With this new technology, a single sample can be analysed by Raman microscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy techniques on the same instrument
SensIR Europe announces the introduction of the IlluminatIR-R, a new module that converts a Raman microscope to a sequential Raman/FT-IR microprobe.
Experts who routinely use both Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy regard the two techniques as mutually complementary.
Until recently however, in order to apply the two techniques to the same sample, it would have been necessary to move the sample from one machine to another.
Now with this new technology, a single sample can be analysed by either technique, or sequentially by both techniques on the same instrument.
The IlluminatIR-R uses a miniature interferometer coupled to a high- sensitivity detector to analyse particles as small as 12 microns either in reflection or by contact ATR.
Designed to be mounted on to a standard light microscope to convert it to an infrared microprobe, the system can now be mounted to the microscope of the Raman microprobe to permit sequential analysis on the same sample.
IlluminatIR-R mounts in place of the trinocular viewer of the Raman microprobe, and the trinocular is then re-installed on IlluminatIR-R.
By means of either the all-reflecting objective, or the high performance diamond objective, the sample is then imaged and a Raman analysis performed.
Then, without moving the sample, the infrared spectrum can be collected by selecting an aperture in the IlluminatIR-R.
A range of five apertures are included, from 12 to 100 microns.
By using the new IlluminatIR-R in conjunction with an existing Raman microprobe, sequential analyses may now be performed with ease.
IlluminatIR-R modules are available from SensIR Europe to integrate with most of the Raman microprobes from the majority of manufacturers.
