Possibilities and limitations of the time-correlated single photon counting technique: a comparative study of correction methods for the wavelength dependence of the instrument response function

Abstract One of the principal reasons for poor fits in time-correlated single photon counting fluorescence decay measurements is the wavelength dependence of the instrument response function. Over the years several correction methods have been developed to account for or correct for this effect. The most recent and widely used procedures are critically compared in this paper. A comparison of the channel shift technique, the pseudoscatterer technique, the excitation pulse-shape mimic technique and the delta function convolution method demonstrates that the latter method is the superior one. This method requires the measurement of the fluorescence decay of a reference compound with single exponential decay kinetics under identical conditions as used for the sample. A modified functional form is used to describe the sample decay law. Since no experimental data are altered in any way, a correct residual analysis is possible. Simulations show that fluorescence lifetimes can be recovered accurately, as long as the reference decay time is sufficiently different from that of the sample. Biexponential decays can be resolved successfully when the two decay times are well separated and different from that of the reference. The difference between the standard normal variates of chi-square for single and double exponential fits can be used to distinguish between mono- and bi-exponential decays. The usefulness of the delta function convolution method is demonstrated by fluorescence decay measurements of a series of different samples with very short decay times. Fluorescence lifetimes as short as 10 ps could be resolved accurately and reliably.