Micro-Raman and Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of Carbon Allotropes

Summary: Raman spectroscopic data are obtained on various carbon allotropes like diamond, amorphous carbon, graphite, graphene and single wall carbon nanotubes by micro-Raman spectroscopy, tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy imaging, and the potentials of these techniques for advanced analysis of carbon structures are discussed. Depending on the local organisation of carbon the characteristic Raman bands can be found at different wavenumber positions, and e.g. quality or dimensions of structures of the samples quantitatively can be calculated. In particular tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy allows the investigation of individual single wall carbon nanotubes and graphene sheets and imaging of e.g. local defects with nanometer lateral resolution. Raman spectra of all carbon allotropes are presented and discussed.