Applications
The multitude of scientific problems already addressed with Raman Spectroscopy or Atomic Force Microscopy
Intracellular mapping and analysis
Raman map of intracellular distributions of the lipid-like energy storage product, polyhydroxy-butyrate (red area with accompanying Raman spectrum) within a marine bacterium. Blue area is relatively rich in amino acids (blue spectrum) and proteins.
Cellular stable isotope assimilation
Examples of varying contributions of 12C-12C, 12C-13C, and 13C-13C isotopologues to shape, position, and areas of the n (C-C) and n (C=C) Raman spectral peaks for carotenoids of Synechococcus sp. cells assimilating varying amounts of DI13C.
Plastic polymer 3-D mapping
A) 3-D chemical maps of a composite microplastic particle produced by Raman microspectroscopic volume mapping. B) Section of 3-D chemical map of the microplastic particle generated from diagnostic peaks of polypropylene (red), phthalocyanine blue copper (cyan), and polyethylene (purple).
More Raman Application Examples
Single-Cell Analysis
Unicellular organisms, tissue thin sections.
Disease Diagnosis
Microbial pathogens, leukemia and other cancers, bone structure.
Cellular Stable Isotope Assimilation
Tracing incorporation into single-cell biomass.
Intracellular 2-D and 3-D Mapping
Biomolecules, stable isotopes.
Biofilms
Polymer identification and distribution.
Plastic Polymers
Microplastics contaminants.
Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic QA/QC
Contaminants, crystallinity, 2D/3D compound distribution, uniformity, material verification.
Chemistry
Identify and characterize reaction products, analyze domain sizes and distributions, gels, emulsions.
Aerosol Chemistry
Inorganic and organic materials.
Geology and Mineralogy
Minerals, fossils, crystals, fluid inclusions, mineral phase transitions, polymorphic forms, thermal effects.
Engineered Surfaces and Thin Films
Material heterogeneity, polymer blends, crystallinity, thermal effects.
Novel Synthetic Materials
Carbon nanotubule purity and structure, prosthetic devices, semiconductors, photovoltaics, battery technology, thermal effects.
Semiconductors
Purity, intrinsic stress/strain, defect analysis, doping effects.
Contaminants
Foreign matter in pharmaceuticals and on semiconductors and microplastics.
Gemstone Quality
Diamond, zirconia, sapphire, aquamarine, tanzanite, garnet, pearl, coral.
Art and Heritage
Pigment and ink identification, age analysis.
Forensics
Identify particles, fibers, narcotics, explosives residue.
Atomic Force Microscopy Applications
Viral and Microbial Imaging
SEM-level resolution for hydrated cells.
Cell Surface Mapping
Cell walls, proteins, epitopes, drug-target interactions, molecular recognition.
High Resolution Surface Chemistry
Coupled to Raman microspectrophotometer to produce Tip-Enhanced Raman Scattering (TERS).
Elastic and Viscoelastic Responses of Cells and Substrates
Intramolecular mechanics.
Biomaterials Research
Surface changes after wetting and surface morphology/roughness, hardness, elastic modulus.
Biomolecular Membrane Assembly
DNA, protein, lipid structure, fibril formation.
Polymer Science
Material strain, thermal phase transition, layer uniformity.
Thin Films, Graphene, and Coatings
Metrology, mechanical properties, tribological properties, electrical properties.
Semiconductors
Purity, intrinsic stress/strain, doping effects, analysis of defects.
Semiconductor Chip Quality
Surface uniformity, detection of defects.
Single-Cell and Single-Molecule Force Microscopy
Environmental Polymer Characterization
Biofilm Characterization