Analytical imaging Raman microscopy

Kann, B., Windbergs, M. (2013). Chemical imaging of drug delivery systems with structured surfaces—A combined analytical approach of confocal Raman microscopy and optical profilometry. The AAPS Journal, 15(2), 505-510. 

The past decade has seen the emergence of analytical imaging, which is imaging using the signals from various analytical instruments, such as FTIR and Raman microscopy, x-ray microscopy, and imaging by surface analysis using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and x-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS). 

This publication is a good example of the development of analytical techniques such as high resolution electron microscopy lattice imaging [108] and micrometre-area Raman spectroscopy (microRaman) [109] which permit the researcher to determine that diamond is present in crystallites of submicrometre, perhaps even nanometre size. Early scientists like Moissan [110] and Hannay [111] performed experiments in the pressure and temperature ranges now being cited as feasible for hydrothermal synthesis of diamond [38, 112, 113]. Had they been equipped to use the analytical techniques now available, they may have been proven correct in their claims, but in a particle size regime much finer than they were able to inspect. 

In summary, it will be apparent that the nonnal starling point for an analytical strategy would be the obtaining of information with the readily accessible techniques, i.e., optical microscopy, SEM/EDS, XRD, XPS, and FTIR or Raman spectroscopy. Based on the outcome of the initial survey, the rc-searcher/analysts should then be able to make a more informed choice of the detail and nature of information required subsequently, in terms of spatial resolution. atomic imaging, molecular structure, chemical. states and lateral di.stri-bution. The requirements will also dictate whether the analysis should go in the direction of either greater spatial or better spectral resolutions. 

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