Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS10 User manual

The information in this publication is provided for reference only. All information contained
in this publication is believed to be correct and complete. Thermo Fisher Scientific shall not be
liable for errors contained herein nor for incidental or consequential damages in connection
with the furnishing, performance or use of this material. All product specifications, as well as
the information contained in this publication, are subject to change without notice.
This publication may contain or reference information and products protected by copyrights
or patents and does not convey any license under our patent rights, nor the rights of others.
We do not assume any liability arising out of any infringements of patents or other rights of
third parties.
We make no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including but not limited to
the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Customers are
ultimately responsible for validation of their systems.
© 2008 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited
to photocopy, photograph, magnetic or other record, without our prior written permission.
For Technical Support, please contact:
Thermo Fisher Scientific
5225 Verona Road
Madison, WI 53711-4495 U.S.A.
Telephone: [phone]
E-mail: us.techsupport.a[email protected]
World Wide Web: http://www.thermo.com/spectroscopy
For International Support, please contact:
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Telephone: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
World Wide Web: http://www.thermo.com/spectroscopy
Windows is either a trademark or a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the
United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of Thermo Fisher
Scientific Inc. and its subsidiaries.
269-213200, Rev B

Contents
Getting Started.....................................................................................1
What’s in the box? ...........................................................................2
What are the features?......................................................................3
What’s on the rear panel? ............................................................7
Collecting a Spectrum ..........................................................................8
How do I collect a spectrum?...........................................................8
Taking the Next Steps........................................................................16
What options are available?............................................................16
How do I check performance? .......................................................19
How do I maintain my spectrometer? ............................................20
Where is the documentation?.........................................................21
What if I have a question?..............................................................22
What about the warranty?..............................................................22

This page intentionally left blank

Thermo Fisher Scientific Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer 1
Getting Started
Congratulations on your purchase! The Thermo Scientific Nicolet™
iS™10 spectrometer is designed with integrated validation features, a
powerful software suite, and many other features that make it easy for
you to collect data and get the answers you need.
This manual explains the features of your spectrometer and takes you
through a basic sample collection. The topics that are covered include:
•The contents of the shipping box.
•An introduction to the instrument.
•The procedure for collecting a spectrum.
•System options.
•Maintenance and performance checks.
•Important documents.
•Contact information.
•The instrument warranty.

2 Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer Thermo Fisher Scientific
What’s
in the box?
Your spectrometer will be unpacked and installed by one of our service
representatives, but if necessary, you can unpack the shipping box
before the installation. The following drawing shows the typical
contents of the box.
Notice To avoid permanent damage to the optical components in your
spectrometer, do not open anything, especially the plastic bag that
protects the spectrometer, until the entire shipping box has come to
room temperature. Please see “What about the warranty?’ in the
“Taking the Next Steps” chapter for more information. S
Stop
Sample
OK/Enter
Background
Macro
Accessory
User's manual
and Safety guide
Smart
Accessory
clip
Purge
connector
USB 2.0
cable
Desiccant
canisters (2)
Power
supply
Spectrometer

Thermo Fisher Scientific Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer 3
What are
the features?
The following drawing shows the main features of your spectrometer.
After the drawing, you will find descriptions of these features. For
additional information, please see the spectrometer help available
through the Help menu in the OMNIC™ software.
Stop
Sample
OK/Enter
Background
Macro
Operations
panel
Sample compartment area
Protective
windows
External beam port
(on right side)
Humidity indicator
Auxiliary signals port
Source
Desiccant
canisters cover
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
➀Your spectrometer is protected from excessive humidity by two
desiccant canisters located in a compartment below the desiccant
canisters cover. For information about regenerating and replacing
these canisters, choose the spectrometer help from the Help menu
in OMNIC, and then refer to the “Replacing the desiccant” and
“Regenerating the desiccant” topics.

4 Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer Thermo Fisher Scientific
➁The humidity indicator monitors the level of humidity inside the
spectrometer. The status is indicated by the color of the indicator:
BLUE
Good Change desiccant Call service
LIGHT BLUE PINK
➂The external beam port on the right side of the spectrometer allows
the spectrometer to be connected to an FT-IR microscope or a
Nicolet iZ10 module.
➃The operations panel has buttons and indicators that allow you to
perform many operations without needing to use the computer. For
information about advanced operations using the Macro button,
please see OMNIC software help (available through the Help menu
in OMNIC). The other buttons are explained in the “How Do I
Collect a Spectrum” chapter and in the spectrometer help system
available through the Help menu in OMNIC.
➄You can use the sample compartment with many different
accessories, such as a:
Stop
Sample
OK/Enter
Background
Macro
Stop
Sample
OK/Enter
Background
Macro
Stop
Sample
OK/Enter
Background
Macro
TGA
INTERFACE
Smart OMNI-Transmission
Accessory
Other Smart Accessories Large baseplate-
mounted accessories

Thermo Fisher Scientific Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer 5
¾The Smart OMNI-Transmission Accessory:
Use the transmission accessory to collect data from samples held
in any of the typical transmission cells or holders, including:
•Standard liquid cells
•Film holders
•KBr pellet holders
•ST-IR cards
•Mineral oil mulls
•Gas cells up to 10 cm
¾Other Smart Accessories™:
A wide range of Smart Accessories can be used, including:
•Attenuated total reflectance (ATR)
•Diffuse reflectance (DRIFTS)
•Specular reflectance
•Temperature controlled accessories
•Near-Infrared Integrating Sphere
Note The included tray provides storage below the accessory and protects the
cover of the instrument. S
¾Large baseplate-mounted accessories:
An optional sample compartment extension allows you to
install specialized accessories, including:
•Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) interface
•Micro-Well Plate accessory (reflection or transmission)
•Multi-pass (long pathlength) gas cells
•Other accessories

6 Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer Thermo Fisher Scientific
➅Your spectrometer is protected from environmental humidity and
other chemical vapors by two windows. These windows isolate the
optics in the spectrometer and are coated to improve their resistance
to water vapor. You still, however, need to be careful when cleaning
your spectrometer to avoid damaging the optics or the windows.
For more information, please refer to the “Cleaning your
spectrometer” topic in the spectrometer help (available through the
Help menu in OMNIC).
➆The auxiliary signals port is used for accessories with detectors or
power needs, such as the Micro Well Plate accessory and the near-
IR integrating sphere.
➇You can replace the source in your instrument without removing
the cover. Two sources are available: one for the mid-IR range
(EverGlo™) and another for the near-IR range (tungsten-halogen).
(For information about installing a new source, open the
spectrometer help from the Help menu in OMNIC. Choose the
“Source” topic from the “Replacing existing hardware” book in the
“Service” book of the spectrometer help system.)

Thermo Fisher Scientific Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer 7
What’s on
the rear panel?
The following drawing shows the connectors that are on the rear panel
of your spectrometer:
Purge
connector Accessory
connector
Auxiliary
connector Power
supply port
USB 2.0
port
50
40
30
20
10
•The USB 2.0 port is where you connect the system computer.
•The power supply port is where you connect the power supply for
the instrument.
•The Accessory connector is used to connect the instrument to a
Nicolet iZ10 module or other accessories.
•The Auxiliary connector allows you to start a data collection
remotely and also allows service personnel to check the function of
the spectrometer.
•The Purge connector is where you connect a purge gas supply.

8 Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer Thermo Fisher Scientific
Collecting a Spectrum
To collect a sample spectrum, you must first collect a reference (or
background) spectrum that shows the response of the system when no
sample is present. Once you have the background spectrum, you can
collect data with a sample in place. The sample data is then ratioed with
the background data, which leaves only the signals from the sample.
How do I collect
a spectrum?
The following procedure takes you through the data collection process
for the most commonly used techniques: horizontal attenuated total
reflection (ATR), transmission, DRIFTS, and specular reflection. (For
more information, please refer to the other printed and electronic
documentation that came with your spectrometer.)
Note For additional information about preparing the system and starting
OMNIC, please see the spectrometer help and the OMNIC help
(available through the Help menu in OMNIC) or the printed
documentation that came with your system. S
Note The software may display various prompts during collection. If any
prompts appear, follow the instructions shown on the screen. S
Begin by starting OMNIC:
You can double-click the OMNIC shortcut on the Windows® desktop
or you can use the Start button on the Windows taskbar.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer 9
Next, make sure the sampling accessory is properly installed in the
sample compartment:
If you have… You should…
An ATR accessory Make sure the pressure device, if
included, is not in contact with
the crystal. Clean the crystal with
a soft cloth and, if needed, an
appropriate solvent.
The Smart OMNI-Transmission
Accessory
Make sure no samples that would
block the beam are installed in
the accessory.
A DRIFTS accessory Make sure the slider is pushed in
to the second cup (the one closer
to the handle). This positions the
gold disk in the beam.
A specular reflection accessory
Place a gold mirror face down on
the accessory.

10 Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer Thermo Fisher Scientific
Now, press the Background button on the operations panel to collect
a background spectrum:
Background

Thermo Fisher Scientific Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer 11
Next, install a sample:
If you have… You should…
An ATR accessory Place the sample on the crystal
and apply pressure. A good first
sample might be a credit card, an
old CD, or a piece of plastic. For
liquids, no pressure is needed.
The Smart OMNI-Transmission
Accessory
Slide a sample into place. A good
first sample is a plastic bag or any
polymer film.
A DRIFTS accessory Fill the cup with a sample. A
good first sample is a ground
aspirin tablet diluted to 3-5% in
KBr powder. You do not need to
overfill the cup.
A specular reflection accessory
Place the sample upside down on
the accessory. A good first sample
is a piece of shiny metal, like
aluminum, with a thin coating of
vegetable oil. Add a drop of oil,
and then wipe the metal with a
cloth so that a thin layer of oil
remains.

12 Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer Thermo Fisher Scientific
Now, press the Sample button on the operations panel to collect a
sample spectrum.
Sample
When the data collection is complete, the sample spectrum will be
displayed. The following is an example of a typical sample spectrum.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer 13
Finally, you can verify, identify, and quantify your data:
If you want to… You can…
Verify the purity or quality
of your sample.
Use the OMNIC QCheck tool.

14 Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer Thermo Fisher Scientific
If you want to… You can…
Identify an unknown material. Use the OMNIC Search feature
or the Specta software features.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer 15
If you want to… You can…
Quantify the amount of a
component in your sample.
Use the features in the
TQ Analyst™ software.

16 Getting Started with an iS10 Spectrometer Thermo Fisher Scientific
Taking the Next Steps
Now that you are familiar with your spectrometer and have collected a
sample spectrum, you’re ready to explore other options and learn where
you can find additional information.
What options
are available?
Several accessories, or instruments, that expand what you can do with
your spectrometer are available. The following is a list of some of these
accessories. (For information about additional accessories, contact our
sales representative in your area.)
This accessory or instrument… Does this…
A Nicolet iZ10
Stop
Sample
OK/Enter
Background
Macro
TGA
Provides a second sampling area
for routine analysis with an
accessory and for installing and
using large, dedicated accessories
like the TGA interface.
An infrared microscope Allows you to identify particles
as small as 10 micrometers, and
perform many operations such as
surface analyses and chemical
mapping.