Pittcon 2024: The Latest Technology Trends in Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy
Solving complex real-world problems daily, at times, requires development of innovative new technologies. Industrial scientists, in the spectroscopy community, scour the literature and scientific conferences to buy the technology they need. At times, this new technology isn’t available, and with their companies’ support, they invent the technology needed to address these complex problems. During this session, experts from a number of different companies shared how they are improving spectroscopy technology.
The session began with “Addressing Longstanding Unmet Business Needs May Require Building Custom Instrumentation,” presented by Curtis Marcott of Light Light Solutions. To survive as a scientist in industry, it is important to address current business crises in a timely manner, as well as to prepare for future crises by acquiring (or developing in-house) technologies capable of meeting future business needs. Marcott discussed several real-world examples of how long-standing technical barriers to growing the business or recurring crises were addressed by either acquiring (or accessing) technologies externally or by developing them in house.
Rina Dukor of BioTools Inc. presented “Commercialization of VCD & ROA: Understanding the Market and Scientists." How does one build an instrument without financing? How does one penetrate that market to the most difficult audience: medicinal chemists? The answers and the rest of the story is, as they say, history. A history with lessons learned, ups and downs of business, instruments, relationships, and networking, and tremendous pride of seeing that new technique used by so many scientists to solve the life’s most fascinating molecular property: chirality.
The session concluded with the presentation, “How to Design and Build a Successful New Spectroscopy Product–A Small Business Perspective,” with James Carriere of Coherent. In this presentation, Carriere discussed the history of the founding of THz-Raman as a unique extension of Raman spectroscopy by a small filter and laser company called Ondax that had very little previous engagement with the spectroscopy community. Starting with a mix of unique laser and filter components, Ondax was able to demonstrate that it was possible to easily access the low frequency region of the Raman spectrum in a way that could translate to industrial processes.
AI Boosts SERS for Next Generation Biomedical Breakthroughs
July 2nd 2025Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University are harnessing artificial intelligence to elevate surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for highly sensitive, multiplexed biomedical analysis, enabling faster diagnostics, imaging, and personalized treatments.
Artificial Intelligence Accelerates Molecular Vibration Analysis, Study Finds
July 1st 2025A new review led by researchers from MIT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory outlines how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the study of molecular vibrations and phonons, making spectroscopic analysis faster, more accurate, and more accessible.
Toward a Generalizable Model of Diffuse Reflectance in Particulate Systems
June 30th 2025This tutorial examines the modeling of diffuse reflectance (DR) in complex particulate samples, such as powders and granular solids. Traditional theoretical frameworks like empirical absorbance, Kubelka-Munk, radiative transfer theory (RTT), and the Hapke model are presented in standard and matrix notation where applicable. Their advantages and limitations are highlighted, particularly for heterogeneous particle size distributions and real-world variations in the optical properties of particulate samples. Hybrid and emerging computational strategies, including Monte Carlo methods, full-wave numerical solvers, and machine learning (ML) models, are evaluated for their potential to produce more generalizable prediction models.
