 983 spectrometers. Every OLIS spectrometer is likewise designed for longevity and upgradability. An OLIS is obsolete only until it is upgraded. And in our world, the upgrades are both generational (DOS to Win 11) and application (e.g., a ‘normal’ UV/Vis can be upgraded to a CLARiTY; an early OLIS CPL can be upgraded to HarmoniX).
Circularly Polarized Luminescence
Pure CPL. Pure LPL.
Combination CD and CPL spectrometers, the OLIS DSM 172 and OLIS DSM 245.
The small and affordable CPL Solo, NIR Solo, and L45.
An entirely digital data acquisition method (no analog lock-in amplifier) for the correct answer.
Confident CPL measurements on isotropic and anisotropic samples alike.
Anisotropy becomes information—not interference.
CLARiTY UV/Vis
Design the measurement so that the answer reflects the sample rather than the limitations of the instrument.
Make accurate AU/cm readings on all light absorbing samples.
You choose the level of turbidity, not the spectrophotometer.
Fluorescence
If you are looking for a cheap, good-enough fluorimeter, look elsewhere.
Ours harken back to the quality and sensitivity of the classic SLM 8000 era.
Upcycled Spectrophotometry Systems
Outstandingly good instruments should not be retired early because their computerization is aged or their electronics are starting to fail.
With designed-in upgradability, all OLIS products can be upcycled once, twice, and more, keeping them electromechanically current with the latest computerization over many decades.
Reduce waste with zero compromise to performance by starting with an OLIS or a supported classic HP, Cary, or PE.
Phosphorescence Lifetime
Phosphorescence lifetime measurements at rates to 4000 decays per second to arbitrarily slow to assess whether the emission is fluorescence or phosphorescence.
Add to your CPL or purchase as a free-standing system.
Circular Dichroism UV/ Vis and NIR
Pure CD. Pure LD.
Ground state chirality studies; choose among models with various ranges from 170-2600 nm.
An entirely digital data acquisition method (no analog lock-in amplifier) for the correct answer.
Confident CD measurements on isotropic and anisotropic samples alike.
NIR Spectroscopy
NIR studies are becoming increasingly important in fields such as pharmaceuticals, food science, and environmental analysis.
Absorbance, fluorescence, CD, and CPL spectrometers support the analysis of complex samples and the identification and quantification of various compounds.
Look for OLIS products with “17” or “14” in their name, e.g., https://olisclarity.com/olis-dsm-17-cd and https://olisclarity.com/olis-upcycled-cary-14-or-17-uv-vis-nir
Modularity
Why buy multiple instruments if one can be configured for multiple measurements? We love modularity!
Why seal electronics (fast aging) in the same chassis as the optics (slow) aging? We love easy (and smart and cost-saving) upgradability!
Request a Catalog & include a message
Get support for your
OLIS instruments
Technical Issues:
Contact techsupport@olisweb.com
Video Library:
Demonstrations of hardware and software
Get Support for your
OLIS Instruments
Technical Issues:
Contact techsupport@olisweb.com
Video Library:
Demonstrations of hardware and software
FAQ
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Every model except the CLARiTY line uses standard 1 cm² cuvettes quartz for UV and glass or quartz for Vis and NIR. Shorter pathlength cuvettes can be accommodated in all models, with 1 or 2 mm pathlengths commonly used for optimal UV in CD models. If you need a longer pathlength cuvette, inquire about an appropriate sample holder.
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Yes. Unlike standard cuvette spectrometers, CLARiTY uses an integrating cavity (not an integrating sphere) to accurately measure absorbance in turbid samples. This method was first developed for ocean water analysis and is now applied to biological and material science research.
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The best detector for the application.
Analog photomultiplier tube (PMT): Best for UV/Vis absorbance and CD.
Digital photon-counting PMT: Best for UV/Vis and NIR fluorescence and circularly polarized luminescence.
InGaAs and PbS: Used for fast and slow NIR applications, respectively.
Photodiode arrays and CCDs: Used for lower-cost UV/Vis equipment, offering rapid spectral data acquisition and solid-state design.
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Yes! OLIS systems are designed for longevity and future upgrades. Nearly all OLIS products have an optical base, an electronics assembly, and computer hardware/software. We recommend upgrading aging electronics and software with modern alternatives, often at half the cost of replacing the entire system.
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Yes! The original Agilent/HP 8453 is a prime example. This solid-state instrument remains functional and can often be repaired at a fraction of the replacement cost. Replacing outdated ChemStation software with Win 10/11 OlisWorks modernizes it without downsides. Other non-OLIS instruments, including the Cary 14, Cary 17, PE 983, and Aminco DW-2, can be computerized after electromechanical modernization. (See OLIS DSM 172, OLIS CLARiTY 17, and similar models for examples of upgraded classic optical systems.)
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Many can. Those that do not are intentionally designed for a single function to reduce cost.
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If CPL is your only requirement, the CPL Solo is the best commercial option. If you also need CD, the OLIS DSM 172 or OLIS DSM 245 are ideal choices. These larger models combine a CPL Solo with additional hardware and software for CD measurements. There is no superior CPL system on the market than the small and affordable CPL Solo.
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Yes, with the appropriate accessories, our spectrophotometers support flow cells.
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A spectrometer measures light intensity, while a spectrophotometer measures absorbance and transmission. All OLIS spectrophotometers also function as spectrometers, but for luminescence-based techniques like CPL and phosphorescence lifetime, we use the term 'spectrometer'.
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Many OLIS models support full-spectrum analysis from deep UV to NIR. However, not all users require full-range coverage, so we offer models with narrower spectral ranges to meet specific needs.