Nanoscale Raman Imaging
The spatial resolution of a standard confocal Raman microscope system is limited by the optical diffraction limit, resulting in an achievable spatial resolution in the order of <1 µm (depending on laser wavelength, objective and confocal coupling). Moving to the diffraction limit and beyond requires a rigorous microscopic approach, which is why the HORIBA Scientific systems use true confocal optics to give the highest possible spatial resolution.
Our approach for high spatial resolution Raman imaging depends on the precise requirements for the measurement, but broadly falls into three main categories:
Standard micron-scale confocal Raman imaging
Enables localisation, identification and mapped imaging of particles and features on the micron scale, utilising mechanical sample stages and high magnification objectives.
Sub-micron confocal Raman imaging
The use of optimized microscope objectives, careful selection of the most appropriate laser wavelength, and specialized mapping acquisition enables Raman microscopy to push towards the true optical limit of resolution - the far field diffraction limit.
Nano-scale confocal Raman imaging
Moving beyond the traditional far field diffraction limit requires a near field approach – using techniques such as NSOM/SNOM and Raman-AFM tip enhanced Raman scattering (TERS). Near field spectroscopy retains the nanometer spatial information which is lost in far field experiments, and thus allows Raman imaging with spatial resolution down to 50 nm and beyond.