Raman Webinar Presentations

Additional webinars to be announced shortly. Please choose from our pre-recorded webinars below or visit our other webinars at www.thermoscientific.com/spectroscopywebinars

Advances in the Characterization of Graphene and Graphene Based Materials using Raman Spectroscopy

Graphene and Graphene-based materials (for example carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide) have generated intense interest due to their impressive electrical, mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties, which it is hoped will lead to a new generation of graphene-based devices. In all stages of application development there is a requirement for materials characterization and analysis; from the initial research stages, through to testing of the finished devices.  Raman spectroscopy provides important information about these materials at the molecular level. This includes information about layer thickness, uniformity, quality and functionalization, key parameters that ultimately determines the properties these materials will possess. This webinar will present an overview of recent work where Raman spectroscopy is playing vital role in realizing the development  and full potential of these materials, spanning the range of applications from advanced composites, energy storage, transparent electrodes, and sensor technologies.

Trace Evidence Analysis - Raman and FT-IR Working Together

Trace evidence examiners are required to obtain as much information as possible from microscopic amounts of material whilst respecting the need to maintain the integrity of the samples for any future forensic requirements. This webinar will demonstrate how spectroscopy plays a role in assisting the courts to answer some very difficult questions, with specific examples including additional levels of discrimination of fibers, glass; DNA –friendly methods of condom lubricant analysis and the potential for further discrimination of gun-shot residue.

Guest co-presenter:  

Tiernan Coyle from Contact Traces - Specialists in Forensic Science

Characterizing New Graphene Devices with Raman and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Good materials characterization is required across all steps in the creation of new graphene devices -- from guiding the initial graphene synthesis, transfer to the desired substrate, and understanding chemical modification and analysis of the finished device. Our webinar presentation shows how a multi-technique approach using both Raman spectroscopy and XPS can address the challenges posed at these steps.

Raman microscopy is well suited for the characterization of graphene. A vibrational spectroscopy, it is very sensitive to small changes in the geometric structure of a molecule and its environment. This sensitivity makes Raman an ideal probe for a number of important properties specific to graphene and nanotube samples, such as layer thickness, sample integrity and tube diameter.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is ideally suited to the determination of the surface chemistry and the way in which that chemistry changes in the surface and near-surface region. The technique provides quantitative elemental and chemical information with extremely high surface specificity and is ideal for comprehensively and quantitatively characterizing the elemental composition and chemical bonding states in graphene and carbon nanotubes.

Using both techniques in concert allows analysts to completely characterize carbon nanomaterials. Our webinar demonstrates the utility of these techniques, illustrated by examples from graphene samples created by mechanical exfoliation, chemical reduction and CVD methods.

Areas of Interest –

• Graphene Devices
• Transparent conductive electrode for microelectronics
• Thin film transistors
• Touch Screen Devices
• Graphene-based catalytic systems
• Molecular Sensors

Building Better Batteries:  Raman Spectroscopy - An Essential Tool for Evaluating New Lithium Ion Battery Components

In our mobile society, we heavily rely on portable energy sources leading to driving improvements in battery technology. Although lithium-ion batteries offer the highest energy density among present commercial rechargeable batteries, the technology is still evolving and improving. Raman spectroscopy is a very versatile analytical tool that can be used to analyze the diverse materials that are used in lithium-ion batteries.

This presentation will illustrate how the structural and chemical information obtained from Raman spectroscopy can be applied to the analysis of components of lithium-ion batteries including cathodes, anodes and electrolytes.

Accelerate Your Research: Raman for Multi-user and Interdisciplinary Labs

This webinar covers:

• an overview of Raman spectroscopy for non-destructive, rapid analysis with minimal sample preparation
• detailed time analysis of traditional Raman versus the DXR spectrometer approach
• technical information
• application examples: silicon solar cells, graphene, forensics, aqueous samples

Whether you are learning about Raman for the first time or are considering how to harness the power of this technique for your own research lab or user facility, join us to explore how our DXR Raman instruments can help push your data to the next level. 

Advances in Raman Spectroscopic Characterization of Carbon Nanomaterials

Carbon nanomaterials continue to show great potential in a variety of applications that include microelectronics, energy harvesting and storage, advance composites, advanced surface treatment and membrane technologies. Raman Spectroscopy, with its high-content information, offers an indispensible tool in understanding structural and chemical changes needed to advance carbon nanomaterials for a given application. This presentation will focus on characterizing graphene, carbon nanotubes, and diamond-like carbon films using Raman spectroscopy.

Learn how to:

• Generate vital qualitative and quantitative data
• Interpret Raman spectra for layer thickness, domain size and more
• Assess efficiency of carbon nanotube separation/purification methods

Forensic Analysis - FT-IR, Raman and GC-IR Within Minutes

FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy are both SWGDRUG Category A techniques that can be used by forensic scientists to quickly identify unknown materials and confidently give expert testimony in court. They are also very useful for addressing SWGMAT needs.

The new Thermo Scientific Nicolet* iS*50 FT-IR with a built-in diamond ATR and sample compartment Raman module, combines these two techniques in a single compact workstation. Get answers in less than 30 seconds and switch to your next analysis method with a push of a button. The system can also be expanded with a new GC-IR interface to provide unprecedented ease of use for drug isomer identification.

Join us to learn how these techniques can be used for:

• Seized drugs – controlled substances and cutting agents
• Clandestine labs – chemical evaluation
• Hit and run – paint and materials
• Textile identification – fibers, coatings, and residues

Forensic Applications of Microspectroscopy – Tools for Confident Sampling and Data Reporting

This webinar demonstrates how new tools like enhanced low-pressure diamond cells and micro-ATR produce excellent results on samples important in Forensic investigations.

Topics will include:

• Sampling approaches to improve performance and data reliability for FTIR microscopy in forensic laboratories.

• Learning special tools for simplifying micro-FTIR including: diamond cells, Micro ATR, preparation tips, and creating data bases

• Combining FTIR with an optical microscope to extend analysis power to many small and complex forensic samples such as fibers, paint chips, inks, and other physical evidence.

• How IR microscopy can produce excellent results on fibers, paints, inks, and energetic materials samples. Using Raman microscopy for some samples to get around certain spatial resolution and sample preparation problems, while supplying equally diagnostic results.

• Software tools applicable to both techniques for identifying unknowns and mixtures will also be discussed.

Employing Raman Spectroscopy for the Characterization of Carbon Nanomaterials

The relatively recent discovery of new allotropes of carbon, namely, carbon nanotubes and graphene, has opened up exciting new opportunities in the area of engineered materials. Carbon nanotubes and graphene, due to the unique properties they can possess, are being investigated for use in a variety of different application areas that include microelectronic devices, solar energy collection and storage, biosensors, and high strength advanced composites to name a few. The properties that these materials can possess, will be highly dependent upon the how these materials have been produced and or modified. Raman spectroscopy is well suited to provide vital information about these new carbon materials. This presentation will focus upon what information is present in the Raman spectrum of carbon nanotubes and graphene and how Raman spectroscopy is a critical tool for everyone involved in the development and use of these materials.

Raman and Infrared Microscopy of Minerals and Fluid Inclusions

Infrared and Raman spectroscopy are convenient and information-rich analytical techniques for characterizing a wide variety of samples important in earth science. Combined with microscopy, vibrational spectra can identify specific minerals, characterize contents of fluid inclusions, and produce chemical images of complex mixtures. This presentation discusses how Infrared and Raman complement other micro-techniques such as optical microscopy and SEM-EDS. We will show how Raman microscopy, in particular, can deliver key data not possible by any other technique.

Raman Spectroscopy Advances in the Analysis of Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene

Raman spectroscopy continues to provide a wealth of invaluable information to those involved in carbon nanomaterial research and development. Raman spectroscopy can characterize these materials at different stages in their development, including guiding new synthetic routes for higher quality materials to assessing the effectiveness of desired chemical modifications and evaluating finished devices. This Webinar will present a survey of applications where Raman gives important insight into these quickly evolving materials.

Illicit Tablet Analysis Using Raman Spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy can be used for the analysis of prescription, counterfeit, and designer drug tablets in just minutes with little to no sample preparation. As part of the presentation we will make our debut presentation of the new Law Enforcement and Security (LEnS) spectral library which contains over 8300 unique spectra. Also featured will be the use of our multicomponent spectral search software, OMNIC Specta, for simplifying the analysis of complex tablet data.

Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Materials: Obtaining Representative Measurements

Hosted by Materials Today

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful, effective tool for carbon nanotube characterization. This fast, non-destructive technique provides highly detailed information at the molecular level.

This presentation will provide a thorough understanding of:

• what is represented in a Raman spectrum
• how to obtain representative Raman spectra from bulk samples of carbon materials
• key parameters (physical nature of carbon materials, instrument considerations, experimental conditions and sampling methods) to considered for a Raman measurement
• how to optimize the aforementioned parameters to ensure that you are capturing everything necessary for supporting routine analytical measurements of carbon nanotubes and related materials.

Recording available for viewing through Materials Today

Confocal Raman Spectroscopy for Multi-user and Interdisciplinary Labs

This interactive session will include a case study of a major research university leveraging the powerful performance features of the Thermo Scientific DXR Raman Microscope. See firsthand how our instruments are ideally suited to multi-user, interdisciplinary research facilities.

Topics will include:
• Raman spectroscopy for non-destructive, rapid analysis with minimal sample preparation
• Instrumentation for every application, from graphene and carbon nanotechnology to nanoscale medicine/pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and solar cells – among many other fields
• A flexible, easy to use tool that reduces maintenance requirements, minimizes the drain on support staff, and streamlines user training -- lowering the overall cost of ownership.

SERS for Food Safety

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) is an analytical technique that exhibits considerable benefits in the detection of foreign proteins either intentionally or accidentally introduced into food.
SERS is useful in making low concentration analysis effective for Raman spectroscopy. In comparison to traditional ELISA tests SERS is much faster and the risk of false positive and negative answers is much lower. The fast, specific protein detection by SERS can be utilized for food allergen testing.

This one-hour Webinar will show why SERS is an ideal technique for analyzing foreign proteins in food. *Low concentration foreign protein in milk and orange juice *Specificity for specific protein analysis *Fast analysis time - less than 45 minutes *Separation of analyte from complex aqueous matrix *Different approaches for protein analysis using SERS *Faster and more reliable results than ELISA

Inks and Document Analysis using SERS Sampling

SERS is an analytical technique that exhibits considerable benefits in the identification of inks and analysis of documents. Using colloids and substrates, SERS enables the discrimination of many analytes that other spectroscopies cannot obtain. Compared to other forensic laboratory techniques, sample preparation for SERS is minimal and analysis times are much shorter and much more productive.

Our webinar covers how this technique is applied to the identification of inks and document analysis.

An Introduction to Modern Raman Spectroscopy

If you have been thinking about adding Raman spectroscopy to your laboratory, this webinar is for you. Developments in Raman have made this technique easier and more affordable. No longer a technique that requires dedicated expertise, Raman is finding its place as a useful analytical tool. With applications in a broad range of industrial and academic environments that range from polymer science to pharmaceuticals, forensics, geology, nanomaterials and art conservation, this is a technique that brings with it important advantages.

Simplified Analysis of Complex Mixtures

This webinar demonstrates two recent advances in Raman spectroscopy that are very beneficial to the materials verification and identification. Each technique capitalizes on Raman's non-destructive sampling capabilities and its ability to sample through plastics and glass. We demonstrate Variable Dynamic Point Sampling (VDPS), which scans the sample to help characterize heterogeneous mixtures such as street drugs or prescription and over-the-counter tablets. And Thermo Scientific OMNIC Specta software, which dramatically simplifies material identification challenges through novel multi-component search capabilities.

Introduction to Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) for Routine Analytical Environments

This webinar introduces surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and it’s capabilities and applications. SERS offers capabilities that may not be offered by other techniques, and provides information that may not be accessible through other techniques. Coupling SERS with the powerful instrumentation and software allows you to get the most out of this technique. We introduce SERS, how it can be used and its benefits. We demonstrate how SERS offers useful information for a variety of applications, and the unique aspects SERS brings to Raman spectroscopy.

Characterization of Microcrystalline Silicon with Raman

This webinar introduces the capabilities of Raman spectroscopy for the characterization of microcrystalline silicon. It covers the determination of amorphous and crystalline silicon. And includes a in depth discussion of the background on how Raman measurements work, and the benefits Raman offers to the characterization of your silicon samples. Examples include the analysis of small features and the confocal analysis of coated samples. By the end of this webinar you will be familiar with the ways in which Raman can add powerful analysis capabilities to your laboratory for characterizing microcrystalline silicon.

Raman Spectroscopy: A Powerful Tool for Challenging Polymer Samples

Most polymer laboratories are already using FT-IR with considerable success. If you are like many chemists, you are now probably thinking about adding Raman to your vibrational spectroscopy analytical tools. Raman is a complementary technique that provides effortless sub-micron spatial resolution for easy analysis of thin laminates and coatings-even in the presence of strongly IR absorbing layers--confocal depth-profiling capabilities permitting rapid analysis of embedded defects, without needing to perform time consuming and destructive sample preparation.

Raman Spectroscopy: A Powerful Tool for the Modern Gemologist

Sophisticated counterfeiting and adulterating techniques are requiring more advanced analytical techniques for the modern gemologist. Gemstone buyers are looking for greater assurance that their purchases are authentic. Raman spectroscopy is one of the analytical techniques that gemologists have begun to turn to help with these issues. If you are a gemologist who has heard about Raman spectroscopy and would like to know more then this presentation is for you.