The Raman Confocal Microscope 

The Witec Confocal Raman Microscope (alpha300) provides a non-destructive, label free and chemical specific microscopy technique that creates high-resolution 3D visualisations of a samples internal structure. It works by collecting 2D Raman scans at multiple focal planes (Z-stacking) to visualise the spatial distribution of molecules within a 3D volume.

 

Our Raman microscope can also be coupled to out MIRA-3 SEM to provide a correlative microscopy technique whereby the confocal Raman microscope is Integrated into the vacuum chamber of the Scanning Electron microscope (RISE). This combination allows users to perform both SEM imaging and confocal Raman imaging on the exact same sample area, linking ultra-structural surface information (from SEM) with chemical, molecular composition data (from Raman). 

 

Feature Descriptions 

  • 532 nm and 785 excitation laser module
  • Zeiss 10x, 50x and 100x bright field objectives
  • Zeiss 20x and 50x darkfield objectives
  • Zeiss 63x water dipping objective
  • WITec Particle scout software (automated image and spectrum acquisition for each particle)
  • WITec TrueMatch Database management software (to create custom libraries and to support S.T. Japan Databases)
  • S.T. Japan Database

 

Usage Examples and Applications

BIOSCIENCE

Raman microscopy is a non-destructive, label-free analytical technique used in life sciences for imaging, identifying, and analyzing the biochemical composition of cells, tissues, and microorganisms without requiring staining. By leveraging Raman scattering, it maps molecular distributions (lipids, proteins, DNA) and monitors real-time metabolic responses to drugs. Common applications include tumor boundary detection in cancer research, stem cell monitoring, and pharmaceutical quality control.

 

ORGANIC MATERIALS

Raman microscopy provides a structural "fingerprint" of materials by analyzing inelastic light scattering. It is a critical tool for polymer and carbon material characterization because it requires little to no sample preparation, is fast, and offers high spatial resolution (both lateral and axial) to analyze chemical composition and structure. Different polymers produce distinct spectra and Raman can monitor the crystallinity and molecular orientation of polymers, which influence their mechanical strength.

 

INORGANIC MATERIALS

Raman microscopy is a non-destructive analytical technique that combines Raman spectroscopy with an optical microscope to provide chemical and structural identification of inorganic materials with high spatial resolution (typically). It is heavily used in materials science for identifying mineral phases, studying crystal structures, mapping chemical distributions, and examining defects in inorganic samples, such as minerals, oxides, ceramics, and semiconductors.

 

The Raman Confocal Microscope