空间偏移拉曼光谱技术及数据处理方法研究

传统拉曼光谱分析技术在对容器内未知样品进行检测时极易受到容器壁的荧光和拉曼散射干扰,其商业应用往往仅限于透明塑料或玻璃包装的情况。由于光子在介质内部的迁移方向具有随机性,与表层相比内部深层处产生的拉曼散射光子在扩散过程中更易于横向迁移,因此偏离激光入射点不同距离的拉曼光谱包含了不同深度层的拉曼光谱信息。空间偏移拉曼光谱技术通过将拉曼光收集点偏离激光入射点,能够抑制容器壁的荧光和拉曼散射干扰,从而实现对有色、不透明包装内样品的有效检测。通过设计搭建了空间偏移拉曼光谱实验装置,实现-1.0～10.0 mm偏移距离的可调节。使用青色、不透明的1 mm厚PMMA平板来模拟容器壁,使用碳酸钙(CaCO_3)粉末作为内部待测样品。分别采用传统方式(零偏移)和空间偏移方式对容器内样品进行测量。对采集的原始光谱首先进行平均和7阶多项式拟合去除基线(荧光),然后以3个最大特征峰的平均值作为光谱强度的评价指标,对空间偏移拉曼光谱信号随偏移距离的变化规律进行分析,发现:随着空间偏移距离的增大,容器壁的拉曼散射强度快速下降,而内部样品的拉曼散射强度先上升后缓慢下降;对于均匀厚度、各向同性的样品,变化趋势关于零偏移两侧对称,此外光束的斜入射会引起轻微的不对称;在某个偏移距离处样品与容器壁的光谱强度比值达到最大值,存在最优探测偏移距离,对于此次样品其最优偏移距离为1.2 mm。在容器和样品材质未知的情况下,采用比例相减的方法仍可以得到各层干净的拉曼光谱,通过对零偏移和最优偏移处的光谱进行计算,分别得到容器壁和内部样品干净的拉曼光谱,实现对内部样品的有效检测。研究结果在一定程度上证明了空间偏移拉曼光谱技术在不透明、有色容器内样品的检测方面的潜力,为进一步研究空间偏移拉曼光谱技术及数据处理方法提供基础。     

不透明高密度聚乙烯覆盖下硝酸钠的拉曼光谱研究

空间偏移拉曼光谱技术(SORS)作为一种新型拉曼光谱技术,其光谱收集系统与激光入射点在空间位置上有一定的偏移距离~([1]),具有很好的抑制表层成分拉曼光谱及荧光光谱的能力,能够实现不/半透明材料覆盖下内部成分拉曼光谱的无损、快速检测~([2-4])。研究团队基于建立空间偏移拉曼光谱探测系统,已成功实现了不透明介质覆盖下隐藏成分的探测,针对偏移距离对于空间偏移拉曼光谱探测信号强度的影响进行了实验研究及分析。     

基于逆向空间偏移拉曼光谱技术的多层混浊样品深层分析研究

空间偏移拉曼光谱（SORS）能够准确、快速、无损检测多层混浊介质样品深层生化构成信息。该研究通过搭建集成化逆向SORS光谱分析装置,在实现逆向SORS和背散射式拉曼光谱两种不同的光谱检测模式的基础上,检测与分析了不同空间偏移量（Δs）条件下双/三层组织模型内的深层拉曼光谱信息,并根据几何光学理论和投影测量原理,量化标定了Δs与锥透镜空间位置之间的关系,这为精确控制光谱检测条件提供了保障。为了验证该装置的检测能力,采用由羊肩胛骨/对乙酰氨基酚组成的双层模型和猪皮/硅橡胶/对乙酰氨基酚组成的三层模型,获得不同Δs条件下包含样品表层和深层信息的混合光谱。并进一步对该混合光谱进行面积归一化处理,观察到随着Δs的增大样品表层的拉曼贡献逐渐减小,而第二层以及第三层的拉曼贡献逐渐增大的现象。在此基础上,通过选择模型中每层物质的拉曼特征峰计算其相对拉曼强度,分析研究了相对拉曼强度、空间偏移量与样品厚度三者之间关系,即当Δs增大时相对拉曼强度比值随之增加,这清晰地表明深层物质的拉曼强度增加。然而,在同一Δs条件下,相对拉曼强度随着表层物质厚度的增大而减小。以上实验结果表明,我们搭建的集成化逆向SORS光谱分析装置可从深度达8 mm的生物模型下获取光谱信息,并证明了该装置在经皮无损探测方面的应用价值。     

基于逆向空间偏移拉曼光谱分析技术的无损药物检测方法研究

发展新型药物检测技术不仅能够杜绝假药对健康和生命的危害,更可以避免假药对社会道德和商业风气等产生不良影响。该研究工作,通过建立逆向空间偏移拉曼光谱（SORS）实验装置,克服了传统拉曼探测深度有限（约几百微米）的应用瓶颈,以无损、非接触的方式,克服不/半透明容器光学背景对光谱测量结果产生的影响,实现多种空间偏移量（Δs）条件下,样品特征光谱信息检测与分析,为开发基于逆向SORS技术的新型药物检测方法奠定实验基础。实验装置搭建过程中,采用785 nm半导体激光器与WITec UHTS300型拉曼光谱仪构建逆向SORS光谱分析装置。通过使用准直光束照射锥透镜形成环形激发光斑,并控制锥透镜与样品之间的距离,实现Δs连续可控变化。利用所搭建的光谱检测装置,分别测量聚乙烯方瓶（厚度为1.5 mm）和聚四氟乙烯离心管（厚度为4 mm）内对乙酰氨基酚和甲硝唑的拉曼特征光谱。利用环形光束照射会抑制容器峰强度这一特点,选取容器拉曼特征峰作为标准峰,分别对点光斑（Spot）和环形（Ring）光斑测量结果进行归一化处理,并将其强度相减（Ring-Spot）,得到逆向SORS光谱测量结果。实验结果表明,逆向SORS光谱检测方法能够克服表层容器光学背景对测量结果产生的干扰性因素,真实反映不/半透明容器内样品的分子指纹光谱信息。在实验测量范围内,当环形光束半径增大1倍时,聚乙烯方瓶内对乙酰氨基酚拉曼特征峰强度增大6倍,而聚四氟乙烯离心管内的甲硝唑各特征峰强度增强1倍。以上实验结果表明,逆向SORS技术能够准确检测不/半透明容器内,或有漫散射介质覆盖的样品深层化学成分的指纹光谱。通过提高系统信噪比并优化系统结构与功能,在建立小型化、集成化检测系统的条件下,逆向SORS技术可与现有的多种药物检测技术相互补充,发展成一种快捷、准确、操作简便的新型药物检测手段。     

拉曼直角反射共焦腔检测空气中二氧化碳

拉曼光谱作为一种激发光谱,采用激光作为激发光源,在气体检测中可以激发所有气体分子的拉曼信号。由于气体的分子密度低、透光度高、拉曼散射截面小,导致激发光能量的利用效率低;拉曼信号散射向四周立体空间而常规收集方法只能收集较小的空间立体角,从而造成检测限较差而不能广泛应用于气体的检测。提出了一种拉曼直角反射共焦腔用来提高气体等透明样品的拉曼检测的检测灵敏度。拉曼直角反射共焦腔利用直角反射镜将入射光反射回原方向但是光路具有空间偏移的特点,采用两个相对放置、互相平行的直角反射镜,将光束直径为0.7 mm的激光在工作直径为25.4 mm的共焦腔内10次来回反射,并采用共焦点相对放置的两个透镜将激发光聚焦到焦点,从而提高激发光能量的使用效率。拉曼散射向激光传输方向的信号被直角反射镜反射向原方向,经过透镜聚焦到焦点后和拉曼散射向激光入射方向的信号一起经过长通滤光片后传输向拉曼光谱仪,从而提高了拉曼散射信号的收集效率。以空气作为测试对象进行实验, 300 s内可以获得清晰的CO_2的拉曼光谱和N_2, O_2的精细拉曼光谱并对其强度比进行了分析,其中N_2的2 332 cm~(-1), O_2的1 557 cm~(-1), CO_2的1 388 cm~(-1)的拉曼峰的峰高比是785∶257∶1。拉曼直角反射共焦腔在常规拉曼散射激发收集光路的基础上增加了两个直角反射镜和一个聚焦镜,具有体积小,结构简单,易于调节的特点。拉曼散射向周围空间的信号强度分布与入射光的入射方向有关,在沿入射光方向及其相反方向散射信号强度最大,拉曼直角反射共焦腔设计的收集散射信号的角度与散射信号强度分布最强方向一致,并且利用了光学景深的优势,最大化的提高了拉曼散射信号收集效率。拉曼直角反射镜腔可以拓展拉曼光谱技术在气体检测中的应用,例如用于气相化学反应的原位监控、发动机燃烧过程及排放物检测、未知污染物气体分析等气体成分复杂的领域。     

生物组织单光程光谱技术的理论研究

高灵敏度光谱检测技术在临床诊疗和组织光学参数测量中具有极其重要的意义。文章提出了一种差分调制激光光谱技术,将经过生物组织后的散射光与参考光的光程差转换为光谱信号的频率特征,通过相敏检测技术将不同频率的信号进行分离,从而实现生物组织散射光的光程分离。文章分析了差分调制激光光谱的机理及信号的谱特征,并基于文献中的生物组织散射光的光程分布,从理论上讨论了差拍信号的谱特征,即光源调制速率一定时,光谱信号中的主频成分位置只与散射光和参考光的光程差有关;生物组织对光信号的衰减系数会影响光谱信号中频率成分的能量强度分布。分析结果表明,差分调制激光光谱能对生物组织的光谱信号进行光程分离,从而实现生物组织的单光程光谱检测。     

Na_2SO_4溶液激光拉曼/激光诱导击穿光谱联合探测

光谱技术应用于海底极端环境下多参数、多相态、无接触探测已成为深海化学传感器发展的一个重要方向,尤其是水下激光拉曼光谱技术和水下激光诱导击穿光谱技术正成为目前研究开发的热点。该工作旨在探索一项水下激光诱导击穿光谱与激光拉曼光谱(LIBS-LRS)联合探测技术,以实现LIBS和拉曼两种检测技术在检测系统上的整合,在信息获取上的互补。在实验室搭建了一套LIBS-LRS联合探测装置,该装置对于拉曼和LIBS采用同样的激发光源、光谱仪和探测器,前置光路分为两部分:拉曼光路和LIBS光路,分别收集Na_2SO_4溶液的拉曼信号和LIBS信号。前置光路收集的拉曼和LIBS信号由Y型光纤导入光谱仪,分别在面阵CCD不同区域进行探测。利用该装置对配置的Na_2SO_4溶液进行探测,同时获得了Na元素的LIBS信号和SO~(2-)_4拉曼信号。另外,随着激光能量的提高,在532nm脉冲激光能量超过3.6mJ时,在拉曼光路同时获得了Na元素的LIBS信号和SO~(2-)_4拉曼信号,这样采用同一光路即可实现两种光谱技术的联合,然而实验发现,随着激光能量的增加,激光在溶液中击穿产生的轫致辐射造成了光谱探测基线整体的抬升,对拉曼光谱弱信号的探测是不利的。实验结果初步证明了在拉曼和LIBS在水下联合探测的可行性。     

基于纳米锥森林结构的表面增强拉曼散射透明器件研究

具有无损、超灵敏和实时检测优点的表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)器件具有重要研究意义。目前,针对SERS器件的大部分研究都围绕着非透明的器件展开。使用此类器件检测高浓度试剂时,激光只能从正面入射。这意味着入射激光需要穿透被测试剂分子层才能到达位于其下方的金属纳米结构表面,因此用于激发金属纳米结构表面等离子体共振(SPR)的激光能量被减弱,相应地,SERS光谱信号也被减弱;此外,SERS光谱信号因被测试剂分子层的遮挡,无法高效返回到电荷耦合元件(CCD)中,再次被大幅度减弱,甚至有可能完全无法被检测到。相比之下,如果使用透明SERS器件,检测过程中将被测试剂分子置于器件正面,激光从器件背面入射,此时高浓度被测试剂分子层对入射激光和SERS光谱信号的干扰最小。这种情况下,可以得到较好的光谱信号。通过在石英基底上旋涂聚酰亚胺(PI)层,然后通过氧等离子体对PI层进行无掩模轰击,在石英基底上自行生成纳米纤维掩模,配合反应离子刻蚀工艺(RIE)制备了石英纳米锥森林结构。之后,通过金属纳米颗粒溅射工艺,得到SERS透明器件。对于该SERS透明器件,在测试过程中,拉曼激光可从器件的正面以及背面分别入射。初步的测试结果表明,对于罗丹明6G(R6G)在10^-3~10^-6 mol·L^-1这一浓度范围内,背面入射方式收集的SERS光谱信号强度高于正面入射方式。另外,进一步研究了该SERS透明器件背面检测的一致性,得到了良好的结果,证明了其在实际生化检测中的可行性。这一工作有望扩展SERS在分析物检测领域中的应用。     

一种用多色光作为激发源产生拉曼光谱的新算法

探讨用多色光代替激光作为拉曼光源的新型拉曼光谱仪的可能性。根据拉曼光谱原理, 并通过数学分析, 发现当用多色光照射在样品上时, 所得到的散射光经散射频率校正后在不同频率上的强度分布可以写成样品的Raman-Rayleigh联合散射谱和激发光光源的功率谱的卷积。利用傅里叶变换算法,有可能从多色光照射样品所得到的散射光谱中导出样品的拉曼光谱。基于上述原理,可能发展出不用激光的新一代拉曼光谱仪。     

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。     

A line‐scan hyperspectral Raman system for spatially offset Raman spectroscopy

Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) is a technique that can obtain subsurface layered information by collecting Raman spectra from a series of surface positions laterally offset from the excitation laser. Currently optical fiber probes are used as major tools in SORS measurement, which are either slow (single fiber probe with mechanical movement) or restricted in selecting offset range and interval (fiber probe array). This study proposes a new method to conduct SORS measurement based on a newly developed line‐scan hyperspectral Raman imaging system. A 785‐nm point laser was used as an excitation source. A detection module consisting of an imaging spectrograph and a charge‐coupled device camera was used to acquire line‐shape SORS data in a spectral region of −592 to 3015 cm⁻¹. Using a single scan, the system allowed simultaneous collection of a series of Raman spectra in a broad offset range (e.g. 0–36 mm in two sides of the incident laser) with a narrow interval (e.g. 0.07 mm). Four layered samples were created by placing butter slices with thicknesses of 1, 4, 7, and 10 mm on top of melamine powder, providing different individual Raman characteristics to test the line‐scan SORS technique. Self‐modeling mixture analysis (SMA) was used to analyze the SORS data. Raman spectra from butter and melamine were successfully retrieved for all four butter‐on‐melamine samples using the SMA method. The line‐scan SORS measurement technique provides a flexible and efficient method for subsurface evaluation, which has potential to be used for food safety and quality inspection. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photon migration of Raman signal in bone as measured with spatially offset Raman spectroscopy

Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) is currently being developed as an in vivo tool for bone disease detection, but to date, information about the interrogated volume as influenced by the light propagation and scattering characteristics of the bone matrix is still limited. This paper seeks to develop our general understanding of the sampling depths of SORS in bone specimens as a function of the applied spatial offset. Equine metacarpal bone was selected as a suitable specimen of compact cortical bone large enough to allow several thin slices (600 µm) to be cut from the dorsal surface. Photon migration at 830‐nm excitation was studied with five bone slices and a 380‐µm‐thin polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) slice placed consecutively between the layers. To optimize Raman signal recovery of the PTFE with increasing depth within the bone stack required a corresponding increase in spatial offset. For example, to sample effectively at 2.2‐mm depth within the bone required an optimal SORS offset of 7 mm. However, with a 7‐mm offset, the maximum accessible penetration depth from which the PTFE signal could be still recovered was 3.7 mm. These results provide essential basic information for developing SORS technology for medical diagnostics in general and optimizing sampling through bone tissue, permitting a better understanding of the relationship between the offset and depth of bone assessed, in particular. Potential applications include the detection of chemically specific markers for changes in bone matrix chemistry localized within the tissue and not present in healthy bone. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Non‐invasive depth profiling by space and time‐resolved Raman spectroscopy

Time‐resolved Raman spectroscopy, spatially offset Raman spectroscopy and time‐resolved spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (TR‐SORS) have proven their capability for the non‐invasive profiling of deep layers of a sample. Recent studies have indicated that TR‐SORS exhibits an enhanced selectivity toward the deep layers of a sample. However, the enhanced depth profiling efficiency of TR‐SORS, in comparison with time‐resolved Raman spectroscopy and spatially offset Raman spectroscopy, is yet to be assessed and explained in accordance to the synergistic effects of spatial and temporal resolutions. This study provides a critical investigation of the depth profiling efficiency of the three deep Raman techniques. The study compares the efficiency of the various deep Raman spectroscopy techniques for the stand‐off detection of explosive precursors hidden in highly fluorescing packaging. The study explains for the first time the synergistic effects of spatial and temporal resolutions in the deep Raman techniques and their impact on the acquired spectral data. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

Contrasting confocal with defocusing microscale spatially offset Raman spectroscopy

The study compares and contrasts conventional confocal Raman microscopy/spectroscopy (CRM) with a recently developed micrometer scale defocusing spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (micro‐SORS), a method providing a new analytical capability for investigating non‐destructively the chemical composition of subsurface, micrometer‐scale‐thick diffusely scattering layers at depths beyond the reach of CRM. Because of close similarities between the two techniques and comparable embodiment of the instrumentations, but radically different interpretations of data, it is crucially important to recognise which type of method is pertinent to a specific measurement. The distinction comes principally from the nature of sample, whether turbid (micro‐SORS measurement) or transparent (CRM measurement) on the spatial scale of the axial (z‐)scan of the measurement. Which type of sample one deals with may not always be easily recognisable with micro‐scale thick layers, and the study therefore also presents a simple method for suggesting whether CRM or micro‐SORS methodology applies. This test relies on an axial (z‐)scan performed through the sample in both the positive and negative directions from the normal, imaged sample surface position using conventional CRM instrument. The absence or presence of symmetry or asymmetry of the intensity profiles of measured Raman signals around the imaged sample surface position as a function of sample axial displacement then suggests which interpretation could apply. The study paves a way for the development of micro‐SORS as a widely applicable analytical tool deployable on conventional Raman microscopes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of portable Raman spectroscopy and benchtop spatially offset Raman spectroscopy to interrogate concealed biomaterials

In this paper, we demonstrate the ability of portable Raman spectroscopy and benchtop spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) techniques to rapidly identify real and fake ivory samples. Both techniques were able to identify exposed genuine from fake ivory samples. In contrast to conventional Raman spectroscopy, SORS was, in addition, able to identify ivory concealed by plastics, paints, varnishes and cloth. Application of the SORS technique allows the interrogation of biomaterial samples through materials in which conventional Raman spectroscopic instrumentation cannot penetrate. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Passive signal enhancement in spatially offset Raman spectroscopy

We demonstrate experimentally, for the first time, the feasibility of enhancing signals in Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS) using a dielectric bandpass filter, building on our earlier experimental work on the enhancement of transmission Raman signals. The method is shown to lead to the enhancement of both the surface and subsurface Raman layer signal improving the signal‐to‐noise ratio of Raman spectra from the deep areas of samples, thus enhancing the technique's sensitivity and penetration depth. The filter is placed over the laser illumination zone, on the sample surface acting as a ‘unidirectional’ mirror transmitting the collimated laser beam on one side and reflecting photons escaping from the sample back into it. This enhances the degree of coupling of laser radiation into the medium and associated generated Raman signal. The feasibility study was performed on a two‐layer sample with the second layer located at the limit of the penetration depth of the method for this sample. The sample consisted of a 2.2‐mm over‐layer of a thinned paracetamol tablet followed by a 2‐mm layer of trans‐stilbene powder. The Raman signal was collected from a spatially offset region through a hole fabricated within the filter. The experiments demonstrate the presence of an enhancement of the Raman signal from both the layers by a factor of 4.4–4.5 and the improved signal‐to‐noise ratio of sublayer signal by a factor of 2.2, in agreement with photon shot noise dominated signal. 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.