Raman spectroscopy and security applications: the detection of explosives and precursors on clothing

This study describes the application of confocal Raman microscopy to the detection and identification of explosives and their precursors in situ on undyed natural and synthetic fibres and coloured textile specimens. Raman spectra were obtained from explosives particles trapped between the fibres of the specimens. The explosives pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), trinitrotoluene (TNT), and ammonium nitrate as well as the explosives precursors hexamethylenetetraamine (HMTA) and pentaerythritol were used in this study. Raman spectra were collected from explosives particles with maximum dimensions in the range 5–10 µm. Despite the presence of spectral bands arising from the natural and synthetic polymers and dyed textiles, the explosive substances could be identified by their characteristic Raman bands. Furthermore, Raman spectra were obtained from explosives particles trapped between highly fluorescent clothing fibres. Raman spectra of the explosive and explosive precursor substances on dyed and undyed clothing substrates were readily obtained in situ within 90 s without sample preparation and with no alteration of the evidential material. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

共振拉曼光谱技术应用综述

拉曼光谱是提供物质结信息的强有力工具。但由于拉曼散射信号弱,灵敏度低,因此应用范围受到限制。而在共振拉曼光谱(RRS)中,由于激发光源频率落在分子的某一电子吸收带内,分子吸收光子向电子激发态的跃迁变成了共振吸收,因此对入射光的吸收强度大大增加。与常规拉曼光谱相比,RRS能够提高信号强度的106倍。因此,RRS检测技术以其更高的灵敏度和选择性而具有更广的应用,特别是在生物学及医学等领域。如：(1)生物基质中的类胡萝卜素和叶绿素等色素分析;(2)细胞、蛋白质和DNA等有机物研究以及一些临床疾病诊断。RRS可以得到在常规拉曼光谱中隐藏的、更为重要的分子结构信息。RRS总是在很低的浓度下测试,且共振拉曼增强的谱线是属于产生电子吸收的基团,这对于有色物和生物样品尤为重要。因为很多这类样品的活性部位接近于生色基团,且研究对象往往是生物大分子的某一部分,所以在研究生物物质的结构和功能的关系时,RRS起着重要作用。近年来,由于光谱技术的发展使得RRS检测技术得到创新与延伸,如液芯光纤共振拉曼光谱和透射共振拉曼光谱等新技术的应用。通过对近几年有关RRS技术应用的原始论文、数据和主要观点进行归纳整理与分析提炼,介绍了RRS这一专题的历史背景和研究现状,分别对共振拉曼光谱的色素检测、生物检测和爆炸物检测等应用领域展开详细的综述,并介绍了相关新技术的发展应用。随着光谱技术的快速发展,RRS必将在科研领域拥有其他光谱技术不可取代的重要地位。     

Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy for trace‐level detection of explosives

The detection of explosives and their associated compounds for security screening is an active area of research and a wide variety of detection methods are involved in this very challenging area. Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is one of the most sensitive tools for the detection of molecules adsorbed on nano‐scale roughened metal surface. Moreover, SERS combines high sensitivity with the observation of vibrational spectra of species, giving complete information on the molecular structure of material under study. In this paper, SERS was applied to the detection of very small quantities of explosives adsorbed on industrially made substrates. The spectra were acquired with a compact Raman spectrometer. Usually, a high signal‐to‐noise (S/N) spectrum, suitable for identification of explosive molecules down to few hundreds of picograms, was achieved within 30 s. Our measurements suggest that it is possible to exploit SERS using a practical detection instrument for routine analysis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

激光诱导击穿光谱与拉曼光谱技术在危险物检测中的研究进展

炸药、生物及化学危险物检测在反恐和公共安全领域具有重要应用价值,也是目前亟需解决的问题。激光诱导击穿光谱技术利用高能激光脉冲诱导材料产生等离子体,通过探测等离子体辐射光谱从而分析其组成成分。拉曼光谱技术是基于非弹性光散射的一种光谱检测方法,可以反映分子的振动信息。由于它们都具有快速和非接触遥测的优点,成为最有发展潜力和应用前景的危险物检测技术。介绍了激光诱导击穿光谱、拉曼光谱以及二者联合探测技术在危险物检测中的国内外发展现状,并对各自的优缺点进行了分析。激光诱导击穿光谱信号强、实时性好,但重复性差、基底效应影响显著,在判别组成元素相同而分子结构不同的危险物和干扰物时面临巨大挑战。拉曼光谱能够提供被测物的分子信息,适合于鉴别有机危险物,但信号弱、受荧光干扰大、检测低浓度样品及分析混合物的能力弱,外场使用时受周围杂散光以及环境变化的影响大。将这两种光谱探测技术相融合,发挥各自的优点,可以有效地提高探测危险物的准确度。但两种光谱联合探测系统结构和数据处理复杂,成本高,还有许多技术难点亟需解决。文章最后,对危险物激光诱导击穿光谱和拉曼光谱研究的前景进行了展望。     

Experimentally validated Raman Monte Carlo simulation for a cuboid object to obtain Raman spectroscopic signatures for hidden material

In conventional Raman spectroscopic measurements of liquids or surfaces the preferred geometry for detection of the Raman signal is the backscattering (or reflection) mode. For non‐transparent layered materials, sub‐surface Raman signals have been retrieved using spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS), usually with light collection in the same plane as the point of excitation. However, as a result of multiple scattering in a turbid medium, Raman photons will be emitted in all directions. In this study, Monte Carlo simulations for a three‐dimensional layered sample with finite geometry have been performed to confirm the detectability of Raman signals at all angles and at all sides of the object. We considered a non‐transparent cuboid container (high density polyethylene) with explosive material (ammonium nitrate) inside. The simulation results were validated with experimental Raman intensities. Monte Carlo simulation results reveal that the ratio of sub‐surface to surface signals improves at geometries other than backscattering. In addition, we demonstrate through simulations the effects of the absorption and scattering coefficients of the layers, and that of the diameter of the excitation beam. The advantage of collecting light from all possible 4π angles, over other collection modes, is that this technique is not geometry specific and molecular identification of layers underneath non‐transparent surfaces can be obtained with minimal interference from the surface layer. To what extent all sides of the object will contribute to the total signal will depend on the absorption and scattering coefficients and the physical dimensions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

人全血的毛细管显微拉曼光谱分析

血液中含有众多生物信息,如激素、酶、抗体等丰富的蛋白质成分。通过对血液中众多生物信息进行检测鉴定可以起到对该血液种属判定、溯源的目的。因此,血液检测技术的发展在诸如刑事案件侦破、物种鉴定、疾症预防等领域具有重要意义。目前,传统血液检测手段多为显微观测、免疫法、DNA/基因检测法等,这些技术会对血液样本造成不可逆转的破坏性,且存在分析周期长、结构装置复杂、试验价格昂贵等问题。随着激光技术的发展,拉曼光谱技术作为一种非线性散射光谱技术,在血液检测技术中得到了应用。在血液检测技术中,拉曼光谱技术通常与共聚焦显微系统结合,对涂在载玻片上或盛放在透明容器中的血液样品进行光谱信号采集。该技术具有快速、无损等优势,但复杂的光路系统及昂贵的实验装置限制了该技术的广泛推广。为提出一种装置简单、操作简便的血液拉曼检测新技术,研究采用基于毛细管的显微拉曼技术方案采集并分析人全血的拉曼信号。血液样品通过毛细管的虹吸效应取样,与载玻片的涂样方式相比毛细管的方案具有模拟人血管、维持血液活性、减小空气对实验过程中血液成分的影响、降低激光对血液样品的灼伤效果等优势。为避开可见光部分荧光较强区域的荧光干扰,研究采用360 nm紫外激光器作为激发光源,防止可见荧光信号的干扰。积分时间设为800 ms,有效避免因激光长时间照射对血液样品的灼伤效果,影响实验数据的稳定性与真实性,光谱平均次数为2次,避免单次测量所带来的数据的不准确性影响。光谱扫描范围为500～1 800 cm-1, 结果表明此范围内可较好的避开可见光部分荧光较强区域的干扰。测得的拉曼光谱信号通过滤波去噪及基线校正进行处理。首先采用5阶离散小波变换滤波,进行1层信号分解,滤除高频噪声信号,保留低频有效信号,从而去除杂散信号,对光谱有效信号进行提取。其次,采用4阶多项式拟合扣除基底的基线校正,实现人全血的毛细管显微拉曼光谱峰值信号的提取。最终,通过查询SDBS数据库以及人血样本通过reishaw共聚焦显微拉曼光谱仪测量所得光谱图进行验证发现测得信号中部分为人体内数种氨基酸成分的拉曼信号。实验研究发现,基于毛细管的显微拉曼实验系统与常规拉曼探头实验系统相比,拉曼信号更稳定、重复性高,可有效提取人全血中的拉曼光谱信号, 而其与高精度的共聚焦显微拉曼系统相比价格便宜、结构简单、易于推广等优点,但信号信噪比、有效信号的峰值强度上仍有进一步的提升,是一种测量人全血拉曼信号的可行方案。     

Subtracted shifted Raman spectroscopy of organic dyes and lakes

Resonance Raman spectroscopy has been utilized to identify vegetal and animal dyes and lakes. These compounds have been used by artists since antiquity, and their identification has important implications in art history and conservation. The resonance condition is useful when working with real ancient objects so as to enhance the Raman scattering of chromophores with respect to the strong signal of the matrix, such as the textile or parchment over which the colorant is supported. The strong fluorescence that generally characterizes the resonance Raman spectra was eliminated by using subtracted shifted Raman spectroscopy (SSRS). A systematic study on reference organic dyes was primarily carried out to evaluate the suitability of the method and to estimate the strengths and limitations of the spectrum reconstruction process. The method was then applied to the noninvasive identification of madder on ancient dyed silk textiles such as an altar table cloth and a manutergium attributed to the Egyptian artistic textile production of the 10th–11th Century A.D. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detection of explosives on human nail using confocal Raman microscopy

Trace amounts of explosives were detected on human nail using confocal Raman microscopy. Contamination of the nail can result from the manual handling, packaging or transportation of explosive substances. Raman spectra were obtained from pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), trinitrotoluene (TNT), ammonium nitrate and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) particles on the surface of the nail with dimensions in the range 5–10 µm. An added difficulty in an analytical procedure is the presence of a nail varnish coating that has been applied, which traps the particulate matter between the coating and nail. Using confocal Raman microscopy, interference‐free spectra could be acquired from particles of explosives visually masked by the nail varnish. Spectra of the explosives could be readily obtained in situ within 90 s without alteration of the evidential material. Acquisition of a Raman point map of a PETN particle under the nail varnish coating is also reported. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

远距离探测拉曼光谱特性

为了发展远距离探测未知或危险物质的方法, 设计并建立了近同轴可见光远距离拉曼光谱探测实验装置, 对硝酸盐固体样品进行了距离为2-10 m的拉曼光谱测量, 初步研究了拉曼信号强度与激发光功率、探测距离、样品浓度及样品表面方向之间的关系. 实验观察到三种硝酸盐在1050 cm^-1附近的拉曼谱线, 其微小的差异可作为识别特征. 硝酸铵的特征拉曼谱线强度正比于激发光功率, 近似平方关系; 与探测距离之间趋向于二次反比关系; 与样品浓度接近指数关系; 与样品表面朝向有近似余弦函数的关系.     

Chemical aerosol detection and identification using Raman scattering

Early warning of the presence of chemical agent aerosols is an important component in the defense against such agents. A Raman spectrometer has been constructed for the purpose of detecting and identifying chemical aerosols. We report the detection and identification of a low‐concentration chemical aerosol in atmospheric air using 532‐nm continuous wave laser Raman scattering. We have demonstrated the Raman scattering detection and identification of an aerosol of isovanillin of mass concentration of 1.8 ng/cm³ with a signal‐to‐noise ratio of about 19 in 30 s for the 1116‐cm⁻¹ mode with a Raman cross section of 3.3 × 10⁻²⁸ cm² using 8‐W double‐pass laser power. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

窄线宽纳秒脉冲光纤拉曼放大器的理论模型和数值分析

窄线宽纳秒脉冲光纤拉曼放大器在非线性频率变换、遥感探测和量子信息等领域有广泛的应用前景.综合考虑受激拉曼散射(stimulated Raman scattering,SRS)、受激布里渊散射(stimulated Brillouin scattering,SBS)、自相位调制(self-phase modulation)和交叉相位调制(cross-phase modulation)等非线性效应,建立了窄线宽纳秒脉冲光纤拉曼放大器的非线性动力学模型.仿真分析了放大器中脉冲激光的时频演化特性,对比研究了抽运脉冲宽度、光纤长度和信号光功率等因素对放大器性能的影响.研究发现,上述因素会影响放大器的SRS阈值、SBS阈值、输出激光线宽、激光转换效率等.例如,当脉冲宽度为800 ns时,SBS随着抽运功率的增加而发生,限制了激光功率的提升;减短抽运脉宽可以抑制SBS,但是输出激光的线宽易于展宽到数百MHz以上;增加光纤长度可以获得更低的SRS阈值和更高的转换效率,但是SBS效应和光谱展宽程度也随之增强.系统搭建中需要平衡各非线性效应,选择合适的系统参数.研究内容可以为窄线宽纳秒脉冲光纤拉曼放大器的设计搭建提供参考.     

单壁碳纳米管束针尖增强近场拉曼光谱探测实验研究

针尖增强近场拉曼光谱术是最近发展起来的光谱技术。金属探针在获得样品纳米局域表面形貌的同时,受激光激发,在针尖附近产生增强电磁场,得到与形貌位置精确对应的针尖增强局域拉曼光谱,形貌和光谱的结合实现了纳米局域的光谱指认。文章建立了一套针尖增强近场拉曼光谱测量装置,并用此装置对电弧法合成的单壁碳纳米管进行了近场拉曼光谱探测。测量了直径为100 nm单壁碳纳米管束的针尖增强拉曼光谱,进一步得到至多3根单壁碳纳米管的近场拉曼光谱,实现了超衍射分辨光谱探测。通过与远场拉曼光谱比较发现,针尖增强近场拉曼光谱的增强因子大于230倍。实验证明,同时具有超衍射空间分辨和拉曼光谱信号增强能力的针尖增强近场拉曼光谱术将是纳米材料和纳米结构表征的一种重要方法。     

Analysis of seized drugs using portable Raman spectroscopy in an airport environment—a proof of principle study

The rapid identification for drugs‐of‐abuse in airports is of critical importance. In this study we demonstrate the viability of Raman spectroscopy for the rapid identification of illicit substances in their containers in an airport environment. Raman spectra of drugs‐of‐abuse in situ were collected using portable Raman spectrometers; this technique offers distinct advantages to government agencies, first responders and forensic scientists working in the security field. We have demonstrated that the spectrometers are able to collect the spectra of suspect powders, including cocaine HCl and d‐amphetamine sulphate with unknown constituents rapidly and with a high degree of discrimination. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于介孔TiO_2薄膜等离子体波导的拉曼光谱技术研究

利用溶胶-凝胶分子模板法在表面覆金的玻璃基底上制备275 nm厚的介孔二氧化钛(TiO_2)薄膜,形成等离子体波导(PW)传感芯片.利用菲涅耳公式拟合实验测得的导模共振波长,得出TiO_2薄膜的多孔度约为0.589.基于光学互易定理仿真分析了置于介孔导波层中的电偶极子的拉曼辐射角分布,结果表明:辐射到衬底中的拉曼光包含沿导模共振角辐射的定向信号和辐射角小于全反射角的非定向信号;前者需借助棱镜耦合器才能被探测到,后者可从芯片背面直接被探测到;从导波层直接辐射到空气中的拉曼光称为背向信号,它的角分布呈发散式,几乎不受棱镜耦合器影响;定向信号的最大功率值远大于非定向信号和背向信号的相应值.实验研究了吸附于介孔导波层中的结晶紫分子的拉曼光谱,采用体光束激发方式探测到了定向、非定向和背向拉曼信号,定向信号强度的最大值是非定向信号的2倍多,在使用棱镜耦合器前后测得的背向信号强度几乎不变.     

An acoustically enhanced gold film Raman sensor on a lithium niobate substrate

The surface enhanced Raman scattering effect has shown immense potential for detecting trace amounts of explosive vapor molecules. To date, efforts to produce a commercially available, reliable SERS sensor have been impeded by an inability to separate the electromagnetic enhancement produced by the metallic nanostructure from other signal enhancing effects. Here, we show a new Raman sensor that uses surface acoustic waves (SAWs) to produce controllable surface structures on gold films deposited on LiNbO₃ substrates that modulate the Raman signal of a target compound (thiophenol) adsorbed on the films. We demonstrate that this sensor can dynamically control the Raman signal simply by changing the SAW's amplitude, allowing the Raman signal enhancement factor to be directly measured with no variation in the concentration of the target compound. The physically adsorbed molecules can be removed from the sensor without physical cleaning or damage, making it possible to reuse it for real‐time Raman detection. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

具有抗漂移特性的激光共焦拉曼光谱成像技术与系统

共焦拉曼技术结合了共焦显微技术和拉曼光谱技术,具有高分辨率、高灵敏度、可层析成像的优势,广泛应用于物理、材料科学、生物医学、文物鉴定以及刑侦等领域。由于拉曼光谱成像需要较长时间,测量中系统易受环境等因素影响产生漂移,造成离焦,而现有商用共焦拉曼光谱仪并无定焦能力,容易影响测量结果。针对此问题,研制了一种具有抗漂移能力的激光共焦拉曼光谱探测系统。在不改变共焦拉曼探测基本原理的基础上,利用拉曼轴向响应曲线最大值对应显微物镜焦面这一特性,对每个探测点进行轴向扫描,采集一定数量的轴向信号,通过曲线拟合寻找光谱强度极值位置,保证扫描过程中样品始终处于系统的焦点位置处,抑制离焦影响,改善拉曼光谱成像效果。以单层石墨烯样品进行单点测试,证明仪器在5 μm离焦范围内可以实现实时定焦,定焦后采集到的拉曼光谱强度几乎不变,具有良好的抗漂移能力;对硅台阶样品进行成像测试,结果表明成像过程中,信号强度未发生明显变化,且横向分辨率有一定改善,效果明显优于普通共焦拉曼光谱探测系统。     

拉曼光谱(785 nm)在翡翠检测中的应用

翡翠是一种名贵玉石,被誉为“玉石之冠”。随着翡翠处理技术的不断提高和处理翡翠的流入市场,给翡翠的检测带来了极大的困难。作者研究工作使用的拉曼光谱仪(785 nm)秉承了以往测试所用拉曼光谱仪(514 nm)无损、快速、准确的特点,还具有荧光弱的优点。通过大量翡翠样品的测定,证实拉曼光谱仪(785 nm)是一种有效检测翡翠是否是天然产的仪器,通过测试结果分析得出：天然绿色翡翠荧光极强,其取决于翡翠晶格中Cr3+的含量,其他颜色翡翠显示硬玉的特征拉曼移位1 045,698,373 cm-1。染色翡翠绿色部位拉曼信号弱,所需积分时间长,拉曼位移高频区产生多个拉曼峰,有时可见有机拉曼峰;荧光现象明显及拉曼峰的湮没,说明翡翠经有机物充填和酸处理致表层晶体结构破坏。     

Eye‐safe UV stand‐off Raman spectroscopy for the ranged detection of explosives in the field

Increasing worldwide terrorist attacks involving explosives presents a growing need for a rapid and ranged explosive detection method that can safely be deployed in the field. Stand‐off Raman spectroscopy shows great promise; however, the radiant exposures of lasers required for adequate signal generation are often much greater than what is safe for the eye or the skin, restricting use of the technique to unpopulated areas. Here, by determining the safe exposure levels for lasers typically used in Raman spectroscopy, optimal parameter values are identified, which produce the largest possible detection range using power densities that do not exceed the eye‐safe limit. It is shown that safe ultraviolet pulse energies can be more than three orders of magnitude greater than equivalent safe visible pulse energies. Coupling this to the 16‐fold increase in Raman signal obtained in the ultraviolet at 266 nm over that at 532 nm results in a 131 times larger detection range for the eye‐safe 266‐nm system over an equivalent eye‐safe 532‐nm laser system. For the Raman system described here, this translates to a maximum range of 42 m for detecting Teflon with a 266‐nm laser emitting a 100‐mm diameter beam of 23.5‐mJ nanosecond pulses. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

多波长消荧光拉曼光谱仪的研制及应用研究

拉曼光谱技术作为探究分子、晶体及其结构特征的有力手段,具有快速、无损、样品用量小、无需前处理且适应性强等优点,已被广泛应用于食品安全、石油化工等领域。但在拉曼光谱应用中,常常受到荧光背景干扰,导致拉曼信号降低,严重的情况下拉曼信号甚至会淹没在荧光背景中。为解决拉曼技术在实际应用中荧光背景干扰的问题,从仪器角度出发,采用二色镜对多波长拉曼光谱进行光路耦合设计,研制了近红外拉曼光谱与移频差分拉曼复合一体的多波长消荧光拉曼光谱检测系统,其中近红外拉曼光谱采用1 064 nm激光光源设计,移频差分拉曼光谱选取784.5和785.5 nm两组激光光源进行时分复用,在移频差分拉曼光谱检测的同时,亦可获得两组单波长拉曼光谱数据。通过对比同步测试和分时逐次测试的强度及峰位稳定性,验证了多波长消荧光拉曼光谱仪的同步测试性能;选取了多种荧光背景强弱不同的样品,进行了单波长拉曼、近红外拉曼及移频差分拉曼光谱的对比分析。针对丙酮、乙腈等荧光背景较弱的样品,可采用单波长拉曼光谱对样品进行定量及定性分析;针对食用油、红色塑胶微粒等荧光背景与拉曼信号强度相当的样品,可采用近红外拉曼光谱对样品进行定量及定性分析;针对红酒、棕色塑胶微粒等荧光背景较强的样品,需结合近红外拉曼光谱和差分拉曼光谱对样品进行定性分析。研究表明：通过多波长消荧光拉曼光谱检测系统的研制,在常规单波长拉曼光谱技术的基础上,将两种抑制荧光干扰技术有机结合,有效扩充了应用领域及样品检测范围。