The Raman effect is a light scattering process that provides information on the chemical composition of samples. The FMMA is equipped with two Raman microscopes capable of acquiring single Raman spectra and Raman imaging. The XplorRA Horiba Raman system is capable of scanning samples in the micron range up to centimetres in size. The Witec alpha300R Raman system specialises in high resolution imaging and can acquire Raman data on samples below 1 micron in size. Between the two systems several excitation wavelengths are available, including 532, 632 and 785 nm. A selection of gratings are also available from 600 grooves/mm up to 2400 grooves/mm.

These systems have the following capabilities

• Confocal Raman imaging with potential lateral resolution of 350 nm
• Excitation wavelengths of 532 nm, 632 nm, 785 nm
• Range of objectives including x10, x20, x40, x50 and x100

Contact

Instrument Leader: Dr Sara Miller
Instrument Manager (WITec Raman): Dr Ula Alexander
Instrument Manager (Horiba Raman): Dr Jason Gascooke

These microscopes are also able to analyse not only surfaces but bulk materials such as powders and liquids. The types of materials analysed by these microscopes include nanomaterials, plastics, polymers, paints, carbon samples, semi-conductors, minerals and cells. Raman spectra can not only inform the researcher what the material is made of, but through the analysis of peak ratios more detailed sample information can be inferred, such as the number of layers in the graphene sample.