Confocal Raman spectrometer

• Subject Area: Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 552981260

The Raman laboratory at the Institute of Theoretical Physics at TU Bergakademie Freiberg has been internationally established in the field of Raman spectroscopy since more than 50 years. Unfortunately, the currently used confocal Raman VIS spectrometer is more than 20 years old and is encountering frequent defects. The spectrometer has extensively been used successfully in research of the institute as well as of other institutes of TU Bergakademie Freiberg as evident from more than 120 publications in international reviewed journals during the past 20 years. The new confocal Raman spectrometer applied for will allow to continue and to extend research in the areas of multifunctional oxides, semiconductors, thermoelectric materials, ceramics, thin dielectric films, carbon-based materials, minerals, or functionalized materials based on recycles. The required system includes a high-resolution (spatial and spectral) confocal micro-Raman spectrometer as well as three lasers, being suitable for measurements over the entire visible wavelength range. The use of a micro-Raman spectrometer with mapping and confocal options is essential for all current and planned work. Confocal Raman spectroscopy enables accurate measurements with good lateral resolution combined with good depth resolution. This is essential for investigations of the spatial distribution of strain fields, ferro-elastic domains, structured or layered systems, phase homogeneities, or thermal conductivity determined by the opto-thermal method. The three different laser wavelengths offer the possibility to vary the probed volume by making use of the different penetration depth of the corresponding light, or to exploit the advantages of resonant Raman spectroscopy for some materials. The system should have the best possible spectral resolution for detecting very small Raman shifts, a motorized XYZ microscope stage, and should have the ability to rapidly change the excitation laser and/or the laser power. A comparable device is not available at the Faculty of Chemistry, Physics and Biosciences of TU Bergakademie Freiberg. The Raman spectrometers available at other faculties are not accessible to the required extent or do not meet the special requirements in order to carry out current and planned research of the requesting working groups.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Konfokales Ramanspektrometer
• Instrumentation Group: 1840 Raman-Spektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg
• Leader: Dr. Cameliu Himcinschi