Raman spectroscopy is an analytical technique used to study the structure and composition of materials by observing how light interacts with their molecules.
Here’s how it works:
- A laser light is shined on a sample.
- Most of the light scatters back at the same energy (this is called Rayleigh scattering).
- But a very small portion of the light changes its energy after interacting with the vibrations of the molecules—this is called Raman scattering.
- By measuring these energy shifts, we can learn about the vibrational modes of the molecules.
From a Raman spectrum, scientists can determine:
- The types of chemical bonds in a material.
- The molecular structure and functional groups present.
- Information about crystalline structure, stress, and defects in solids.
Raman spectroscopy is widely used in chemistry, materials science, biology, and even forensic science because it is non-destructive and often requires little to no sample preparation.