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🔬Modern Optics

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15.4 Raman spectroscopy and its applications

3 min readLast Updated on July 22, 2024

Raman spectroscopy uses inelastic light scattering to study molecular vibrations. It's based on the Raman effect, where incident photons interact with molecules, causing changes in energy and wavelength. This technique provides valuable insights into molecular structure and composition.

Raman spectroscopy requires specific instrumentation, including laser sources, sample holders, and spectrometers. Various factors affect Raman spectra, such as sample polarizability and laser wavelength. Applications range from material science to forensics, making it a versatile analytical tool.

Principles and Instrumentation of Raman Spectroscopy

Principles of Raman spectroscopy

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  • Raman spectroscopy based on the Raman effect involves inelastic scattering of light by molecules
    • Incident photons interact with molecular vibrations resulting in a change in the photon's energy and wavelength
  • Stokes scattering occurs when the scattered photon has lower energy than the incident photon
    • Molecule absorbs energy and is excited to a higher vibrational state
  • Anti-Stokes scattering occurs when the scattered photon has higher energy than the incident photon
    • Molecule loses energy and returns to a lower vibrational state
  • Selection rules determine which vibrational modes are Raman-active
    • Raman-active modes must involve a change in the polarizability of the molecule during the vibration (stretching, bending)

Instrumentation for Raman spectroscopy

  • Laser sources provide monochromatic, high-intensity light for Raman spectroscopy
    • Common laser sources include Ar+ (488 nm, 514.5 nm), Kr+ (647.1 nm), and Nd:YAG (532 nm, 1064 nm) lasers
  • Sample holders accommodate various sample types and minimize background interference
    • Examples include glass slides, cuvettes, and microscope stages for micro-Raman spectroscopy
  • Spectrometers disperse and detect the scattered light
    • Dispersive spectrometers use gratings to separate the scattered light by wavelength
    • Fourier-transform (FT) Raman spectrometers use interferometers and Fourier transform algorithms to obtain the Raman spectrum

Factors Affecting Raman Spectra and Applications

Factors affecting Raman spectra

  • Intensity of Raman scattering depends on the polarizability of the sample
    • Molecules with more polarizable electron clouds exhibit stronger Raman scattering (benzene, carbon tetrachloride)
  • Choice of laser wavelength affects the Raman signal intensity and potential for fluorescence interference
    • Shorter wavelengths provide higher Raman signal intensity but may induce fluorescence in some samples (chlorophyll, aromatic compounds)
  • Sample preparation techniques influence the quality of Raman spectra
    • Samples should be clean, homogeneous, and free of impurities that may cause interference
    • Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) enhances the Raman signal of low-concentration or weakly scattering samples (single-molecule detection, trace analysis)

Analysis techniques in Raman spectroscopy

  • Raman peak assignment identifies molecular vibrations and functional groups
    • Raman shifts correspond to specific vibrational modes (C=C stretch at ~1600 cm1^{-1}, C-H stretch at ~3000 cm1^{-1})
  • Raman imaging maps the spatial distribution of chemical components in a sample
    • Raman microscopy combines Raman spectroscopy with microscopy to analyze small samples or specific regions (cells, microstructures)
  • Chemometric methods analyze complex Raman datasets
    • Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) regression extract relevant information from Raman spectra (classification, quantification)

Applications of Raman spectroscopy

  • Material science characterizes the structure and composition of materials
    • Examples include studying carbon nanomaterials (graphene, carbon nanotubes), polymers (polyethylene, polystyrene), and ceramics (silicon carbide, zirconia)
  • Pharmaceutical industry uses Raman for drug identification, quality control, and polymorph screening
    • Raman detects counterfeit drugs and monitors the distribution of active ingredients in formulations (tablets, capsules)
  • Forensic analysis identifies and analyzes trace evidence
    • Examples include identifying illegal drugs (cocaine, heroin), explosives (TNT, RDX), and fibers (cotton, polyester)
    • Raman is non-destructive and requires minimal sample preparation, making it suitable for forensic applications


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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.