Infrared Raman Microscope World’s Only Instrument Capable of Performing Infrared & Raman Spectroscopy

Shimadzu has introduced a new Airsight FTIR Raman microscope which is claimed to be the world's only microscope capable of performing both FTIR and Raman spectroscopy.

Shimadzu has announced the release of the unique new Airsight FTIR Raman microscope. Airsight is a superior instrument and world's only microscope capable of performing both FTIR and Raman spectroscopy.

A single instrument is now all that is needed to successfully use these two separate analytical techniques. That makes Airsight a highly streamlined – and economical – device with a wide range of industry applications, including the analysis of trace contaminants and quality control in the chemical, electrical, electronic, machinery and transportation equipment fields as well as in research into microplastics, shares the company.

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy

An infrared microscope combines an optical microscope with an infrared spectroscopy analytical instrument. Using a comprehensive qualitative analysis database, such a microscope is widely used to detect impurities. A Raman microscope, on the other hand, combines an optical microscope with a combination of instruments that detect the spectra acquired using Raman spectroscopy. This type of microscope is particularly effective at analyzing aqueous solutions, inorganic substances and microscopic samples which are difficult to analyze using an infrared microscope, adds the firm.

Performance to the power of two

Airsight brings these two analytical techniques together in one instrument. According to the company, it is the only microscope capable of acquiring Fourier-transform infrared spectra and Raman spectra from the same position using an extremely small spot. The main benefit is obvious to scientists and technicians: This combination provides important complementary information and results in a more thorough analysis.

And Airsight does this efficiently. For instance, multiple spectra can be acquired from the same stage and without moving the sample. The single Airsight instrument also requires less space than an installation using both an infrared microscope and a separate Raman microscope. And, since the same software can be used for control of both techniques, overall operability is greatly enhanced, opines the firm.

Airsight features & benefits:

• Gather data efficiently on both organic and inorganic substances – with a single microscope

• Though infrared microscopes are useful for analyzing organic substances, they have difficulty obtaining information on some inorganic substances.

• Raman microscopes, on the other hand, can obtain information about inorganic substances, such as titanium oxide and pure carbon compounds. Airsight makes it possible to simply analyze the main organic substances as well as any inorganic additives using a single microscope.

• Perform both infrared and Raman measurements – without moving the sample

• Once the sample has been set on the infrared Raman microscope stage, both infrared and Raman spectra can be acquired from the same position in an extremely small section, without moving the sample. This eliminates the time required to search for the measurement position when performing the analysis using two instruments.

• Achieve both FTIR and Raman measurements and analyses – using the same software

• The type of spectra to be acquired can be easily switched using the AMsolution control software. The software can also overlay and search both infrared and Raman spectra, create libraries, etc.

• Utilize a unique combination of high-end cameras – by Shimadzu

• Airsight comes equipped with Shimadzu’s proprietary wide-view camera, infrared microscope camera and Raman-use objective lens. The wide-view camera not only enables observations up to a 10 × 13 mm area, it also supports variable digital zooming. In addition, it shares positional information with the infrared microscope camera and Raman-use objective lens, which ensures that the target of interest remains under observation. The infrared microscope camera can observe areas as small as 30 × 40 µm, and the Raman-use 100× objective lens can observe areas as minute as 7.5 × 10 µm.

• Measure length simply – using the AMsolution control software

• The length of the targeted object can easily be measured using the AMsolution control software. By simply clicking the start and end points for the measurement, the measurement length is displayed in the window. Another click and the length measurement results can be sent as output. This function is highly useful in measuring the diameter of microplastic particles.

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