HORIBA - The LabRAM HR Evolution Raman Microscopes

SPECIFICATION :

Name : Micro Confocal Hyperspectral 3D Imaging Raman Spectrometer
Type : LabRAM HR Evolution
Brand : HORIBA
Spectrometer Focal Length : 800 mm
Gratings :
• 600 gr/mm
• 1800 gr/mm

Motorized Stage : X = 75 mm, Y = 50 mm (minimum step size 50 nm), Z (minimum step size 10 nm)

Objective Lens :
• 5xVIS (NA = 0.10, WD = 19.6 mm)
• 10xVIS (NA = 0.25, WD = 10.6 mm)
• 50x LWD VIS (NA = 0.50 WD = 10.6 mm)
• 100xVIS (NA = 0.90, WD = 0.21 mm)

Lasers :
• 532 nm (Max 100 mW)
• 785 nm (Max 100 mW)

Detectors : CCD (100 – 1100 nm)

Raman measurement : Stokes Raman (from 50 cm-1 Raman Shift)

FUNCTION :

Raman spectroscopy is a non-destructive chemical analysis technique, which provides detailed information about chemical structure, phase and polymorphism, crystallinity and molecular interactions. It is based on the interaction of light with the chemical bonds within a material.

Raman is a light scattering technique, whereby a molecule scatters incident light from a light source. Most of the scattered light is at the same wavelength (or color) as the incident light source (likely a laser), and does not provide useful information – this is called Rayleigh Scatter. However, a small amount of light (typically 0.0000001%) is scattered at different wavelengths (or colors), which depend on the chemical structure of the sample under study – this is called Raman Scatter.

A Raman spectrum features a number of peaks, showing the intensity and wavelength position of the Raman scattered light. Each peak corresponds to a specific molecular bond vibration, including individual bonds such as C-C, C=C, N-O, C-H, etc., and groups of bonds such as benzene ring breathing mode, polymer chain vibrations, lattice modes, etc.

Information provided by Raman spectroscopy:
Raman spectroscopy probes a material and provides information about its:
• Chemical structure and identity
• Phase and polymorphism
• Intrinsic stress/strain
• Contamination and impurities

Types of samples analyzed with Raman:
In general, Raman spectroscopy is suitable for analysis of:
• Solids, powders, liquids, gels, slurries and gases
• Inorganic, organic and biological materials
• Pure chemicals, mixtures and solutions
• Metallic oxides and corrosion.

Common applications of Raman spectroscopy:
Raman spectroscopy is used in many varied fields – in fact, it can be used in any application where non-destructive, microscopic, chemical analysis and imaging is required. Whether the goal is qualitative or quantitative data, Raman analysis can provide key information easily and quickly. It can be used to rapidly characterize the chemical composition and structure of a sample, whether solid, liquid, gas, gel, slurry or powder.

Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics:
• Compound distribution in tablets
• Blend uniformity
• High throughput screening
• API concentration
• Powder content and purity
• Raw material verification
• Polymorphic forms
• Crystallinity
• Contaminant identification
• Combinational chemistry
• In vivo analysis and skin depth profiling
• Dosage, content uniformity

Geology and Mineralogy:
• Gemstone and mineral identification
• Fluid inclusions
• Mineral and phase distribution in rock sections
• Phase transitions
• Mineral behavior under extreme conditions
• Chondrite/achondrite meteorites identification

Carbon Materials:
• Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)
• Purity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)
• Electrical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)
• sp2 and sp3 structure in carbon materials
• Hard disk drives
• Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating properties
• Defect/disorder analysis in carbon materials
• Diamond quality and provenance
• Electrical properties and number of layers of graphene

Semiconductors:
• Characterization of intrinsic stress/strain
• Purity • Alloy composition
• Contamination identification
• Superlattice structure
• Defect analysis
• Hetero-structures
• Doping effects
• Photoluminescence micro-analysis
• 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenide (MoS, WSe, WSe, Phosphorene,...) electrical properties characterization

Life Sciences:
• Bio-compatibility
• DNA/RNA analysis
• Drug/cell interactions
• Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
• Metabolic accretions
• Disease diagnosis
• Single cell analysis
• Cell sorting
• Characterization of bio-molecules
• Bone structure