Different level of fluorescence in Raman spectra of montmorillonites

The paper presents the study of selected montmorillonite standards by Raman spectroscopy and microscopy supported by elemental analysis, X-ray powder diffraction analysis and thermal analysis. Dispersive Raman spectroscopy with excitation lasers of 532 nm and 780 nm, dispersive Raman microscopy with excitation laser of 532 nm and 100× magnifying lens, and Fourier Transform-Raman spectroscopy with excitation laser of 1064 nm were used for the analysis of four montmorillonites (Kunipia-F, SWy-2, STx-1b and SAz-2). These mineral standards differed mainly in the type of interlayer cation and substitution of octahedral aluminium by magnesium or iron. A comparison of measured Raman spectra of montmorillonite with regard to their level of fluorescence and the presence of characteristic spectral bands was carried out. Almost all measured spectra of montmorillonites were significantly affected by fluorescence and only one sample was influenced by fluorescence slightly or not at all. In the spectra of tested montmorillonites, several characteristic Raman bands were found. The most intensive band at 96 cm⁻¹ belongs to deformation vibrations of interlayer cations. The band at 200 cm⁻¹ corresponds to deformation vibrations of the AlO₆ octahedron and at 710 cm⁻¹ can be assigned to deformation vibrations of the SiO₄ tetrahedron. The band at 3620 cm⁻¹ corresponds to the stretching vibration of structural OH groups in montmorillonites.     

Resonance Raman spectra of cytochrome C and oxyhemoglobin using pulsed laser excitation and optical multichannel detection

The resonance Raman spectra of dilute cytochrome c and oxyhemoglobin solutions obtained with high peak power (>1 MW) laser excitation at 532.0 nm and optical multichannel analysis (OMA) are presented. The frequencies and intensities of bands in resonance Raman spectra obtained under these conditions are directly comparable to spectra derived from 0.15 W peak power excitation using cw lasers. No anomalous spectral features are observed. These pulsed-laser/OMA spectra are used to comment on the applicability of such techniques for time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy of biopolymers.     

Analysis of artist’s palette on a 16th century wood panel painting by portable and laboratory Raman instruments

Non-destructive analysis of the artist’s palette of ancient wooden panel paintings is a difficult task and studies are rare. Here we compare different methods of analysis of a wooden panel painting, dated to the early sixteenth century, mainly by Raman and infrared spectroscopies. Raman spectra were recorded on collected/sampled micrometric fragments using portable Raman instruments with laser excitation lines at 532 and 785 nm and transportable Raman instruments at 532, 633 and 785 nm; a fixed 1064 nm Raman spectrometer was also used. Infrared analyses were performed in Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR-FTIR) mode. Using the portable instrument, the Raman spectra evidenced white lead, calcite and vermilion only. Raman spectra recorded by transportable and fixed instruments enabled the identification of most of the artist’s palette: (i) white lead, calcite, gypsum and cerussite for white colour; (ii) vermilion, red lead, litharge, haematite for red; (iii) azurite, indigo and lapis lazuli for blue. IR spectra gave information on the organic binding media. XRF analysis on a brown pigment suggested an heterogeneous mixture of a red pigment (such as haematite and/or minium) and a green one as malachite. GC-MS analysis allowed identifying terpenic resin in the composition of the outer protective layer.     

In vivo molecular evaluation of guinea pig skin incisions healing after surgical suture and laser tissue welding using Raman spectroscopy

The healing process in guinea pig skin following surgical incisions was evaluated at the molecular level, in vivo, by the use of Raman spectroscopy. After the incisions were closed either by suturing or by laser tissue welding (LTW), differences in the respective Raman spectra were identified. The study determined that the ratio of the Raman peaks of the amide III (1247 cm⁻¹) band to a peak at 1326 cm⁻¹ (the superposition of elastin and keratin bands) can be used to evaluate the progression of wound healing. Conformational changes in the amide I band (1633–1682 cm⁻¹) and spectrum changes in the range of 1450–1520 cm⁻¹ were observed in LTW and sutured skin. The stages of the healing process of the guinea pig skin following LTW and suturing were evaluated by Raman spectroscopy, using histopathology as the gold standard. LTW skin demonstrated better healing than sutured skin, exhibiting minimal hyperkeratosis, minimal collagen deposition, near-normal surface contour, and minimal loss of dermal appendages. A wavelet decomposition–reconstruction baseline correction algorithm was employed to remove the fluorescence wing from the Raman spectra.     

一种上转换白光荧光粉的制备与发光性能研究

采用高温固相法制备了上转换白光荧光粉AlF3-YbF3:Er3+/Tm3+。通过XRD物相分析可知:上转换白光荧光粉AlF3-YbF3:Er3+/Tm3+是由三方AlF3相和正交YbF3相组成;利用发射光谱研究了该荧光粉的上转换发光性能,并且分析了当固定Er3+离子掺杂浓度时,Tm3+离子掺杂浓度对上转换白光荧光粉AlF3-YbF3:Er3+/Tm3+色度的影响,进而提出其上转换能量传递机制。结果表明:在980 nm激光激发下,波长为410 nm的紫光峰、550 nm的绿光峰和660 nm的红光峰分别对应于荧光粉中Er3+离子的2H9/2→4I15/2,4S3/2→4I15/2和4F9/2→4I15/2能级的跃迁,而波长为360 nm的紫外光峰、450 nm的蓝光峰、700 nm的红光峰,分别对应于荧光粉中Tm3+离子的1D2→3H6,1G4→3H6和1G4→3F4能级的跃迁,Er3+离子发出的光与Tm3+离子发出的光最终混合成色坐标为x=0.32,y=0.36的白光。此外,通过980 nm半导体激光器和EPM 2000 Dual-channel Joulemeter/Power meter测得该荧光粉最大上转换效率为6.90%。     

Quantitative analysis of methyl green using surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering

Surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) spectra of aqueous solutions of the triphenylmethane dye methyl green have been obtained for the first time by use of citrate-reduced silver colloids and a laser excitation wavelength of 632.8 nm. Given the highly fluorescent nature of the analyte, which precluded collection of normal Raman spectra of the dye in solution and powdered state, it was highly encouraging that SERRS spectra showed no fluorescence due to quenching by the silver sol. The pH conditions for SERRS were optimised over the pH range 0.5–10 and the biggest enhancement for SERRS of this charged dye was found to be at pH 2.02, thus this condition was used for quantitative analysis. SERRS was found to be highly sensitive and enabled quantitative determination of methyl green over the range 10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁷ mol dm⁻³. Good fits to correlation coefficients were obtained over this range using the areas under the vibrational bands at 1615 and 737 cm⁻¹. Finally, a limit of detection of 83 ppb was calculated, demonstrating the sensitivity of the technique.     

Electrodeposition of nanostructured diamond-like films by oxidation of lithium acetylide

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films have been deposited by anodic oxidation of 4 M solution of lithium acetylide in dimethylsulfoxide on the surface of stainless steel or nickel electrode at room temperature and moderate anodic current densities (0.2–2.0 mA/cm²) in the range of electrode potentials 0.3–2.5 V (vs. sat. Ag|AgCl reference electrode). Electrodeposited DLC coatings represented complete and optically transparent films of a thickness 50–100 nm having dark island inclusions with a diameter 0.8–5.0 μm. The concentration and average size of these particles increased with the prolongation of deposition time. Micro-Raman spectra obtained by the focusing of laser beam onto these dark inclusions are characterized by a broad peak centered at 1500 cm⁻¹ and weak peak at 1200 cm⁻¹. With a defocused laser beam, there appear two well-distinguished peaks on the integrated Raman spectra – at 1530 and 1130 cm⁻¹. Analysis of Raman spectra with the use of a Breit–Wigner–Fano lineshape and spectrum deconvolution indicates that the electrodeposited films consist of diamond-like nanostructured carbon with a high content (70–80%) of sp³ phase.     

Raman spectroscopic analysis of apoptosis of single human gastric cancer cells

A drug (5-FU) was employed to treat the gastric carcinoma cells and induce apoptosis of the cancer cells. Raman spectra obtained from single gastric carcinoma cells and the induced apoptotic cells through scan-excitation mode were used to analyze the effectiveness of the treatment. The major difference of the apoptotic cells from the cancer cells are the reduction in intensities of vibration bands generated by cellular lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. In particular, large intensity reduction in nucleic vibrations at 782, 1092, 1320, 1340, and 1578 cm⁻¹ was observed upon apoptosis of the gastric carcinoma cells. Up to 45% reduction in the magnitude of the 782 cm⁻¹ peak in Raman spectra of the apoptotic cells was observed, which suggests the breakdown of phosphodiester bonds and DNA bases. We showed that the principal components analysis (PCA), a multivariate statistical tool, can be used to distinguish single apoptotic cells and gastric carcinoma cells based on their Raman spectra.     

Analysis and identification of irradiated Spirulina powder by a three-step infrared macro-fingerprint spectroscopy

A three-step infrared (IR) macro-fingerprint method combining conventional IR spectra, and the secondary derivative spectra with two-dimensional infrared correlation spectroscopy (2D-IR), was developed to analyze Spirulina powder before and after gamma irradiation. In the IR spectra, most of the absorption peaks of samples irradiated at 1, 2.7, 6, and 10.4 kGy had lower intensities than the non-irradiated ones, whereas peaks at 1152, 1078, and 1051 cm⁻¹ were slightly enhanced with irradiation at 2.7, 6, and 10.4 kGy. Their second derivative spectra amplified the differences and revealed that irradiation affected the C=O band of carboxylic acid and esters, and the N–H band of proteins. The peaks at 1746 and 1741 cm⁻¹, and those at 1730 and 1725  cm⁻¹ became two broad peaks. Meanwhile, the three sharp peaks at 1548 cm⁻¹, 1544 cm⁻¹ and 1536 cm⁻¹ changed to two broad peaks at around 1547 and 1534 cm⁻¹ after irradiation at doses higher than 1 kGy. The characteristic IR bands from 1700 cm⁻¹ to 1600 cm⁻¹, which represent the C=O band in proteins, also have different shapes and intensities after irradiation. The finding indicated that irradiation affected the secondary structures of protein which was confirmed by curve fitting results. During the process of increasing the temperature from 50 to 210 °C, the ratio of amide I to II in absorption intensities in the 2D-IR spectra of the irradiated samples varied with different response for different samples. Saccharides in Spirulina powder had a higher thermostability than proteins, but the autopeaks of irradiated samples did show differences from the non-irradiated sample. The intensity of autopeaks at 1012 cm⁻¹ increased dramatically in the irradiated samples while that of peaks at 1053, 1071, and 1083 cm⁻¹ decreased after irradiation. Based on the three-step IR macro-fingerprint method, irradiated Spirulina powder samples were successfully and fast identified and discriminated.     

A multimodal spectrometer for Raman scattering and near-infrared absorption measurement

Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy are complementary spectroscopic techniques. However, measurement of Raman and IR spectra are commonly carried out on separate instruments. A dispersive system that enables both Raman spectroscopy and NIR spectroscopy was designed, built, and tested. The prototype system measures spectral ranges of 2600–300 cm⁻¹ and 752–987 nm for Raman and NIR channels, respectively. A wavelength accuracy better than 0.6 nm and spectral resolution better than 1 nm (14.4 cm⁻¹ for Raman channel) could be achieved with our configuration. The linearity of spectral response was better than 99.8%. The intensity stability of the instrument was found to be 0.7% and 0.4% for Raman and NIR channels, respectively. The performance of the instrument was evaluated using binary aqueous solutions of ethanol and ovalbumin. It was found that ethanol concentrations (2–10%) could be predicted with a root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.45% using Raman peak height at 882.2 cm⁻¹. Quantification of ovalbumin concentration (8–16 g/L) in aqueous solutions and in denatured states yielded RMSEP values of 1.05 g/L and 0.74 g/L, respectively. Using concentration as external perturbation in two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2DCOS), heterospectral correlation analysis revealed the relationship between NIR and Raman spectra.     

White light emission from nano-fibrous ZnO thin films/porous silicon nanocomposite

Nanocomposites composed of nano-fibrous ZnO thin films and porous silicon (PS) were prepared and examined by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) to investigate their structural and optical properties. PS, consisting of irregular and random nanosized-pores, was prepared by electrochemical anodization. The nano-fibrous ZnO thin films were grown on PS by the sol-gel spin-coating method. The texture coefficient (TC _(hkl)) of the nano-fibrous ZnO thin films was calculated to determine the preferred orientation. The nano-fibrous ZnO thin films were grown with a c-axis preferred orientation. The residual stress in the films was reduced in the case of PS. The observed broad PL emission peak from 460 to 598 nm was attributed to coupled emission from ZnO to PS. The results show that white light luminescence with blue, green, and red emission peaks having highly uniform intensities can be obtained from the nanocomposite via a relatively simple and low-cost sol-gel spin-coating method.     

Dopant effects on the structural, low temperature Raman scattering and electrical transport properties in SrTi1?xFexO3 nanoparticles synthesized by sol-gel method

We investigate effects of Fe dopant concentration on the structure, as well as low temperature Raman scattering and electrical transport properties in SrTi_1−x Fe _x O₃ (x = 0.00, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40) nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method. The results show an average particle size of powder is about 30 nm, and the lattice parameters decrease as increasing the Fe content. In the Raman spectra, a broad structure in the region 200–500 cm⁻¹ is almost absent and the peaks in the region 600–800 cm⁻¹ show different weights with respect to SrTiO₃, relating to structural changes with increasing dopant concentration in conjunction with increasing grain boundary contribution to the impedance. The abrupt change in Raman peak position as function of temperature suggests a phase transition in our samples in the range of 110–150 K. These results indicate that the Fe ion has replaced the site of Ti in unit cell. These results also demonstrate the feasibility of synthesizing the compound with low annealing temperature.     

Brown diamonds from an eclogite xenolith from Udachnaya kimberlite, Yakutia, Russia

We have performed petrographic and spectroscopic studies of brown diamonds from an eclogite xenolith from the Udachnaya pipe (Yakutia, Russia). Brown diamonds are randomly intermixed with colorless ones in the rock and often located at the grain boundaries of clinopyroxene and garnet. Brown diamonds can be characterized by a set of defects (H4, N2D and a line at 490.7 nm) which are absent in colorless diamonds. This set of defects is typical for plastically deformed diamonds and indicates that diamonds were likely annealed for a relatively short period after deformation had occurred. Excitation of brown colored zones with a 632.8 nm He-Ne laser produced the typical diamond band plus two additional bands at 1730 cm(-1) and 3350 cm(-1). These spectral features are not genuine Raman bands, and can be attributed to photoluminescence at ～710 nm (1.75 eV) and ～802 nm (1.54 eV). No Raman peak corresponding to graphite was observed in regions of brown coloration. Comparison with previous reports of brown diamonds from eclogites showed our eclogitic sample to have a typical structure without signs of apparent deformation. Two mechanisms with regard to diamond deformation are proposed: deformation of eclogite by external forces followed by subsequent recrystallization of silicates or, alternatively, deformation by local stress arising due to decompression and expansion of silicates during ascent of the xenolith to surface conditions.     

Synthesis and photoluminescence of ZnS macrolattice

ZnS macrolattice has been synthesized by an ultrasonication-assisted method. It is a face-centred cubic stucture with a lattice constant of about 5.4 nm. Each basis in one unit cell composes of about 1,400 atoms. The d-spacing of the macrolattice is about 10 times to that of ordinary sphalerite crystalline. The new structure can be confirmed by small angle X-ray diffraction, high-resolve TEM and selected area electron diffraction. The emission spectrum of the ZnS macrolattice consists of two main peaks at about 333 and 349 nm, respectively under 236 nm excitation. However, it consists of only one main peak at about 438 nm under 370 nm excitation and only one main peak at about 530 nm under 473 nm excitation. The near band transition about 349 nm demonstrates that the valence band composed of P-type function on the S atom splits to two bands. The conduct band has also split because of many peaks in the excitation spectra. In addition, some defect energy levels must appear in the band gap because blue and green emissions are observed.     

Pre-resonance Raman intensity studies of TCNQ and TCNQ−

Pre-resonance Raman spectra have been obtained for TCNQ and LiTCNQ in acetonitrile solution using an Ar⁺—Kr⁺ laser and a tunable rhodamine 6G dye laser. Using the theory of Albrecht and Hutley, we have calculated frequency factors for the intensity variations for several symmetric vibrational modes of each molecule. The observed spectra for TCNQ and LiTCNQ with violet, blue, and green excitation give evidence for B-type resonance enhancement due to vibronic mixing between at least two violet and ultraviolet transitions. The Raman spectra for LiTCNQ with yellow, orange, and red excitation show A-type enhancement due to a single electronic excitation in the near infrared.     

Substituent effects on the resonance Raman spectra of bis(dithiobenzil)nickel

The influence of substituents on the resonance Raman spectra of bis(p-substituted dithiobenzil)nickels has been examined. The assigned sulfur—nickel stretching vibrations in the complexes appeared in the range 390–410 cm⁻¹ with a shift to higher frequency being observed for the electron-donating substituent. It was found that Raman intensities at vibrations of the benzene ring for ligands excited with a 457.9 nm laser line are about 1.5–3.0 times larger than with a 514.5 nm laser line. The assignments of electronic transitions in the visible region of the nickel complexes were made on the basis of observed resonance Raman intensity patterns.     

Raman scattering study of calcium hexaboride

We report significant difference in the Raman spectra of two different kinds of CaB₆ single crystals grown from boron purity 99.9% (3N) or 99.9999% (6N), respectively. Our Raman spectra of CaB₆ (3N), which are similar to those of previous measurement [N. Ogita, S. Nagai, N. Okamoto, M. Udagawa, F. Iga, M. Sera, J. Akimitsu, S. Kunii, Phys. Rev. B 68 (2003) 224305], show peaks at 781.3 cm⁻¹ (T_2g), 1140.1 cm⁻¹ (E_g), and 1283.5 cm⁻¹ (A_1g). The E_g mode shows a characteristic double-peak feature due to an additional weak broad peak centered at 1156.0 cm⁻¹. However, the Raman spectra of CaB₆ (6N) show sharp peaks at 772.5 cm⁻¹ (T_2g), 1137.9 cm⁻¹ (E_g), and 1266.6 cm⁻¹ (A_1g). The peak frequencies are down shifted as much as 17 cm⁻¹. In addition, no additional peak feature is observed for the E_g mode so that the mode is symmetric in the case of CaB₆ (6N). The X-ray powder diffraction patterns for both CaB₆ (3N) and CaB₆ (6N) show that the lattice parameters are essentially the same. The majority of the impurity in the 99.9% (3N) boron is assessed to be C. Thus we prepared Ca(B_0.995C_0.005)₆, CaB₆ (6N) doped with C, and looked for the difference in the Raman spectra. The Raman spectra of Ca(B_0.995C_0.005)₆ are nearly identical to those of CaB₆ (6N), indicating that the difference in the Raman spectra of CaB₆ (3N) and CaB₆ (6N) is not due to C impurity. However, presence of impurity, even if small amount, seems to be enough to trigger local-structure changes to lower symmetry inducing the difference in Raman spectra of CaB₆ (3N) and CaB₆ (6N).     

Raman spectroscopic discrimination of estrogens

Estrogens are a group of steroid compounds found in the human body that are eventually discharged and ultimately end up in sewer effluents. Since these compounds can potentially affect the endocrine system its detection and quantification in sewer water is important. In this study, estrogens such as estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), and ethynylestradiol (EE2) were discriminated and quantitated using Raman spectroscopy. Simulated Raman spectra were correlated with experimental data to identify unique marker peaks, which proved to be useful in differentiating each estrogen molecules. Among these marker peaks are Raman modes arising from hydroxyl groups of the estrogen molecules in the spectral region 3200–3700 cm⁻¹. Other Raman modes unique to each of the estrogen samples were also identified, including peaks at 1722 cm⁻¹ for E1 and 2109 cm⁻¹ for EE2, which corresponds to their distinctive structures each containing a different set of functional groups. To quantify the components of estrogen mixtures, the intensities of each identifying Raman bands, at 581 cm⁻¹ for E1, 546 cm⁻¹ for E2, 762 cm⁻¹ for E3 and 597 cm⁻¹ for EE2, were compared and normalized against the intensity of a common peak at 783 cm⁻¹. Quantitative analysis yielded most results within an acceptable 20% error.     

Photobleaching as a useful technique in reducing of fluorescence in Raman spectra of blue automobile paint samples

The usefulness of the photo-beaching technique in reducing the fluorescence background in Raman spectra of automotive paints was studied. The method was applied to group of 20 blue solid and metallic paints, in which pigment identification with the use of a green laser (514.5 nm) was not possible due to strong fluorescence. The samples were irradiated by high laser power for a long period of time before acquiring spectra. The process of bleaching was studied in detail based on two samples. Then the procedure was applied to all samples before acquiring spectra. Due to irradiation fluorescence originating from the background decreased, whereas Raman scattering features of samples stayed unchanged. The applied procedure satisfactorily quenched fluorescence in 90% of examined samples and made pigment identification possible.     

Similarity in dose responses, action spectra and red light responses between phototropism and photoinhibition of growth.

Abstract— First positive phototropism and photoinhibition of growth of oat colcoptiles share similar dose response curves and action spectra. Both responses increase with increasing dosage of blue light (440 nm) up to 10¹³ photons cm^-2, then both decrease with increasing dosage. Action spectra for both responses have peaks at 360, 440, and 470 nm. When red light (660 nm) was given beforehand, the sensitivity of each response to blue light was lessened. These data indicate a close correlation between phototropism and photoinhibition of growth. Both phenomena can be explained as a result of photoinhibition of basipetal transport of auxin.