Raman spectroscopy is a technique used to observe vibrational and rotational modes in molecular systems. It relies on inelastic scattering of monochromatic light, usually from a laser source. When light interacts with molecules, the energy of the photons may be shifted up or down. The energy shift provides information about the vibrational modes in the molecule, which is unique for each chemical structure. This allows the technique to be used for chemical analysis and molecular fingerprinting.

Since its discovery in 1928, Raman spectroscopy has grown to become a major analytical tool across many diverse fields. Traditionally, it has provided nondestructive, reagent-free analysis of solids, liquids and gases. Recent advances now allow for increased sensitivity, remote sensing, higher spatial resolution and improved efficiency. The technique is especially useful for applications involving complex mixtures with minimal or no sample preparation required. As the technologies continue to improve, Raman spectroscopy is finding new applications that push the boundaries of chemical analysis.

Development of Portable & Field-Deployable Instruments

One significant advancement has been the development of portable and field-deployable Raman spectrometers. Originally bulky lab instruments, miniaturized designs now offer handheld or benchtop units weighing just a few pounds. This has expanded the applications of Raman into areas where samples must be analyzed on-site rather than transported to a central lab. Examples include diagnostics, forensics, manufacture quality control, biomedical testing, mineralogy and gemology evaluations done outside the lab environment.

Portable units have also enabled new monitoring applications. For example, systems have been developed for real-time analysis of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, assuring consistent product quality. Others detect hazardous chemicals or biomarkers through container walls for security screening or disease diagnosis. The units can even be integrated into drones or robots for hazardous material identification from a safe distance. Overall, portable Raman systems are revolutionizing on-site chemical analysis across many fields.

Advancements in Sensitivity & Spatial Resolution

Instrument sensitivity remains an area of ongoing development. Enhancements to signal collection, filtering and detector technologies have significantly increased the weak Raman signals that can be measured. Coupled with intense laser illumination, this pushes the limits of detection down to single-molecule levels.

The spatial resolution of Raman spectroscopy has also improved tremendously. Confocal microscopy combined with Raman allows virtual dissection of samples on the micron and sub-micron scale. This chemical microscopy finds wide use in materials science, pharmaceuticals, biological tissues and semiconductor analysis. Multichannel detectors are able to acquire Raman hypercubes - 3D data sets with two spatial and one spectral dimension. These provide a wealth of chemical information with minimal sample preparation.

Link to the coherentmarketinsight report : Raman Spectroscopy