Raman Spectroscopy

In honor of Spectroscopy's celebration of 30 years covering the latest developments in materials analysis, we asked a panel of experts to assess the current state of the art of Raman spectroscopy and to try to predict how the technology will develop in the future.

Locate particles, generate size/shape statistics, select particles based on size/shape, and acquire Raman spectra. Easily locate and identify particulate matter, including pharmaceutical materials, trace forensic evidence, geological rock/mineral particles, and airborne contaminants trapped on filters

Demonstrates uRaman from TechnoSpex Pte. Ltd. is a promising instrument to determine the quality of the transferred single layered graphene on a 300-nm silicon dioxide (SiO2) substrate.

 Resonance and off-resonance Raman spectroscopy and imaging are used to examine the spatial variation of the solid-state structure and electronic character of few-layer MoS2 flakes. Simultaneous acquisition of photoluminescence spectra with the Raman scattering provides complementary ways of rendering Raman and photoluminescence spectral images of thin-film MoS2.

There are multiple circumstances where characterization of a collection of particles has value to analysts. In some environments, materials are plagued by particulate contamination that impacts product quality.

Segmented channel waveguides have been fabricated in single-crystal KTiOPO4 through a topotactic process of partial cation exchange. The ion-exchanged waveguides maintain the high nonlinear susceptibility of KTiOPO4 to function as frequency doubling laser light sources

Raman microscopy is a promising technique for visualizing the distribution of molecules in cells. However, along with the benefits come challenges. This interview with Katsumasa Fujita, an associate professor in the Department of Applied Physics at Osaka University in Osaka, Japan, discusses his use of this technique for the imaging of live cells.

A method for removing fluorescence-induced backgrounds from Raman spectra using sequentially shifted excitation (SSE) is described. The method uses a temperature-tuned, distributed Bragg reflector diode laser to produce the multiple excitation spectra required to implement the SSE algorithm. Examples applying the SSE method to analysis of motor oils and edible oils are given.

Metal oxides often occur in crystals where there are no molecular units. Here, we provide an introduction to the concepts that need to be understood when analyzing metal oxides in materials such as paint, ceramic pigments, corrosion films, catalysts, and minerals.

The physicochemical properties of drugs are often very diverse and challenging to analyze. Spectroscopy recently spoke with Dr. Lynne Taylor of the Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy at Purdue University, and the 2014 Coblentz Society Craver Award winner, about her on-going research using Raman and IR spectroscopy to study drugs and drug excipients - and the interactions of the two.

The sensitivity of a high-resolution Raman imaging system is crucial to the quality of the acquired information.

This article presents developments in tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) that make possible nanoscale imaging of chemical and physical properties of graphene and other carbon species: Innovative integration of technologies brings high-throughput optics and high-resolution scanning for high-speed imaging without interferences between the techniques.

Results of tablet matching measurements and characterization of packaging are presented.

The Raman technique is gaining widespread acceptance as an investigative tool for forensic applications.

Melamine is a dangerous substance when it is used to increase the apparent protein content of food. In this article, the use of novel gold nanoparticles for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) measurements with raster orbital scanning sampling is described for the detection of melamine and other food contaminants.

This article provides a basic overview of the capabilities of transmission gratings optimized for molecular spectroscopy.

An interview with 2014 Charles Mann Award winner Richard P. Van Duyne, the Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor of Chemistry at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Dustin McIntyre, of the National Energy Technology Laboratory, US Department of Energy in Morgantown, West Virginia, has been exploring the use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to measure subsurface gases, liquids, and solids at subsurface conditions.

Polarized Raman spectra are presented along with a discussion of the association of the symmetry species of the normal vibrational mode and the depolarization ratio of Raman scattering.

Spectroscopy magazine is seeking contributed manuscripts for its June 2014 supplement on Raman spectroscopy.

Everyone loves a list, and the editors of Spectroscopy are no exception! In 2013, Spectroscopy covered a wide array of topics throughout the year to bring you the most relevant information for your work, on topics ranging from selecting the right ICP-MS system to deciding which Raman technique is right for you, from our annual salary survey to calibration transfer. Here is a list of 13 popular articles and columns from 2013

In this interview with Spectroscopy, renowned planetary spectroscopist Alian Wang of Washington University in St. Louis discusses the development of the Mars microbeam Raman spectrometer (MMRS), proposed to be part of science payload for the NASA-funded mission, Mars 2020. Wang discusses the challenges involved in making the instrument robust enough for operation in space, and highlights how data collected from over 18 years has advanced our understanding of the history of Mars.

Click here to view the complete Wavelength newsletter from December 17, 2013.

In this interview with Spectroscopy, renowned planetary spectroscopist Alian Wang of Washington University in St. Louis discusses the development of the Mars microbeam Raman spectrometer (MMRS), proposed to be part of science payload for the NASA-funded mission, Mars 2020. Wang discusses the challenges involved in making the instrument robust enough for operation in space, and highlights how data collected from over 18 years has advanced our understanding of the history of Mars.

In this study, regression and classification chemometrical algorithms were combined to achieve effective discrimination of pure body fluids from their binary mixtures.

A summary of the efforts to study microorganism biofilms using surface-enhanced Raman scattering, a powerful technique for in situ analysis of biological molecules and biomolecular organizations

The physics that determine how gratings and spectrographs work are summarized in simple terms for new users of Raman equipment.

Click here to view the complete Wavelength newsletter from September 10, 2013.

What exactly is a "Raman image" and how is it rendered? The authors explain those points, and demonstrate the use of Raman imaging for the characterization of thin-film and ion-implanted silicon structures. High spectral resolution makes it possible to resolve or contrast the substrate silicon and polysilicon film in Raman images and thus aids in the chemical or physical differentiation of spectrally similar materials.