VisLab laboratory of IMM possesses a latest generation Raman micro-spectroscope equipped for vibrational measurements with high spatial and spectral resolution, at controlled temperature and in fast-imaging. The apparatus can be used to collect information and chemico-physical maps without the need for sample preparation and alteration, therefore for non-destructive studies and in operating conditions. Possible applications include: identification of microplastics and pollutants (also on solutions, by vacuum filtering), biomedical diagnostics (molecules, cells and tissues), biosensing and bioanalytics (also with SERS enhancement effects), thermography on materials and electronic devices in operative conditions, in vivo monitoring of organic systems and cells, monitoring of inorganic systems during annealing, control of degradation processes, identification of pigments and dopants.
The main advantages of the system are the remarkable precision of positioning and repositioning of the motorized stage of the microscope, therefore the spatial control of the measurement, and the ability to exploit high sensitivity collection systems of the diffused optical signal to allow high speed detection, therefore an extremely rapid mapping of samples and devices. In this way, it is possible to follow in real time processes of variation of the chemico-physical properties of the samples, to identify areas of interest on large samples, or to modify in a controlled way the measurement conditions of surfaces and devices. In addition, the VisLab laboratory has skills related to the multivariate analysis of spectral data, for the extraction and processing of statistical information on the samples under study.