With the increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries, various compounds have been investigated as cathode materials. Typical examples include lithium cobaltite and lithium manganate, and the amount of oxygen deficiency is important as one of the items to evaluate the material properties. This is because deficient oxygen has an important influence on battery performance.

Petrochemistry is a process in which basic products are generated using oil and natural gas as raw materials in order to produce base set of chemical compounds (derivatives) for diverse related industries, such as synthetic fibers and synthetic resins. In Japan, naphtha is mainly used as the raw material for this process. In other countries, however, less expensive manufacturing of derivatives such as ethylene manufacturing from non-naphtha materials (e.g., shale gas and coal).

In this application note, we highlight a case study focused on the characterization of novel molecular dyes with PL emission in the NIR II (1000 – 1700 nm) and NIR III (1700 – 3000 nm) regions. The study utilized the Fluorolog-QM, QuantaMaster 8075-21 spectrofluorometer, and liquid nitrogen-cooled InAs and InGaAs NIR detectors.

In this note, we employ a time-resolved methodology, which utilizes the Single-Shot Transient Digitizer (SSTD) mode of the Fluorolog-QM equipped with a pulsed microsecond Xe lamp and an integrating sphere to determine both the phosphorescence decay and the gated phosphorescence spectrum of a sample. In addition, a spectral scan is performed across the Rayleigh peak for both the sample and the blank.

Observing the nanoRaman signature of a sample while it undergoes electrochemically induced modifications can reveal the local appearance of transient species and give the possibility of studying their formation kinetics.

In this application note, the authors present a novel, rapid method for identifying low concentrations of oil contamination in process water using Fluorescence Excitation Emission Matrix (FEEM) combined with Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC). This method allows for quick detection and analysis of oil contaminants in process water, offering a practical solution for industries where timely intervention is crucial.

Alkaline batteries have unique features compared to zinc-carbon batteries, including high energy density, a wide operating temperature range, high current capability, and a leak-proof design. They are also used for a wide range of purposes. The alkaline battery is generally made with a positive electrode consisting of a mixture of manganese oxide and graphite, a negative electrode of zinc, and an electrolyte solution of potassium hydroxide.

This application note describes FLIM technology and its implementation using HORIBA's FLIMera and InverTau instruments. These instruments, based on time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC), enhance fluorescence microscopy by providing an additional contrast mechanism based on fluorescence lifetime.

Fracking is a technique where liquids and a proppant is pushed into a drilled cavity. The high pressure fractures the rock, which releases oil and natural gas. Proppants keep the rock open and allow flow of these materials out of the rock for collection and processing. A common proppant is sand, which is carefully taken and processed to ensure purity as well as correct shape and size. The Analysette 28 is a dynamic image analyzer, which takes pictures to measure particle size and shape.

Exciting and collecting TERS responses on WS2 thin flakes with two laser simultaneously enriches their spectral response and yields precious insights on their optoelectronic properties, while reducing the total acquisition time and avoiding any probe enhancement variation.

Recently, A-TEEM (Absorbance–Transmittance Excitation–Emission Matrix) fluorescence spectroscopy has emerged as a rapid and effective alternative for BOD detection.

This application note introduces findings from the analyses of two illuminated manuscript leaves in the collection of the Yoshino Gypsum Art Foundation (hereafter referred to as “the Foundation”) using a HORIBA XGT-9000 X-ray Analytical Microscope. Among the Foundation’s elemental analysis investigations into the pigments used in the two leaves, this application note highlights the analysis results of the blue pigments and also the interpretation on the results. The interpretation is quoted from the Foundation’s publication.

Measuring nanoparticles below 10 nm is usually tricky for most particle size distribution analyzers, as the scattering signal from particles that small tend to be very low. Dynamic light scattering is usually the only particle sizing technique that can size particles that small, but the absolute lower limits of the technique is often not probed. In this application note, the nanoPartica SZ-100V2 was used to measure sucrose solutions and allulose solutions to investigate the lower size limit of the instrument using the Nano Analysis Mode.

Phosphates, nitrates and potash are common parts of most fertilizers, containing the three main elements needed for plant growth. Size and shape information can help determine the speed at which these nutrients can break down, how homogonous the mixture is and many other qualities. In this application note, a mixture of diammonium phosphate and monoammonium phosphate was tested on the Analysette 28, a dynamic image analyzer.

Verifying the presence of copper in a Paraiba tourmaline is an important approach to separate it from other similar color tourmalines. This application note introduces the feasibility of non-destructive copper detection inside a small Paraiba tourmaline gemstone using HORIBA’s micro-XRF XGT-9000 X-ray Analytical Microscope.

This application note demonstrates the use of pulsed RF GD-OES for nanometric depth profiling of (Al,Ga)N quantum wells and quantum dots. The technique supports process optimization and quality control of layer thickness and composition in advanced UV optoelectronic structures.

Steel coating plays an important role in preventing corrosion of steel samples. Therefore, an understanding of coatings can help in improving the steel properties. XRF is a powerful technique for measuring thickness and composition of coatings. We carried out non-destructive thickness and composition analysis of Zinc-Nickel coating on steel using the MESA-50 X-ray fluorescence analyzer.

Swords are made from different materials in different eras in different countries. From an archaeological point of view, elemental analysis provides hints of the origin and the production date of a sword. It also provides hints to identify whether it’s imitation or real.

Emerging display technologies demand high brightness, low power consumption and longer lifetime. Arrays, of self-emitting, micron-sized LEDs or Micro-LED (µLED), are considered a strong contender to replace current OLED or LCD displays.

Nonferrous metals such as aluminum, copper, and titanium are functional, lightweight materials with excellent thermal conductivity and heat resistance, and are used in a variety of applications. Oxygen, hydrogen, and sulfur are intentionally added to these materials to improve their functions. In addition, the concentration of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon as foreign substances is controlled to improve quality.

The ability to measure nanoparticles down to 10 nm is becoming more and more important to numerous fields as processes and products become more refined and demand for higher resolution particle size distribution data increases. In this application note, the ViewSizer 3000 was used to measure 10 nm silver nanoparticles confirmed by sizing from transmission electron microscope (TEM) images.

Traditional methods for assessing water quality, like chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, are often time-consuming and costly. This application note details a more efficient and cost-effective approach using optical spectroscopic techniques to characterize dissolved organic matter (DOM) and monitor anthropogenic organic pollutants from aquafarms.

Milk is a significant source of calcium (Ca), which is essential for various bodily functions, including maintaining bone health, muscle function, and nerve transmission. In this application note, we introduce HORIBA’s compact benchtop X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, MESA-50, as an easy, rapid, and safe method for determining calcium content in milk.

In this application note, we prepared two small violet color stones and demonstrated the feasibility of micro-XRF for screening to distinguish a tanzanite gemstone and its imitation non-destructively.

This application note demonstrates how deep-UV optimized HORIBA multimodal SMS can be applied to characterize PVT-grown 4H-SiC substrates, as well as epitaxial 4H-SiC structures.

Raman microscopy combined with chemometric analysis enables precise, non-destructive characterization of cellulose sheets, determining crystallinity, amorphous content, and distinguishing cellulose I and II for optimized quality control.

This application note describes a breakthrough non-invasive analytical approach using Excitation-Emission Matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy for identifying natural dyes in Chinese royal textiles from the Qing dynasty (1616-1912 CE).

Phosphor plays a key role to obtain white light as for blue LED + phosphor and near ultraviolet LED + phosphors. In order to improve high bright white LEDs, it is necessary that the whole phosphor particle emits light homogeneously. When measuring with CL the phosphor used as white LED, the area which does not emit light in phosphor particle can be observed. CL system is used for evaluation of non-luminescent area to improve luminescent efficiency and characteristics.

Asphalt emulsions are droplets of asphalt dispersed in water with the aid of an emulsifying agent. Particle size of the asphalt droplets is critical to stability and application performance.

To control the properties of paper, certain materials may be used during manufacturing. The particle size distribution of these materials directly affects properties such as gloss, brightness, opacity, color bleed, ink mileage, and more.

Identification of pigments is important in the archaeological and art research fields. Some pigments were used during specific times and then were no longer used in later times. Therefore, we can estimate the period when artwork was created through identification of the pigments. Micro-XRF is an effective pre-screening analytical technique to narrow down the candidates of multiple pigments used on a painting, thanks to its non-destructive approach and imaging capability.

This application note details the use of bagging (random forest, RF) and boosting (extreme gradient boosting, XGBoost) machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict red wine mouthfeel attributes from simple chemical measurements.

In this application note, a ~26 nm nanogold sample was measured with two different setups of detector angle and detector position using the HORIBA SZ-100V2 nanoparticle analyzer. One setup was with the 90° detector and cell center position, and the other setup was with the 173° detector and cell wall position. The absorption spectrum of the nanogold was also confirmed using a HORIBA Duetta Fluorescence and Absorbance Spectrometer.

Raman spectroscopy is an essential tool for the characterization of semiconductors. However, Raman spectroscopy's spatial resolution is limited by the diffraction limit to about 200-300 nanometers, which can be insufficient for analyzing the increasingly smaller features of modern electronic devices.

Phase Modulated Spectroscopic Ellipsometry is an excellent technique for the highly accurate characterization of complete TFT-LCD device. The technique allows the determination of film thickness, optical properties but also more complex properties such as graded or anisotropic layers and effect of dopants. In the flat panel industry the pressure to reduce manufacturing coasts is and reliable metrology tools are required to control the different steps of the process. Spectroscopic ellipsometry is a non-destructive technique which presents advanced capabilities and proven reliability tailored for qualification and on-line production control.

To accurately and quickly measure the amount of carbon and sulfur contained in the material.

This application note introduces pigment identification using micro-XRF and Raman microscopy on a Japanese flag “Hinomaru”, which is presumed to be the oldest and designed by an ancient Japanese Emperor Go-Daigo. The two spectroscopic analyses identified that the red pigment used on the flag matched the cinnabar ore (Mercury(II) sulfide) mined from the Mine near the place where the Emperor lived.

Disinfecting your hands with hydroalcoholic gel has become a daily practice. In the meanwhile, 70° alcohol has been used for even longer to disinfect wounds. But, to remain efficient, the alcohol concentration of these products must not be below a defined threshold and must be controlled. This application note demonstrates how to evaluate alcohol concentrations in a quality control process with Raman.

Carbon, as a constituent of matter, is broadly classified into organic carbon and inorganic carbon. Organic carbon refers to carbon contained in organic materials, while inorganic carbon refers to elemental carbon and carbonate carbon. The presence of carbonate in a sample taken from an unknown planet indicates the possibility of the presence of water on that planet. Therefore, the determination of carbonate is very important in space science.

This study, Absorbance-Transmittance Excitation Emission Matrix Method for Quantification of Major Cannabinoids and Corresponding Acids: A Rapid Alternative to Chromatography for Rapid Chemotype Discrimination of Cannabis sativa Varieties, conducted at the University of Mississippi and published in 2022 in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, explores the potential of simultaneous acquisition of absorbance transmittance excitation-emission matrix data, A-TEEM™ spectroscopy, an optical technique that combines ultraviolet-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy.

Spectrofluorometric analysis, coupled with machine learning modeling, has emerged as a promising approach for authenticating wines based on their molecular fingerprints. This application note details the implementation of spectrofluorometric analysis, specifically absorbance-transmission and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (A-TEEM) technique, along with...

Sugar, a widely consumed dietary ingredient, is present in numerous food products, including desserts and beverages. Its production involves several stages—extraction, purification, crystallization, and drying—each presenting potential contamination risks from plastic-based equipment and packaging. In this work, we demonstrate the typical workflow for microplastics analysis using Raman microspectroscopy.

Mono-disperse polystyrene latex (PSL) standards are commonly used to verify accuracy and proper operation of laser diffraction particle size analyzers. As these materials are somewhat different from normal materials, proper conditions and procedures are necessary to ensure correct results.

In this application note, we compared a real pearl earring with an imitation pearl earring, and we demonstrated elemental analysis using HORIBA’s micro-XRF XGT-9000 to non-destructively evaluate and differentiate them.

Raman spectroscopy enables precise, non-destructive stress analysis in 4H-SiC semiconductors. This study shows how peak shifts in Raman spectra reveal stress variations from surface treatments like cutting, lapping, and CMP—supporting quality control and process optimization in electronics.

GD-OES offers you a way to characterize the surface of under-layers by analyzing GD-OES craters using Raman and µ-XRF, confirming no alteration of the surface in complex organic/inorganic coatings.

With in-line X-ray fluorescence measurement, you can accurately determine material thickness or element loading in real-time during production, eliminating the need to remove products for time-consuming laboratory analysis.

Characterization of protein-based samples utilizing fluorescence spectroscopy is fundamental to advancing our understanding of biomolecular structure, interactions, and dynamics, which are crucial for drug discovery, biophysics, and cellular biology. Yet, researchers face persistent challenges.

Sulfer is added in the natural rubber to produce plastic materials. However, it is important to measure the sulfer contained in the rubber to define the chemical and mechanical properties of the final product.

Raman spectroscopy is a very well suited technique to determine both Ge fraction and strain in SiGe layers and Si cap layers. Moreover the possibility of using both UV and visible excitation lines on the same instrument is essential to study structures made up of a Silicon cap layer on top of a SiGe layer. The relative Ge content in the constant Si1-xGex layer is calculated from the visible Raman spectrum and the strain of the cap Si layer is derived from the UV Raman spectrum.

The importance of particle size for power plants is found in their ability to meet environmental regulations while controlling capital expenditures and operating costs. This application page will show how investing in particle size analysis helps control operating costs and improve margins for power plants.

Spectroscopic analysis can reveal the origin of cultural heritages and the historical background at the time. This application note introduces research of a dragonfly eye bead found in a tomb in China. Using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray analytical microscopy, the bead was found to be from the Eastern Mediterranean region and the result suggested China had cultural and economic exchanges with them during that era.

CMP technology is essential in the manufacturing process of large scale semiconductor integrated circuits (LSI). Colloidal silica are widely used as CMP slurries because of their clean spherical shape. Colloidal silica was measured by Partica CENTRIFUGE and its measurement repeatability was confirmed.

In recent years, core-shell particles have attracted significant attention due to their smart properties. Size, morphology, and composition are the key features that strongly affect the performance and suitable applications of such structures.

Due to the corona crisis, hand sanitizer became part of our daily routine. However, their use is not without potential risks because of their microplastics content. HORIBA offers all the tools necessary to analyze and characterize the presence of Microplastics in hand sanitizers: High-performance Raman microscopes, dedicated filtration kit, and especially the powerful particles detection software ParticleFinder™. We analyzed 3 samples of hand sanitizers, from different countries, and we were able to identify the different plastic content of each.

As the steel materials are becoming more sophisticated, such as natural gas or crude oil pipeline, sulfur content is recommended below 0.5 ppm. Hence, more accurate ultra-trace amount sulfur analysis is required. Analysis of trace amount of sulfur in steel materials can be done quickly with the conventional combustion-infrared absorption method, but the problem is that the sensitivity of the detector is insufficient and it can not be measured.

We introduce a non-destructive screening method for gemstone counterfeit analysis using a HORIBA XGT-9000 X-ray Analytical Microscope. We analyzed two emeralds, and without any sample destruction, we could successfully determine that one of them was an imitated product made of a green-colored glass.

Rice mainly consists of starch, but it also contains inorganic nutrients, and it has been reported that different inorganic elements have different distributions in a rice grain. We carried out elemental distribution imaging of inorganic nutrients with the HORIBA XGT-9000 X-ray analytical microscope. The result successfully visualized that P and K were accumulated in specific areas of a rice grain, while S and Zn were uniformly distributed within a rice grain.

This application note summarizes a groundbreaking study in the world of food safety and conservation that delves into the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) phenomenon of nonconjugated rhodamine derivatives, sheds light on the underlying mechanism driving their luminescent properties and unlocks their potential in food spoilage detection.

In the world of winemaking, color is one of the first sensory experiences, setting the stage for the entire tasting journey. Yet, various winemaking practices and environmental factors can diminish the intensity and richness of a wine's color. This has led some winemakers to covertly enhance their wines with concentrates from intensely colored (Teinturier) grapes. Detecting these additions is challenging due to the complex pigment compositions in red wine grape varieties.

Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) is a high-resolution technique for analyzing extracellular particle (EP) size and concentration. Unlike dynamic light scattering (DLS), which offers bulk measurements, NTA tracks individual particle movements, making it ideal for polydisperse samples like extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, longer recording times are often required to capture sufficient data before particles leave the field of view. This study examines how reduced measurement durations impact the trade-off between data acquisition speed and result precision.

GD-OES provides fast, uniform, and precise depth profiling of organic coatings using Ar/O₂ plasma, enhancing multilayer analysis capabilities.

Exposure to uranium-based compounds and uranyl ions, even at ultra-low concentrations, can lead to severe health-related problems in humans and damage ecosystems. Therefore, detection in ultra-low concentrations and routine monitoring of water streams and other potential sources is critical.

Raman spectroscopy combined with chemometric modeling enables high-throughput, non-destructive quantification of excipient composition in pharmaceutical powder blends.

Liquid Crystal Modulation Spectroscopic Ellipsometry is an excellent technique for the highly accurate characterization of the compound semiconductor heterostructure AlGaN / GaN. Using the MM-16 spectroscopic ellipsometer it is a straightforward procedure to determine the film thickness and optical dispersions of the complete structure even where the film is several microns thick. The detailed knowledge of the optical parameters of AlGaN alloys is crucial for example for the design of opto-electronic devices. Furthermore, from the optical parameters a calibration curve could be constructed to provide a rapid and efficient determination of the Al content in the AlGaN layers. Thus Spectroscopic Ellipsometry also proves a non-destructive technique for AlGaN alloy composition determination. This method can be equally applied to other compound emiconductors such as SiGe, II-VI semiconductors or classical III-V semiconductors.

Pigments used in an ancient Nepalese manuscript have been analysed and assigned and an ancient glass burial ornament has been probed to identify the specific colouring additives used.

Talc is used in a wide range of manufactured products. These final products are a mixture of many different components, so the talc is usually measured prior to mixture. Particle size is important to final product surface quality or mechanical strength of the product.

Emergence of organic memristors has been hindered by poor reproducibility, endurance stability scalability and low switching speed. Knowing the primary driving mechanism at the molecular scale will be the key to improve the robustness and reliability of such organic based devices.

Tips and Tricks for Photographing Images with a forensic light source

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are thin, light, and flexible string-like materials that are composed entirely of carbon atoms. CNTs easily aggregate, so it is essential to understand and control the state of aggregation in order to achieve the expected performance. For this purpose, an analytical method that can quickly evaluate wide particle size distributions (PSD) from isolated dispersion to aggregation, with high resolution, is necessary.

Compound semiconductors including III-V, III-N materials and SiC are being growingly employed owing to their superior material properties over silicon semiconductors and their role in optimizing the energy efficiency of devices.

The concentration of oxygen in silicon wafers has a significant impact on their electrical resistance. Therefore, it is crucial to control the concentration of oxygen, even in extremely small amounts, in silicon wafers. However, a challenge arises when analyzing highly doped single crystals. Due to their unique properties and high doping levels, the analysis of oxygen in these samples becomes more difficult. The presence of impurities and dopants can interfere with the accurate measurement of oxygen concentration using FT-IR spectroscopy.

Saffron is a target for adulteration due to its high price. Other compounds can be added, such as minerals, oils or synthetic colorants. The two in one Duetta spectrometer was used to rapidly acquire Excitation Emission spectra for different saffron samples from different suppliers.

We will introduce a non-destructive method for garnet characterization. In this application note, we used a HORIBA XGT-9000 X-ray Analytical Microscope (micro-XRF) with a 100 μm ultra-high intensity probe to get the elemental composition information of a small garnet stone. Thanks to the micro-spot with high intensity, we could detect the key elements of the small garnet stone just in 30 seconds, and the obtained elemental composition suggested that the garnet stone had similar composition to the chrome poor pyrope from Monte Suímo, Portugal.

In this application note, a method for accurately predicting the amounts of major constituents of kava root from spectroscopic absorbance and fluorescence measurements made with the HORIBA Aqualog® and the A-TEEM technique is presented.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are particles secreted by cells and contain valuable information for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. However, the collection, storage, preparation, and separation of samples significantly influence EV yield both quantitatively and qualitatively.

We introduce A-TEEM™ spectroscopy as a new and fast way to analyze 45 specific quality parameters in wine. A-TEEM, a fluorescence spectroscopy technique, simultaneously acquires transmission, absorbance, and fluorescence Excitation Emission Matrices, overcoming the inner filter effect on the fly.

Raman spectroscopy coupled with atomic force microscopy (AFM) allows a precise nano-scale characterization of the layers composing thin film solar cells, as well as the cross-contamination occurring at their interfaces.

Raman microscopy combined with high-throughput acquisition enables rapid, non-destructive drug qualification and chemical characterization of pharmaceutical tablets.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry is a powerful technique to characterize the thickness and optical constants of complex ferroelectric stacks with high accuracy and precision. Specific modelling features in this study include the characterization of the anisotropic sapphire substrate, rough overlayer and layer inhomogeneity with depth.

Measuring and controlling the particle size distribution of cement is important both in order to achieve the desired product performance and to control manufacturing costs. Laser diffraction is the more popular method to determine the particle size distribution as the technique is quick, easy, reproducible, and provides a complete picture of the full size distribution.

Temperature management in the process of kneading rubber

Magnetite is used in various applications from speaker production and high speed disk drives to a color additive in cement.

The concern of water contamination from nanoplastics (≤ 1 µm) is a study receiving close scrutiny from FDA and EPA alike. Nanoparticles can gain access through inhalation, ingestion, or dermal exposure and have greater cellular uptake than those bigger in size. Nanoparticles subsequently pose a greater impact on health.

The simplest and most important rule for photographing evidence with an FLS is “What You See is What You Get”. However you see the evidence is exactly as the camera should see it.

Careful control of the particulates in whiskey is an important step to quality flavor and color. Inadequate monitoring of particle size impedes the final product stability, consistency, quality, and price. In this note, the particle science behind these determining factors will be thoroughly examined and explained.

HORIBA’s Duetta, a CCD-based dual fluorescence/absorbance spectrometer is a very capable instrument for the determination of Chl A concentration by fluorescence due to its inherent sensitivity and ability to automatically correct for the inner filter effect (IFE), which ensures a very high dynamic range for such analysis. It also can be used to quantify the concentration of the standard stock solution by absorbance, thus eliminating a need for a dedicated UV-VIS spectrometer.

In this study, particle size of wheat flour is measured by laser diffraction technology that has emerged as the most important and effective technique in the world of particle size analysis. When compared with traditional sieve method, laser diffraction is fast, non-destructive, and provides automated measurement through a simple measurement workflow.

We all consume or have all consumed sugary drinks at least once. Sugar content of those drinks must be regulated. Also, to avoid those properties of sugar, it has been replaced by sweeteners. These have lower sweetness than natural sugars. Whether it is sugar or sweetener, their content just be controlled. Here, we demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy is one solution to identify and evaluate sugar/sweetener concentrations in a quality control process.

The historically established group IV materials keep being the essential component of integrated circuits through more and more complex architectures (three dimensional: FinFET, Nanosheet FET, Gate-all-Around FET).

While precious metals such as Au, Ag, Pt, and Pd are finite materials, they are essential for electronic components and functional materials. Therefore, it is important to separate and extract the necessary precious metals from the final products and recycle them as high-purity precious metals in order to secure resources and reduce costs. Impurities, which must be controlled, include light elements such as carbon, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. For example, Au (gold) used in electronic devices must be at least 99.999% pure.

A wide range of elements are present in plants. Some elements exist to play important roles as plant nutrients or enzymes, and some elements accumulate unexpectedly due to environmental pollution. While it is important to understand the bulk concentrations of individual elements from a nutritional and ecotoxicological perspective, the distribution of elements is also important for a better understanding of the mechanisms of metabolism and uptake in plants.

Refineries are equipped with desulfurization units to remove sulfur from oil. The changes in Carbon and sulfur content in catalysts before and after the usage is very important to determine the efficiency and performance of developed catalyst. Therefore, a reliable quantitative analysis of carbon and sulfur is important.

The challenges of developing stable perovskite material and fabrication processes for commercial use require the use of several spectroscopic techniques such as Raman, Photoluminescence (PL), and Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL), etc. to characterize and optimize the material design and fabrication processes.

Quantum dots are synthesized nanoparticles that have many promising applications in medicine, photovoltaics, and LED’s. Determining the size distribution of quantum dots is important in helping determine synthesis routes.

Tire cords play an important role in the performance of automotive tires, where a brass coating is applied to enhance adhesion between the cord and the rubber. The coating thickness and composition are essential for ensuring optimal properties. In this application note, we utilized HORIBA’s micro-XRF system, XGT-9000, for non-destructive analysis of a brass-coated steel tire cord. We successfully detected fluorescent X-ray peaks of both Cu and Zn, derived from the thin brass coating, and the calculated thickness and composition were consistent with the reported values.

Particle size and distribution directly influence the stability, opacity, texture and performance of paints, inks and coatings. Analysing them using laser diffraction makes it possible to optimise formulations and ensure consistent quality.

3D confocal Raman microscopy enables non-destructive detection and spatial localization of minor crystalline API forms within pharmaceutical extrudates, supporting comprehensive solid-state characterization.

This application note describes the method and conditions to use with the EMIA 820V C/S analyzer to measure cement.

Fast analysis of microscopic metal particles is an important application for engineering (e.g. engine wear analysis). Micro-XRF scanning and spot analysis of specific fragments identifies their chemical composition.

The analysis of brines can be easily performed using the Ultima Expert. Low detection limits are obtained due to the ability of the system to perform the analysis without any dilution thanks to the 3 mm i.d. injector associated with radial viewing and the Total Plasma view that minimize matrix effects and enhance sensitivity. The sheath gas device allows perfect short and long-term stability of the system for routine analysis, without any internal standard, recalibration, or drift correction procedure. Good long term stability allows the use of the best plasma parameters and integration times for enhanced performance.

New aqueous cleaning system for acrylic paint films on paper supports has been developed. Isotonic aqueous cleaning solutions that match the pH and conductivity readings of acrylic paint films and paper supports obtained from agarose gel pellets have been shown to be effective in reducing or removing dirt, dust, active mold growth and associated stains, tide line stains, and discoloration.

For multilayer structures it is always helpful and often necessary to know the properties of each film. Using the Jobin Yvon UNISEL NIR it is a straightforward procedure to investigate the thickness and optical properties of the complete PDP structure. To ensure high yields in quality and quantity the FF-1000 ellipsometer is dedicated to the flat panel industries with a fully automated large area sample stage able to accept samples up to 1000 mm x 1000 mm. This accurate, automated thin film metrology tool delivers both unique performance and proven reliability for online quality control of production processes.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry is a powerful technique for high accuracy characterization of the thickness and optical constants of GeSbTe multilayer system for rewritable optical disc applications. It was shown that measurement in the NIR range gives better accuracy for the analysis of these types of material. The use of the multiple sample analysis reduces parameter correlations and errors for the thinnest layers. Owing to the advanced modeling features included in the DeltaPsi2 software, it is a straightforward procedure to analyze such structures even with layers deposited on both sides of the substrate.

Raman analysis of a 50 μm section of a wheat grain kernel has allowed spectral features corresponding to starch, lipid and proteins to be identified. The distribution of these components on the micron scale has been studied using a Raman mapped image. Decomposition of the Amide I band allows a correlation between protein structures and grain hardness.

A plastic toy is analysed for the presence of lead within its many components. Spot analysis shows concentrations of this harmful element can reach as high as 0.3%. XRF imaging allows its distribution across the toy to be quickly characterised.

The Fluorolog-QM fluorescence spectrometer with an integrating sphere option is an excellent choice for PLQY measurements in NIR. The K-Sphere is very convenient and easy to use, as it couples directly to the sample compartment optics and allows a use of external light sources, such as DPSS lasers, which can be attached to the front of the sample compartment. The sphere has holders for cuvettes, slides and powders that can be easily interchanged. The results demonstrate very good reproducibility and precision for NIR PLQY measurements spanning almost two orders of magnitude. Based on multiple measurements, the demonstrated PLQY standard deviations range from 1.3% for high QY value (77%) to 6.4% for the QY below 1%.

Hypocalcemia, characterized by decrease in blood calcium below normal level, is one of the most common disorders affecting dairy cows at the onset of lactation.

Global drinking water sources remain prone to carcinogenic petroleum product contaminations due to lack of detection capacity at or before treatment plant intake. The Aqualog A-TEEM method provides a reliable optical detection of these compounds at low quantities discriminating from the highly absorbing and fluorescent backgrounds of natural Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) components.

Simultaneous imaging of transmission X-rays and fluorescent X-rays is effective to find defects inside electronic components.

Graphene is foreseen for a handful of electronic and optoelectronic nano-devices. Making nano-devices out of graphene requires nanopatterning. Determining the quality of patterned graphene is essential and the detection of defects demands a sensitive chemical nano-characterization tool.

We carried out plating thickness and composition analysis on dual-layer NiP/Au plating on Cu contacts on a flexible printed circuit using a HORIBA X-ray analytical microscope. We successfully detected Au of ultra-thin layer without any sample preparation. The thickness results of Au and NiP plating were consistent with the provided values and with good repeatability.

Edible insects have received attention as a possible solution as a supplemental source to reduce food insecurity because of their nutritional benefits such as protein, fat, and minerals. Micro-XRF can be used to understand the elemental distributions in insects non-destructively. In this application note, we carried out elemental map imaging on edible crickets using a HORIBA XGT-9000 X-ray analytical microscope and revealed the rich source of zinc in their jaws.

The main application regarding Questioned documents and the use of alternate light sources revolve around “ink differentiation”. Many inks have different formulations, even within the same apparent color type. A tunable forensic light source can be used to identify slight variations in ink type by viewing ink responses as the color of the light is tuned through the visible and infrared regions.

Phospholipid bilayers, major constituents of membranes act as a barrier of selective permeability for the nanoparticles now largely into our environment. Studying the interactions between nanoparticles and cellular membranes requires a molecular chemical probe with nanometer resolution capability.

The two-dimensional graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides materials are on their way to become the core of the future electronics devices. Controlling layer numbers and crystallinity at the wafer scale remains the main challenge.

Polysilicon, the raw material for silicon wafers, requires strict control of carbon content, which affects its conductivity. As higher purity silicon wafers are required, it is important to understand the amount of carbon contained in polysilicon supplied as a material. However, some carbon is present as carbonate and some is attached as CO2, making it very difficult to distinguish between them and analyze the extremely small amount of carbon.

Grass seed for lawns and for agriculture is a common product in every country. Seed size makes a difference, larger seed sizes typically mean a more robust grass plant. The use of seeding machines make uniform size and shape important.

From the perspective of ensuring energy security and reducing CO2 emissions, the use of nuclear energy is attracting worldwide attention. A joint declaration was also released by 25 countries setting forth a cooperation policy toward the ambitious goal of tripling the world's nuclear power generation capacity by 2050 compared to 2020 levels. The safety of nuclear fuel as well as the improvement of fuel performance is extremely important, and the content of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon must be strictly controlled in nuclear material performance.

The Fluorolog-QM’s advanced modularity supports the characterization of electroluminescent materials across a broad time range, from nanoseconds to seconds, without the need for external devices.

As global legislation becomes more restrictive for the heavy-duty industry, test requirements for ultra-low NOx & greenhouse gas become more complex.

Rapid detection of contamination between products is essential to ensure quality, safety and compliance in the chemical industry. Particle size analysis can effectively identify the presence of a contaminant, even at very low concentrations.

This study uses the IN VIVO RAMAN ANALYZER RZ-660 to track Retinol penetration into human skin over time. Raman depth and imaging maps reveal diffusion through epidermal layers and changes in hydration, providing quantitative evidence to support moisturizing and anti-aging cosmetic claims.

Spectroscopic Ellipsometers are optical thin film measurement tools for determining film thickness and optical constants (n,k) of thin film structures. They are widely used in the microelectronics, display, photonics, photovoltaics, lighting, optical and functional coating, biotechnology industries. When compared with other optical metrology instruments the unique strength of spectroscopic ellipsometers are based on their highly precise and simple experimental measurements plus physical and material information derived from optical constants characterization.

In the food industry, the compounds characterization is a critical step to ensure the quality of the products or to provide information to customers which can be sensitive to allergies. In this application note, we showed how optical spectroscopies and laser diffraction can help for food compounds characterization, especially on a specific product, i.e. milks.

Depth profile analysis by GDOES. Pulsed RF Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry offers ultra-fast elemental depth profiling capability for the investigation of thin and thick films. Thanks to the use of a pulsed RF source, coupled with a high resolution optical spectrometer, the GD Profiler 2 provides an excellent depth resolution, allowing the fast evaluation of the coating quality. In this application note, we focus on a MoS2/Pb composite multilayered sample, used as a solid lubricant. The analysis of such a sample shows the excellent performance of this instrument for the study of nm-thick complex coatings.

Can we perform quantitative analysis of hydrogen in a titanium alloy to prevent hydrogen embrittlement?

In general, silver colloids are prepared by liquid phase reduction. The reducing agent type and conditions can be varied to obtain a silver colloid of a given particle size range.

Alumina (aluminum oxide) has widespread use in the ceramics industry for refractory materials, abrasives, and porcelain. Many different sizes and chemically modified grades are available.

The new Fluorolog-QM spectrofluorometers, due to their modularity and advanced software and a universal interface, are an ideal choice for studying multiple aspects of upconversion. This technical note illustrates the use of Fluorolog-QM-75-21 for spectral and time-resolved characterization of these materials.

Measurement of the particle size of soil and sediment sample is a critical part of understanding the geological history of a particular area.

This app note demonstrates that the A-TEEM molecular fingerprinting technique can easily distinguish between different components in mixtures that contain FF and other ingredients considered to be adulterants, including lignosulphonates, organic acids, molasses, and provides a quantitative evaluation of mixtures.

An imaging platform that combines Raman microscopy with enhanced darkfield and hyperspectral imaging technology was used to study lung tissue sections containing carbon nanotubes. It enabled easy identification of the regions containing the carbon nanotubes followed by spectroscopic characterization of chemical composition.

The Aqualog A-TEEM spectrometer has the capacity to specifically identify and sensitively quantify key adulterants that are most commonly detected in Cranberry dietary supplements, including Pine Bark, Grape Seed and Peanut Skin extracts.

The EDXRF technique is used for the elemental analysis not only of solids, but also of liquids such as plating solution thanks to dedicated sample cells. This specific example shows the ability of MESA-50 for electrolytic baths follow-up by characterizing the degradation of Zn-Ni galvanization baths.

Our XGT-9000SL allows failure analysis at a microscopic level on a large sample, non-destructively, thanks to its large chamber capacity and its microprobes.

Carbon materials are crucial due to their widespread application in industries like energy storage. Analyzing carbon helps ensure material quality and performance. However, its structural complexity and variability, such as the presence of defects and morphological disparities, pose challenges, making precise analysis difficult.

As global legislation becomes more restrictive for the heavy-duty industry, test requirements for ultra-low NOx and greenhouse gas become more complex.

Knowing the particle size distribution of catalyst ink before coating can predict the battery performance, and prevent the fault occurrence of electrodes, and finally enable the shortening of the manufacturing process of the fuel cell.

In this application note, we used the SZ-100V2 to evaluate the stability of LUDOX® TM-50, a colloidal silica slurry. Two samples were analyzed: one from a newly opened bottle ("Fresh LUDOX®") and one from a bottle that had been opened and stored for over a year ("Aged LUDOX®"). By measuring and comparing the zeta potential and particle size of these samples, we demonstrate how the SZ-100V2 can effectively monitor the stability of colloidal silica.

This study demonstrates the potential of A-TEEM™ spectroscopy as a rapid and reliable tool for evaluating lot-to-lot variability in complex cell culture media. By leveraging the distinct spectral fingerprints of aromatic amino acids and vitamins, A-TEEM enables sensitive tracking of compositional differences without the need for extensive sample preparation or lengthy separations.

Stainless steel, Ti, Al, and Cu are commonly used as metal 3D printing materials, and customers have expressed a desire to be able to quickly manage the amounts of oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N) in those materials. For example, if the Ti material contains a large amount of oxygen (O), oxides will be produced, which can lead to defects in the printed part.

Toner is a primary component of the electrophotographic printing and copying processes. The synthesized toner particles must exhibit some special characteristics such as particle size and shape to obtain high quality and high-resolution printed images. Utilization of smaller particle size toners has been suggested to be effective in achieving high image quality. In this study, the analysis of the particle size distribution of black toner is optimized using HORIBA Partica LA-960V2 laser diffraction particle size distribution analyzer.

Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice, exhibits remarkable electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties, making it a subject of extensive research in various scientific fields.

As light-duty vehicles shift to hybrid, electrification, and fuel cell solutions, we provide support. Our chassis dynamometers accurately simulate real-world driving for all propulsion systems, including high-performance BEVs.

We introduce EDXRF analysis as a rapid and reliable method for Zinc determination in liquid solution. We demonstrated Zn determination at ppm levels using the calibration curve method with commercial Zinc liquid standard samples. Our calibration curve had a good linearity (R2 > 0.999) and we could accurately determine 22 ppm of Zn in 1 minute. The results demonstrated that EDXRF is an effective tool for rapid and reliable laboratory analysis.

Recent developments CMOS technology allow widefield lifetime imaging, with the ability to measure FLIM in real time, to be employed to investigate mobile samples and kinetics, as well as remote imaging.

The particle size of SS316 powder is important to final product uses like injection molding. Here the metal must not clog the injector, so a uniform size with no large particles is important, and the metal must melt evenly throughout the molding for the best end product, again a uniform size and shape is important.

As the requirements for electric vehicles and other portable devices become more and more demanding, the need for higher performance batteries and the ability to monitor the battery material’s physical and chemical characteristics will continue to increase. Of the novel battery materials finding more usage in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are lithium iron phosphates (LFPs), used to comprise the cathode, and carbon-coated silicon (Si@C), used to make the anode.

We provide a wide range of testing solutions for future mobility technologies within the field of hydrogen internal combustion engine (hydrogen ICE) for vehicle development. Solutions include emission analyzers and other measurement technologies, to facility safety measures, and automation software to ensure accurate data.

Vapor concentration control of precursors provide substantial improvement in stabilizing MOCVD processes. By measuring a precursor partial pressure in a downstream line with a Non Dispersive Infrared (NDIR) technology and controlling its total pressure, a precursor concentration can be kept constant. This precursor concentration control is validated as a practical method against a temperature fluctuation of a cylinder bath and a failure of reaching a saturation pressure in a cylinder.

This application note describes a rapid, sensitive nondestructive disinfection byproducts (DBP) prediction method using patented simultaneous Absorbance-Transmittance and fluorescence Excitation-Emission Matrix (A-TEEM) spectroscopy.

The particle size of titanium powder is important to final product surface quality, quality and robustness of coatings and mechanical strength of products. It also allows for the monitoring for elimination of large sizes which can plug nozzels in additive manufacturing.

The Euro 7 emissions regulations are still in development, and required test equipment may vary based on the final standards. However, current proposals suggest the following equipment will be essential. Updating a test cell for Euro 7 compliance can be challenging, so working with experienced professionals is crucial to ensure compliance.

This application note describes the use of the Aqualog for monitoring regulated Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) and disinfection by-product issues for drinking water treatment.

We introduce non-destructive failure analysis on a large membrane electrode assembly (MEA) from a commercial PEMFC stack using a HORIBA XGT-9000SL, a micro-XRF with an extra-large chamber capacity. Thanks to the chamber capacity, we successfully performed non-destructive elemental imaging on a defective area without cutting the sample, and we found unexpected distributions of Fe, Ni, Mn and Cr within the defective area, and that the elements are present in the MEA as a result of possible degradation of the bipolar plate.

Laser diffraction is a popular method for particle characterization. Coupled with an image analysis unit, we can compare in real time the classical values of D10, 50, 90 and get information about the shape or dispersion state of our particles, thus proving the usefulness of this complementary technique.

This study describes the application of simultaneous absorbance and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) analysis for the purpose of identification and classification of freshwater planktonic algal species.

The combination of microbeam and thickness measurement capability makes the XGT-9000 a useful tool for the QC of semiconductors, which feature thin and narrow patterns. Thickness sensitivity depends on elements traced, but can be at the Angstrom level.

In this note, we will briefly explore the history of powder metallurgy and then examine the importance of powder quality to the production of nanomaterials.

Water travels through the environment carrying dissolved organic matter (DOM), made up of various chemical compounds, which have entered the water column from many sources.

The MOCVD process is a recognized controllable synthesis method that uses a variety of precursors like Trimethyl Indium (TMI) and Diethyl Zinc (DEZ) that require a robust delivery method to ensure process repeatability and high yield.

Determination of specific surface area of metal powders is an important parameter in the field of powder metallurgy. In this note, we demonstrate the use of Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) technique to measure another critical metal powder property: specific surface area (SSA).

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are getting more and more popular as a clean energy, and a lot of research is being done to achieve better durability for further spread into more commercial phase.

Because Raman spectroscopy provides information on molecular composition, it is an ideal tool for studying chemical reactions. In particular it has been used successfully for studying polymerization where the change often involves the disappearance of a carbon double bond (>C=C<) as the polymer chain is lengthened by the addition of a monomeric group. In this note we will be looking at epoxy cure which is a reaction that causes cross-linking during the polymerization process to form a solid with fixed three-dimensional geometry.

The automotive industry is experiencing unprecedented change, with the global EV (Electric Vehicle) market expansion creating new testing challenges. Greater test diversity and longer testing times are driving the need to reduce test failures and improve efficiency. Companies also face difficulties in finding and training personnel for complex testing. Robot drivers are gaining attention as a solution, but their ability to meet diverse testing needs remains uncertain. This page examines testing needs, challenges, and optimization strategies in the EV market, and how HORIBA’s ADS EVO solutions can help address these issues and enhance EV testing efficiency.

The analysis of Br, Cl, and I is possible with ICP-AES at low limits of detection due to an adaptation of the instrument. This adaptation doesn't affect the determination of other elements and will generally improve analytical performance for any elemental lines below 200 nm for example, Pb at 168 nm.

This application note presents data from the SZ-100 using cells with unique, patented carbon coated electrodes that facilitate zeta potential measurements of proteins.

Virtually any metal can be made into a powder through processes including atomization, electrolysis, chemical reduction, and size comminution. The metal powder can then be used to fabricate parts from simple to complex shape. The technique and study of these processes is known as powder metallurgy, a field of study well acquainted with particle characterization. The size distribution and shape of the powder metal particles influences the physical properties of the parts created.

We obtained lithium-ion battery cells from 3 different commercial electric vehicles manufactured by an automotive company for the reverse engineering investigation. We disassembled and analyzed each of the cathode sheets, the anode sheets, and the separator sheets using multiple analytical instruments.

Phase Modulated Spectroscopic Ellipsometry is an excellent technique for the highly accurate characterization of complete OLED stacks. The technique allows the determination of film thickness, optical properties and the effect of dopants to the active layers. For very high throughput applications where large area flat panels are to be characterized in a production environment the Jobin Yvon FF-1000 ellipsometer has a fully automated sample stage able to accept samples up to 1000 mm x 1000 mm. This accurate, automated thin film metrology tool delivers both unique performance and proven reliability for on-line quality control of production processes.

Stability and aggregation of insulin are studied using simultaneous fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) and UV-Vis absorbance spectroscopy. Insulin is a protein-hormone produced by the pancreas and is necessary for basic metabolic processes. Commercial insulin therapeutics generally fall into two categories: short-acting and long-acting insulin. The difference between some short-acting and long-acting insulin lies, in some cases, in only one to three residues in the protein sequence.

Several different compounds are used for melting snow. The melting and spreading process is a function of particle size.

μ-XRF is a non-destructive analytical technique which can inspect defects, even non-visible ones, inside a sample because of the high penetration of X-rays. This application note introduces failure analysis to detect ion migration, voids, and foreign matter on electronics using the XGT-9000, with key features of the vertical irradiation of a 10 μm probe and the simultaneous imaging of fluorescent X-rays and transmission X-rays.

In this application note, we highlight the high sensitivity of the Duetta for measuring transferrin at very low concentrations. The Duetta spectrofluorometer combines both fluorescence and absorbance measurements simultaneously, thus providing key advantages for protein analysis. In parallel, we compare the fluorescence results obtained using the Duetta with absorbance results obtained with a dedicated low-volume, benchtop spectrophotometer.

The XGT-9000 Series can be used for identification of trace evidences such as collected gunshot residues, glass fragments, and fibers with sizes even down to tens of micron.

The HORIBA micro-XRF system performs two applications for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) catalyst research: One is Pt catalyst uniformity imaging within a catalyst sheet thanks to the imaging capability. The other is Pt catalyst loading mass determination on average, which is a popular application of EDXRF. Through the experiments, we successfully visualized aggregates of Pt catalyst in our samples, and we also got a good linearity of calibration curve for Pt catalyst loading mass determination.

Laser Scattering Particle Size Distribution Analyzer Partica LA-960V2 can evaluate the dispersion of catalyst ink particles. By evaluating the dispersion of catalyst ink, which is one of the causes of cracks in the catalyst layer of the MEA after durability testing, it becomes possible to contribute to the improvement of power generation efficiency and thick film formation.

Milk is an emulsion that is homogenized to reduce the average particle size, which improve its consistency and extends shelf life. The homogenization process is expensive and careful control of the process can improve quality and consistency and reduce operating costs.

The characterization of synthetic CVD diamond material by hyperspectral cathodoluminescence spectroscopy and imaging allows the detection and accurate location of the promising NV luminescent point defects for innovative solid-state quantum mechanical systems. In this work we performed CVD epitaxial growth on a pattern of micro-pillars etched on a diamond substrate. Cathodoluminescence (CL) analysis revealed that NV centres were successfully localized at the edges of the pillars.

The behavior of an abrasive material is influenced by the hardness, size, and shape of the particles. A harder particle will be more aggressive in altering the surface of the work piece. Larger particles generate higher impact force removing the material surface quicker and producing a heavier texture. Particle shape also plays a role.

HORIBA systems have been used successfully for a range of soil and sediment applications. The LA-960V2 is uniquely qualified since the dynamic range is the broadest of any system.

Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectroscopy is an important tool which can be used to characterize optical materials such as LEDs and photovoltaic (PV) materials.

To quickly and accurately quantify the oxygen contained as trace impurities in copper.

μ-XRF is one of the powerful non-destructive analytical technique in forensic science application. Thanks to the elemental mapping and the spectrum search function, XGT-9000 enables to reveal intentional alternation and identify the ink used on a document.

A mixed sample of fourteen sizes of monodispersed PSL was used to evaluate the resolution and quantitative capability of the centrifugal sedimentation method.

We analyzed a Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) cathode simulation sample using a HORIBA XGT-9000 X-ray analytical microscope and performed foreign matters analysis with the Particle Finding Module software.

We used the XGT-9000 to analyze foreign particles on a lithium ion battery material. We made a NMC cathode simulation sample and added Cu particles in the sample as simulated metal foreign matter.

The High-concentration Low-viscosity Cell (HL Cell) is an accessory for the LA-960V2 laser diffraction particle size analyzer that aids in measuring samples of low viscosity or high concentration. Since liquid inks, dyes, and pigments are often high concentration, the HL Cell is a useful accessory for measuring them.

Van der Waals heterostructures, with their unique properties arising from the weak interlayer coupling and strong in-plane bonding, offer exciting opportunities for the design of novel materials with tailored electronic, optical, and mechanical properties.

Accurate monitoring of bioprocesses is essential, as small variations in culture conditions can impact productivity, product quality, and process consistency. One key challenge lies in analyzing the complex, dynamic environment of bioreactors, where media composition, metabolic byproducts, and matrix effects introduce variability. As the industry shifts toward intensified and continuous processing, there's growing demand for rapid, real-time analytical tools that operate under sterile, GMP-compatible conditions. A-TEEM™ technology meets these requirements with its high sensitivity, molecular selectivity, and real-time data output, providing actionable insights for optimizing cell growth and overall bioprocess performance.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful plasmonics-based analytical technique for biosensing. SERS effect relies on nanostructures that need to be designed to maximize enhancement factors and molecular specificity. In addition to numerical modeling, an analytical tool capable of imaging localized enhancement would be an added value.

A pigment obtains, for example, its maximum colour effect only in a narrow particle size range below 1 to 2 microns. Therefore, understanding particle size distribution of calcium carbonates becomes one of the foremost parameters to be examined. In this study, the particle size distribution of the two different grades of calcium carbonate was investigated using HORIBA Partica LA-960V2 Laser Scattering Particle Size Distribution Analyzer.

In this paper, HORIBA presents the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) evaluation work of A-TEEM as a suitable technique to analyse six in-process purification samples of monoclonal antibodies—an initial step toward implementing this technique as a PAT solution in biologics manufacturing.

Fluorescence spectroscopy is widely used in various industries, including life sciences. Two-dimensional (2D) fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy has been utilized for over 30 years to characterize or “fingerprint” biological samples.

Glass bead standards are commonly used to verify accuracy and proper operation of laser diffraction particle size analyzers. The PowderJet Dry Feeder (LY-9605) is the dry feeder attachment for the LA-960V2, allowing powders to be run with air pressure dispersion. The sniffer attachment is used with small amounts of samples, allowing the user to manually feed sample into the instrument.

This study highlights particle correlated Raman spectroscopy (PCRS) as a powerful technique for combining particle characterization with chemical identification, enabling deeper insight into drug performance across various pharmaceutical dosage forms (sprays, tablets, creams).

A number of additives in ink are usually included to modify viscosity, drying, stability, or color characteristics. Particle size of the pigment particles can significantly affect the color strength, surface finish, and durability of the final product.

Mono-disperse polystyrene latex (PSL) standards are commonly used to verify accuracy and proper operation of laser diffraction particle size analyzers. As these materials are somewhat different from normal materials, proper conditions and procedures are necessary to ensure correct results.

Chromium oxide is a green material. The dimethicone treatment adds a degree of “slip” to the particles allowing for better color saturation.

The XGT-9000 Series can be used for identification of trace evidences such as collected gunshot residues, glass fragments, and fibers with sizes even down to tens of micron.

The Duetta was used to collect Excitation-Emission Matrices that distinguish different species of essential oils, as well as the same species by region of origin. A 50/50 mixture of lavender and eucalyptus demonstrated the ability of the approach to qualitatively identify an adulterant.

A simple extraction procedure using water is recommended for measuring the pH of non-aqueous solutions containing water-immiscible solvents.

Calcium micro-nodules are identified within mulberry leaves, and XRF mapped imaging provides a correlation between nodule concentration and leaf age. In a seperate study, the uptake of heavy element pollutants by plants is investigated, with high resolution images quickly acquired to show the distribution of lead through the leaf.

Verifying the quality of lavender essential oil is crucial to ensure it is safe for its intended use, and to ensure consumers aren’t being deceived into buying inferior products. Two samples of lavender essential oil with identical label claims of "Pure", one from a supplier that tests for quality and one that does not, were evaluated with A-TEEM spectroscopy and GC-MS.

Most size measurements of colloidal silica are performed using dynamic light scattering instruments such as the SZ-100 Nanoparticle Analyzer. The LA-960 Laser Diffraction Analyzer can uniquely measure down to the 30 nm size range, so this laser diffraction instrument is also an option for such tests.

The effect of zinc on gastric ulcer healing has been investigated - mapped imaging of tissue samples shows evidence of zinc accumulation within the ulcerated tissue. In a separate study a fish otolith ('ear bone') has been analysed to reveal its heterogeneous elemental composition and physical structure.

We introduced a fast and non-destructive imaging method for inorganic minerals on a multivitamin supplement tablet containing various essential minerals to body functions. We used the HORIBA XGT-9000 X-ray Analytical Microscope for the imaging, and we could visualize the distribution of the key inorganic elements on the tablet less than 20 minutes even though the concentration of the elements are tens of mg or less per tablet.

In this note, the final result of soy milk processing is evaluated with particle size analysis. Particle size results give a quantitative measure of the soy milk that can be used to ensure consistent production and product quality.

High-k dielectrics are under investigation to replace the conventional SiO2 or SiOxNy gate dielectric in many applications of Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) devices. Hafnium aluminium oxides (HfAlO) were investigated in this study as they fulfill the physical properties required for such applications. The structure and composition of hafnium aluminate films as well as the HfAlO / Si interface play a very important role for the optimization of CMOS devices. For this study complementary optical techniques were used. VUV Spectroscopic ellipsometry and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) provide accurate characterization of thin film thickness and optical properties near and above the bandgap.

Pulsed Radio Frequency Glow Discharge-Optical Emission Spectrometry was used to study different electroplated samples. The flexibility of the spot size, the use of a pulsed RF source and the introduction of the differential interferometry profiling make RF GD-OES a key technique for the electroplating industry.

With their ~20 % efficiency, hybrid perovskite solar cells are the new promising candidate for next generation photovoltaics. Thanks to the wide HORIBA Scientific portfolio, different techniques can be used to gain in depth knowledge on the optoelectronic properties and mechanisms of this class of materials. In this application note we decided to use spectroscopic ellipsometry, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence and Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy to investigate the properties of CH3NH3PbI3 thin films deposited on a spin-coated PEDOT:PSS. The impact of the exposure to air was addressed.

A broad collection of pigment, powder coatings, and ink products exist in particulate form in both the raw materials and finished products. The particle size distribution of these materials determines their appearance, quality, functionality and processability.

The colloidal copper studied in this report is a suspension in which particles of copper of 100 nm or less in size are dispersed uniformly in hexane. Copper colloids are generally prepared by liquid phase reduction.

The particle size distribution of boron carbide powder affects the manufacturing and mechanical properties of components, including packing density and mechanical strength of the final parts.

Duetta is an analytical instrument capable of recording both the fluorescence and the absorbance of a sample. Absorbance data provides concentration-dependant information on non-fluorescent compounds. Through its user-friendly software, Duetta allows different measurements related to biomolecules like DNA, RNA and proteins including protein concentration, DNA/RNA purity, finding the concentration of an unknown sample based on a standard-based calibration curve, Pass/Fail testing and all standard fluorescence and absorbance related measurements. All these functionalities are possible through dedicated applications in EzSpec™ software for Duetta.

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles, 30-150 nm in diameter, which have been determined to play a crucial role in extracellular signaling. They have been observed in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, meaning they are incredibly widely spread in nature. Exosomes bud off from their parent cells in a sealed package, taking the properties of their parent cell walls with them and encasing many intracellular components.

It is often necessary to determine the calcium content of milk and milk beverages. This may be done by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AA) or inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP). Alternatively, by ionizing protein-bound calcium using an acidizing pretreatment, the LAQUAtwin Ca2+ can be used to measure the total amount of calcium easily.

In this Application Note Spectroscopic Ellipsometry, a standard optical characterization technique used to measure multi-layered thicknesses and optical constants (n,k), has been successfully used to characterize encapsulated OLED devices. This report also investigates the aging process of OLED. Spectroscopic ellipsometry is a powerful technique to characterize the thickness and optical constants of encapsulated OLED devices. For the case of non-transparent encapsulation the combination of ellipsometric measurements via the glass substrate and the powerful modelling features of DeltaPsi2 software make it possible to analyze “this reverse sample”.

Particle characterization is an important tool for studying current environmental effects related to pollution transport, erosion, and sediment transport.

A colloid is typically a two phase system consisting of a continuous phase and dispersed phase. The particle size of the dispersed phase typically ranges from 1 nanometer to 1 micrometer. Examples of colloidal dispersions include solid/liquid (suspensions), liquid/liquid (emulsions), and gas/liquid (foams).

Nanoparticles easily aggregate, so their surfaces are coated with organic molecules of various sorts to provide 3D barriers or to introduce electrostatic repulsive forces between them, thereby enhancing their dispersibility.

Due to its high hardness, silicon carbide is used in many abrasive applications either as a slurry or fixed in a matrix such as grinding wheels. It is also highly abrasion-resistant.

Chili sauces may contain high amount of salts that increase chances of kidney and heart diseases.

A virus particle consists of several parts including the genetic material (DNA or RNA), a protein coat that protects these genes, and in some cases an envelope of lipids that surrounds the protein coat when they are outside a cell.

A mixed sample of five sizes of monodispersed PSL was used to evaluate the resolution and quantitative capability of the centrifugal sedimentation method.

We analyzed two slurry battery materials containing active material (NCM) and conductive agent (carbon). By using Partica CENTRIFUGE to analyze battery materials before and after kneading, results with distinctly different distributions were obtained, which enable us to infer the dispersion state of the battery materials.

The XGT-9000 can detect and determine the composition of foreign particles, and therefore track the source of contamination.

Plastic pollution from fishing gear is a global problem that harms the environment. Recycling of damaged or abandoned fishing gear is one way of mitigating the issue, however the exact nature of the polymer must be known in order to identify the correct recycling stream. In this paper, the MacroRAM benchtop Raman spectrometer with remote BallProbe® is used to quickly identify plastics used in various gillnet samples. Raman spectroscopy is demonstrated to be an excellent technique for identifying not only different types of polymers, but also different variants within a polymer class and additives including pigments.

The XGT-9000SL’s large chamber capacity allows you to put whole a brake rotor and carry out spectrum analysis and elemental distribution imaging on the rotor surface, non-destructively.

Battery technology is improving, keeping up with the demand for better power storage. Improved performance requires greater control of the materials used and their physical properties including the particle size distribution.

A new concern for human health is now raised by sub-23 nm particles emitted by on-road motor vehicles. Beyond measuring particle number and mass, it is also critical to determine the surface chemical composition of the nanoparticles to understand the potential reactivity with the environment.

In order to engineer materials with controlled diffusive properties, we need to be able to measure the diffusive process in situ. Ideally, we would like a technique that provides molecular information with resolution on a microscopic scale, that is non destructive of the samples, and can be set up and used on a laboratory bench top with a minimum of time and effort involved in sample preparation. Raman microprobe spectroscopy is an ideal candidate for this type of studies. Use of visible light combined with a confocal microscope provides a probe with spatial resolution of a micron or better, and coupling of such a microscope to a modern Raman spectrometer equipped with holographic notch filters and CCD multi channel detectors allows rapid acquisition of Raman spectra which can be correlated with the chemical state of the species and its physical environment.

Monitoring of Sulfur in petroleum products is an important topic in the current environmental protection context. Indeed, during combustion, Sulfur will cause acid rains and particles emissions that induce environmental and health problems. If industries and vehicles emissions have been the main target of Sulfur emission control since few tens of year, the new target is the maritime navigation. In this domain, now, the level of Sulfur is regulated by the MARPOL (International convention) Annex VI. For this specific regulation, the technique and measuring range of our SLFA series is perfectly suitable to allow the fast and accurate determination of Sulfur in Marine oil. Our compact SLFA-60 can be used on board and the SLFA-6800, with its autosampler (eight positions), will enhance the productivity of the control laboratories.

A Li-ion battery is a rechargeable battery in which lithium ions move between the anode and the cathode creating an electricity flow. Whether you study new electrodes or coatings behaviors, charge and discharge processes, process controls, or perform comparative studies for Li-ion batteries, Pulsed RF Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry is a valuable companion tool.

The assessment of microplastics in a marine environment is a multi-step process (sampling, extraction, detection and quantification of microplastics), in which each step is time consuming. Analyzing the chemical composition and morphology of microplastics represents a real challenge for answering crucial questions about the sources and fate of microplastics in aquatic environments. In this application note, we present a reproducible and time-effective method for fast and thorough morphological and chemical characterization of microplastics using a semi-automated scanning of particles coupled to micro-Raman spectroscopy. The rapid analysis of large number of collected particles allows for an exhaustive assessment of both large sample sizes and small subsamples.

Concerns exist that advances in modern engine technology may contribute to large portions of solid particles at sizes smaller than 23nm. The EU Joint Research Center has confirmed this concern in several investigations.

In this study we have chosen to investigate pyrite and its surrounding minerals in order to identify the different mineral phases as well as the chemical variations from micro- to nano-scale. Using the different microscopes instruments and being co-localized allows a comprehensive characterization of the sample and a precise superimposition of all the images.

The application note explains how the Raman Spectroscopy can be helpful in the analysis of cathodes and anodes in Li-ion batteries. Today’s state of art of technology requires more reliable, more efficient and powerful energy sources. Lithium-ion batteries are thus of high interest. Raman spectroscopy adapts to the different stages of life of these batteries, such as the characterization of new materials for more flexible systems, failure analysis; but also more standard analysis of used material during charge/discharge process, including structural and electronic properties, and even robust, automated QC tests.

HORIBA offers customer oriented tailor-made system solutions with its state-of-the-art analytical technologies and more than 50 years experience in ambient air market. As your true partner in environmental preservation, we deliver air quality monitoring, indoor air quality monitoring , clean room airborne molecular contamination monitoring , quality control and stationary emission monitoring by diluted stack gas monitoring.

The HORIBA LA-960 laser diffraction particle size analyzer can cover all sizes of coffee grounds. Using laser diffraction leads to significant time and labor savings in addition to a more objective, reliable, and robust measurement.

The threading dislocation occurs easily in GaN crystal grown on sapphire substrates. It is said that this is caused by the large lattice mismatch of sapphire and GaN. The crystal may seem to be uniform in the SEM image, but the dark spot such as the threading dislocation can be observed when measuring the CL intensity image at the wavelength (362nm) which corresponds to the band edge emission.

In this note, the effect of coagulant choice and concentration on the treatment of suspended clays is analyzed.

Particle size is a critical physical characteristic of pigments and laser diffraction is the most popular method of particle size analysis for the milling process, allowing close control and optimization of a number of final product performance criteria.

EMGA has been designed for accurate measurements of hydrogen content in different sample types such as ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, semiconductors or electronic materials. The hydrogen content is extracted by fusion of the sample in inert gas and analyzed by a high sensitivity thermal conductivity detector. It is also possible to avoid fusion and extract hydrogen content in the sample by heating below the melting point. The purpose of this note is to explain when to use fusion or solid extraction, the benefits, the applications and samples.

Platinum colloidal particles are stabilized by coating their surfaces with high polymers to form 3-D barriers or using the reduction potential of platinum to impose repulsive forces between the particles.

Flour is the product of milled grains. Typically the distribution is wide and the size varies depending on the desired final product.

Gemstones for jewelry are treated by heating, irradiation, or filling of cracks to make them flawless. We performed imaging analyses using an XGT-9000 X-ray Analytical Microscope on a ruby provided by Mineralab. The transmission X-ray imaging revealed that the ruby included several internal defects, and the fluorescent X-ray imaging revealed that the ruby surface was treated by filling with Pb, Mg and Si which are representative of lead glass.

The study of singlet oxygen (1O2) is of interest, principally, as it is a highly reactive species. It can be produced by photosensitisation, usually of a molecule such as a dye or porphyrin. Thus, by the appropriate selection of sensitiser, the presence of oxygen and light, 1O2 can be selectively generated. From a biological aspect it has the ability to damage and destroy cells, which has lead to interest in its use as an anticancer agent in photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Pulsed RF GDOES is a companion analytical tool for magnetron sputtering deposition. Magnetron sputtering is a type of Plasma Vapour Deposition. The vacuum chamber of the PVD coating machine is filled with an inert gas, such as argon. By applying a high voltage (RF, HIPIMS etc), a glow discharge is created, resulting in acceleration of ions to the target surface and a plasma coating. The argon-ions will eject sputtering materials from the target surface (sputtering), resulting in a sputtered coating layer on the products in front of the target.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry is an excellent technique for the highly accurate characterization of TFT-LCD display panels based on a-Si and LTPS technologies. Owing to the sensitivity of the UVISEL spectroscopic ellipsometer and the advanced modeling features included in the DeltaPsi2 software it is possible to detect in a multistack different a-Si layers processed by various methods. Moreover the spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements allow determination of the grain size of p-Si films and illustrate the ability to characterize the crystallinity of silicon with high accuracy.

Suspended solids are a common impurity in wastewater from industrial and mining operations. In order for water clarity, the suspended solids are often allowed to settle. The duration of these processes is a strong function of the particle size. Thus, if particles can be made to aggregate, the settling process is shorter and the treatment operation is faster and less expensive.

Nanoparticle gold is a suspension of sub-micron gold particles typically dispersed in water. Gold nanoparticles are of great interest for researchers in many fields due to their unique physical and optical properties. These properties change with the particle size distribution, so size analysis is an important measurement requirement.

The particle size distribution of many flavor emulsions has a substantial effect on their performance. Particle size distribution can affect mouth feel, appearance, and emulsion stability.

Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT’s) consist of rolled up single sheets of carbon atoms and, due to the high aspect ratio and nature of the C-C bonds, have unique properties. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) has become the technique of choice for characterizing nanomaterials in suspension due to its speed and ability to readily characterize a statistically significant number of particles.

This application note will show the relevance of the EMGA-920 to measure high levels of nitrogen while simultaneously determininig low levels of Oxygen with good precision.

Can free carbon in SiC be rapidly and conveniently quantified?

The penetrating nature of EDXRF analysis allows multi-layered samples to be characterised with a single measurement. With high spatial resolution even microscopic features such as bonding pads on circuit boards can be interrogated for composition and layer thickness.

Bean paste is a milled bean product containing large sections of the seed coat along with varying sizes of ground cotyledons, the fleshy section of the bean. Particle size of these components has a direct effect on the final product.

Mineral-based sunscreens have gained popularity due to their excellent ability to scatter ultraviolet (UV) rays without causing photo-induced skin irritation from chemical-based sunscreens. Of the 18 U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved active ingredients for sunscreen drug products, only two are mineral based. Zinc oxide remains stable at high temperature and in neutral pH, covers a broad spectrum of UV radiation, and is even mildly antibacterial. Three over-the-counter zine oxide sunscreens were purchased and analyzed using Partica LA-960V2 Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer. A standard 15 mL fraction cell accessory fitted with a magnetic stir bar was chosen for this experiment.

Drug particle size and distribution are key critical quality attributes that govern stability, ocular retention via solution thickness, and therapeutic release characteristics. The laser diffraction technique is an elegant method used to establish the fundamentals of ophthalmic formulations prior to pharmacokinetic or clinical studies. To fulfill the requirements set out by the FDA, our recommendation is the Partica LA-960V2 Particle Size Analyzer.

Certified National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable polystyrene latex (PSL) size standards made by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TFS) were used to evaluate the resolution of the centrifugal sedimentation method.

Multilayer polymer films, composed of different materials, are used in a variety of industrial applications. The analysis of these multilayers is important to support, especially for safety and performances control. Here, we use Raman microscopy by cross-section analysis and confocal depth profiling to investigate the chemical composition of two multilayers films.

We introduce a fast and non-destructive method for Pt catalyst loading mass determination in catalyst sheet of proton exchange membrane fuel cell using a benchtop EDXRF analyzer. We made a calibration curve by analyzing multiple in-house samples with different Pt loading masses (0.052 - 0.39 mg/cm2) and determined catalyst loading mass of a sample using the curve. Our result showed that the curve had a good linearity and that the calculated result was consistent with the labeled value of the sample with good repeatability.

In general particle size analyzers, particles of the same size are measured as the same size regardless of material, making it difficult to separate particles of different materials when they are mixed together. The centrifugal sedimentation particle size analyzer measures the sedimentation speed and converts it into a particle size value using the density information of the particles. Therefore, particles of the same size but different densities will have different settling speed and can be measured separately.

This note analyzes carbon dioxide and oxygen gas nanobubbles used for pain management to demonstrate multi-laser Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis’s ability to characterize a mixture of nano and microbubbles without sample manipulation.

Certain types of materials are encapsulated in wax for final product use or as an intermediate stage. If the size of the encapsulated particles is of primary interest, the analysis method must find a way to remove the intermediate phase to suspend the primary particles.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) mainly consists of organic materials such as proton exchange membrane, carbon supports, and carbon sheets. However, it also includes some inorganic elements such as radical quenchers and precious metal catalysts. In this application note, we introduce key applications of micro-XRF for each component of PEMFC.

Dry fertilizer powders or granules are commonly used because they are easy to transport and apply. Measurement of these dry powders can be difficult, as they can be soluble in a wide range of dispersant liquids.

Plastic powders are used in a number of applications or as an intermediate stage of a manufacturing process. Particle size can have a significant effect on the final product performance and on process parameters.

HORIBA’s Veloci Wine Analyzer is uniquely equipped to provide rapid access to a wide range of parameters important to commercial wine processing and quality characterization.

HORIBA Spectrometers are used to characterize doped glasses for photonics

OLED technology is playing an important role in display technology since it offers several advantages compared to LCD technology among which its efficiency and high display quality, a high contrast rate, lower energy consumption, etc. Furthermore, this technology has an ecological aspect since it uses organic recyclable materials. However the improvement of the performances of the devices produced by these technologies requires a precise knowledge of their optical and structural properties that could be provided by spectroscopic ellipsometry. This non destructive and sensitive optical technique is able to characterize layers with thicknesses of some angstroms and provides information regarding the state of the surface, the microstructure of composite materials, etc.

In this application note, the particle sizes of two different silica dispersions are analyzed to demonstrate the utility of the SZ-100 for both suppliers and users of such materials.

This application note will show the relevance of the EMGA-920 to measure high level of Nitrogen while maintaining the needed precision for Oxygen determination in AIN.

Can we accurately and quickly measure the amount of carbon contained in the material?

Troubleshooting and defect analyses of components embedded within opaque resins are described, on both individual components and complete circuit boards. Quantitative analysis to the ppm level is ideally suited for ensuring compliance to the WEEE/RoHS directives.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer derived from lactic acid. It is a highly versatile material and is made from 100% renewable resources like corn, sugar beets, wheat and other starch-rich products.

The XGT-9000 Series can be equipped with various probes and spot sizes providing comprehensive and detailed understanding of geological and mineral samples.

Bipolar plates are key components of proton exchange membrane fuel cells – they notably distribute fuel gas and air and conduct electricity. Various materials and surface treatments have been developed to improve their properties. Here, we described a reverse engineering study on a bipolar plate from a commercial vehicle using GD-OES and Raman spectroscopy. The analyses revealed that the plate had an amorphous carbon coating on a titanium base plate.

HORIBA is one of the world's largest gas and liquid mass flow controller manufacturers, with a range of analogue, digital and high temperature mass flow controllers along with the point of use liquid source vaporization control and delivery systems.

ICP-OES is multielement technique that allows for the fast analysis of more than 75 elements on the Periodic Table in a variety of matrices. This application note examines the analysis of six water and animal food samples.

The abrasive particles found in CMP slurries have a size distribution which directly affects critical metrics. Particle size analysis is therefore a key indicator of CMP slurry performance. The popularity and utility of several particle sizing techniques will be discussed within.

After the introduction of Real Driving Emission (RDE) tests for light- and heavy-duty vehicles, focus is now also shifting to the area of non-road mobile machinery (NRMM).

Ferrosilicon is added as a deoxidant and as an alloying element to steel, that require a special low carbon content. The Low Carbon in Ferrosilicon decreases the electrical conductivity and magnetostriction of electrical steels.

Each year the marketplace sees increasing demands for the analysis of hydrogen contained in various sample materials.

The aim of this application note is to explain the determination of organic and inorganic carbon in soils and how to prepare samples to eliminate inorganic carbon (carbonates) in these soils.

The prevalence of allergies in the world is between 30 and 40%. Even though it exists medical treatments such as antihistaminic and desensitization this number is constantly increasing. Thus, in this application note, the identification and chemical characterization of aeroallergens by Raman microscopy will allow to prevent people who are affected by respiratory allergies of the presence of this type of allergens in indoor and outdoor air.

The combination of the XGT-5000’s ground breaking spatial resolution and sensitivity means it is the instrument of choice for fast analysis of electronic components, whether for analysis of restricted harmful elements (the WEEE/RoHS ‘lead free’ legislation), trouble shooting, or R&D.

A desirable property of resins is that they will dry from a viscous liquid to a variable state of hardness and elasticity. Particulate sizes of these materials are indicative of purity, therefore measurement proffers quality control.

In this article, we present how our Raman and X-Ray Fluorescence microscopies can be combined to shed some light on the origins of the universe. We show some examples on a meteorite piece and on water inclusion in quartz matrix.

Calcium hydroxide, also called slaked lime or hydrated lime, is a powder widely used in the chemical industry. The surface area of calcium hydroxide plays a key role in determining the manner and rate at which it reacts in chemical processes.

Process Analytical Technology, or “PAT” is the term given to analytical instruments developed to measure certain attributes of product within the manufacturing process, eliminating, or substantially minimizing the need for sampling for off-line analysis. This approach offers process measurements in-situ with instant access to data, which facilitates rapid decisions during product development and manufacture.

One of the most widely distributed and common clay minerals is Kaolinite, a soft mineral produced by the chemical weathering of aluminum silicate minerals like feldspar. Kaolinite is milled to obtain target particle sizes and surface areas which are key to its use in different applications.

Raman spectroscopy is well known as a powerful analytical method for qualitative chemical analysis. Less well known is that under certain conditions Raman spectroscopy can also be an effective method for quantitative analysis. Here we demonstrate that capability for quantitative analysis under a variety of conditions, involving different solutes in a solution and solution mixtures, and its applications to pharmaceutical analysis such as content uniformity.

The surface area of bentonite is important because it significantly influences its reactivity, adsorption capacity, and effectiveness in various applications. Bentonite clay can have a high surface area due to its unique layered structure and microscopic particle size.

It is necessary to have a particle size quantification system better suited to the specific requirements of the pharmaceutical industry; and D-values, while basic, fit this requirement well.

The surface area of calcium carbonate plays a crucial role in determining its reactivity, effectiveness, and performance in various applications. A larger surface area means more opportunities for reactions with other substances, such as acids or other chemicals.

Adeno-Associated Viruses (AAVs) are becoming widely used as viral vectors to deliver cell and gene therapies and vaccines. As production methods scale to meet growing demand, more information is needed more quickly.

Hydroxyapatite is a naturally occurring mineral form of calcium apatite. It is the main mineral component of vertebrate bones and teeth and is also found in some other tissues like dentin and enamel.

Due to Covid-19, a wide choice of protective masks are now on the market. These types of masks are distinguished, in particular, by their different efficiencies linked to their filtration capacity. These differences in protective properties have therefore made it essential to characterize the composition of the masks. In this paper, we present why LabRAM Soleil™ confocal Raman multimode microscope is the perfect tool for studying the distribution and composition of mask fibers.

Aluminum oxide, or alumina, is a compound composed of aluminum and oxygen. It is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth’s crust and has many practical applications due to its unique properties.

In this Application Note, we will focus on the importance of monitoring particle size and distribution range throughout two different processing technologies used to improve shelf-life and efficacy of CBD products.

Graphite’s properties stem from its hexagonal lattice structure. It is composed of carbon atoms arranged in layers, each consisting of interconnected hexagonal rings. These layers can easily slide past one another, giving graphite its characteristic lubricity.

Driven by applications like LED-backlit TVs and solid-state lighting, the global LED market is growing rapidly. The main challenges for general LED lighting include reducing overall production costs and increasing efficiency and lifetimes. The performance of a LED which is characterized by its wall-plug efficiency depends on the design and overall material properties of the LED thin film structure. Ellipsomentry may be used for the accurate determination of the thickness and optical constants of the LED device for both research and industrial applications. Accurate control of thickness and refractive index is vital for the optimization of device properties and for industrial quality control.

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite materials have emerged over the past five years as promising absorber layers for new high-efficiency and low-cost solar cells that combine the advantages of organic and inorganic semiconductors. The increasing interest in this technology is pushing research laboratories to find the optimal techniques for the accurate characterization of opto-electronic properties of these materials.

Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) is a pigment used in paints and many other applications. The particle size of titanium dioxide directly impacts its performance in numerous applications, necessitating the measurement and control of this important property.

A series of legislative measures has significantly reduced the amount of emissions that is being emitted by internal combustion engines of light and medium-duty vehicles.

Products used in ceramic and abrasive applications are invariably produced from powders. Particle size distribution has profound effects on processing and function of these products. These materials include most oxides and minerals from aluminum oxide to zirconium oxide. Depending on the application, particle size can effect densification, transport and mechanical properties.

Copper in reddish metal, it is malleable, ductile and an extremely good conductor of both heat and electricity. Copper metal is widely used for electrical wiring, water piping, and corrosion resistant parts, either pure or in alloy such as brass and bronze. Carbon and Sulfur are considered as impurities, so it is important to measure and check the Copper purity.

An emulsion is droplets of one fluid suspended in another fluid. The stability of an emulsion depends on both the initial size of the droplet and a surfactant which is often added to stabilize the surface of the droplet.

Vanadium Oxide is slightly soluble in water so measurement in an organic solvent or as a dry powder is recommended.

Size matters in vaccine delivery systems. Nanoparticles smaller than 200 nm generally present a greater immunogenic response than micro-particles larger than 1 micron.

The use of time‐resolved fluorescence has expanded as the relative cost of instrumentation has decreased in recent years. One area where this is especially true is in the food industry, where time‐resolved fluorescence has been applied in the characterization of food stuffs as well as aspects related to food safety and degradation.

No need to sample—simply take your readings directly in place in locations such as reaction vessels Collecting samples during a continuous process can be tedious and even dangerous if hazardous materials are involved.

UVISEL ellipsometers have been used for the characterization of several systems of nanoparticles. This ellipsometric characterization involves the development of specific modeling tools available within DeltaPsi2 software. Through this report we illustrate the application of ellipsometry to the characterization of nanoparticle based samples. Our goal is to demonstrate that the technique can apply within a large panel of materials science. The HORIBA ellipsometric product line offers the most versatile hardware of the UVISEL series combined with the DeltaPsi2 software including unique modeling features to get the most of your applied work on this fascinating domain of modern physics.

Pigment size can be readily measured by laser diffraction. This measurement requires less time, training and effort than a color strength measurement and provides useful information for the process engineer.

Real Driving Emission (RDE) tests confirm the results produced during an emissions test on a chassis dynamometer to ensure that vehicles meet the set limits in the real world.

Particle size is of critical importance to the powder properties and to the performance of solid oxide fuel cells. Laser diffraction has proven to be an excellent way to monitor and control particle size for these materials.

Individual rice grains are analyzed by micro-XRF to examine the effect of grain polishing. The concentration of mineral elemnts found on a grain can be related to the degree of polish.

This application note introduces foreign matter analysis in food products using the XGT 9000. There are three analyses as follows: Foreign particles on an oily salami, foreign matter inside a laminated ham and sausage, and a fly found in a drink product.

Antimony trioxide, also called antimony white, has the formula Sb203 with a structure dependant on the temperature. It is used as a flame retardant, pigment, and catalyst.

The XGT-9000 is HORIBA’s new X-ray microscope. Its analytical versatility allows, multiple characterizations to be performed on a blister pack, from mapping of the full pack to particle size measurements of the capsule content.

The use of security features, such as luminescent inks, has increased significantly in an attempt to prevent fraud and counterfeiting of materials and goods. Obvious applications of these inks include banknotes, branded goods, drug packaging and food security. Security inks can either show up overtly or be covert, with the latter driving the luminescence further from the visible spectral region into the ultraviolet (UV) and near infrared (NIR) regions. These are regions where light sources are not so common. The use of the luminescence lifetime on top of the wavelength signature adds an extra parameter that can be interrogated.

This note covers the history, theory and processes used for emulsion polymerization. It also examines the importance of measuring the concentration of latex nanoparticles produced by emulsion polymerization for a biotech application developed by the Gianneschi lab at UCSD.

We have measured solutions of lysozyme under conditions known to effect its physical state in order to investigate the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a non-invasive and label-free tool to assess protein formulation stability. Results from this study identified specific Raman signature bands in this protein that can be used to identify individual amino acid residues that are reflect structural changes in proteins.

The use of metal surfaces in conjunction with fluorescence molecules employing a plasmon effect, sometimes referred to as metal enhanced fluorescence, can be advantageous because of the possible enhancement of photophysical properties.

We have performed a complete Raman polarized study of a single GaN nanowire using a confocal microscope together with a high resolution stage. The high spatial resolution of our Raman confocal instrument together with a piezoelectric stage demonstrates unambiguously the possibility to image the optical properties of nano-objects with a resolution better than 200 nm keeping the fill advantage of the polarization control under a confocal microscope.

Spectroscopic Ellipsometry is an efficient and non-destructive method for extracting optical constants of materials in the UV-VIS-NIR wavelength ranges. The optical constants (n,k) of a material are among the most important sets of optical data and are specific to the material being studied. During this webinar, you will learn how to define a strategy to perform quantitative Spectroscopic Ellipsometry on CIGS semiconducting thin films. CIGS is among the most efficient absorbers for photovoltaic solar conversion. Deployed as thin or ultra thin films, CIGS optical characterization is as important in its preparation stage as in the modeling of cell stacks. However the determination of CIGS optical constants is a very complex challenge, particularly for SE when it is used as a unique and direct experimental method.

Particle size analysis plays a crucial role in the manufacture of electronic materials for dielectric applications. In all cases, the particle size distribution has a great impact on their processing and performance.

The resurgence of interest in the Mediterranean Diet and its associated health benefits have directed focus on the role that Extra Virgin Olive Oil plays. The increasing awareness is leading to increasing product demand, but also opportunities to compromise quality. Hence the need for rapid analytical methods to perform Quality Analysis of various product samples.

Micro-XRF analysis of gun shot residues allows individual microscopic particles to be characterized for elemental composition. In addition, automated element imaging provides high spatial resolution element distribution maps, allowing particle shapes and sizes to be accurately analyzed.

Raman microscopy is an excellent tool to address the polymer research. Raman microscopy can be used to characterize raw materials, to inline or outline monitor polymerization process, to investigate orientation and crystallization changes, and also to control the quality and traceability of genuine products, by understanding defects and compounds distribution. In this article we present how HORIBA Raman microscopy solutions can support the polymer chemical and structural understanding.

In this note, the upstream process of analyzing viral preparations is addressed, as well as the use of multi-laser nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) as a cost and time efficient method to measure size, count virus particles, and correlate to infectious titer.

The use of security features, such as luminescent inks, has increased significantly in an attempt to prevent fraud and counterfeiting of materials and goods.

Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) is a powerful optical method used for characterizing materials. PL can be used to find impurities and defects in silicon and group III-V element semiconductors, and to determine semiconductor band-gaps.

In this study, we demonstrate the ViewSizer 3000’s capabilities as a next generation NTA based analysis instrument in order to accurately and efficiently measure and characterize extracellular vesicles (EV) via particle size and concentration.

Titanium oxide are used primarily in the production of paints and plastics and are also used in paper, priniting inks, cosmetics, textiles and food stuffs.

Simultaneous XRF and transmission x-ray imaging provides valuable insight into the composition and structure of pearls. Such information is vital for customs officials, who can quickly determine whether pearls are natural, cultured or imitation.

In the final step of the formulation process, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries have to control their products to check if the compounds' distribution in the final product, or in its application form, i.e. dispersed on a skin for an intracutaneous product, are homogenous and stable in order to guarantee the product's efficacy. In this paper, we present why confocal Raman microscopy is an excellent tool for product characterization after formulation.

Lapis lazuli is a deep-blue metamorphic rock used as a semiprecious stone which contains inclusions that can impact its value. Pyrite impurities and major elements distribution are studied with the XGT-9000, HORIBA’s new X-ray microscope.

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy is a powerful optical method for characterizing materials. PL can be used to identify defects and impurities in Si and III-V semiconductors, as well as determine semiconductor bandgaps. At room temperature, PL emission is usually broad—up to 100 nm in width.

This application note shows how the laser diffraction technique can be effectively used as an inspection tool for the synthesis of piezoelectric ceramics.

The new HORIBA Duetta fluorescence and absorbance spectrometer offers many unique benefits for molecular spectroscopy. It is primarily thought of as a spectrofluorometer that combines absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy to correct the fluorescence fingerprint for concentration-related effects. Duetta can also be used as a precise absorbance spectrometer. This application note explores the use of Duetta for a common absorbance application, the Protein A280 application.

Natural rocks composing the Earth are complex. They consist of an aggregate of one or more minerals. Each mineral can be defined by its chemical composition and its crystalline structure and sometimes can also contain fluid inclusions. Geologists need a powerful characterization technique to get detailed information on the rock formation history. Raman spectroscopy is extremely information-rich (chemical identification, characterization of molecular structures, effects of bonding, environment and stress on a sample). With its non-destructive properties and high spatial resolution (< 1 μm), it is thus a tool of choice for geological studies.

High spatial resolution elemental mapping experiments are demonstrated to provide a useful method of fingerprint analysis in situations where traditional methods struggle. Fingerprints on glossy paper and finely woven fabrics have been chemically treated, and subsequently imaged.

Iron oxides are magnetic black materials. The methicone treatment adds a degree of “slip” to the particles allowing for better color saturation although they still remain magnetic.

As a result of rapid development in semiconductor manufacturing, many types of optoelectronic devices such as laser diodes, LEDs, and high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) are now fabricated by epitaxial-growth methods.

Certain fluorescent molecules, known as molecular rotors, can be employed to estimate the local (nanoscale) viscosity in microheterogeneous systems by measurement of their fluorescence lifetime. This can be advantageous over the usual fluorescence anisotropy method, as the measurement is simpler and faster to perform. This is demonstrated using the HORIBA Scientific TemPro fluorescence lifetime system to monitor the gelation of silica produced using the sol‐gel technique.

International terrorism, security concerns, and the remains of forgotten landmines throughout the world have increased interest in detection of explosive materials.

Many particles encountered in mining are characterized by sieves. Recent advances make image analysis practical for samples with sizes larger than several microns in diameter. As particle size decreases, laser diffraction becomes the technique of choice.

Polymers are large molecules made from repeating structural units connected by covalent chemical bonds. We often use the word ‘plastic’ to refer to polymeric materials, but polymers also include a wide range of natural materials such as proteins, DNA, cellulose, shellac and amber.

X-ray Fluorescence photons can be partially absorbed by the encapsulated material and will not show in the spectrum. The X-ray transmission image provides a complete picture.

The use of low molecular weight molecules in the industries of drug discovery and agri-food has become increasingly important over the course of a century of drug research and science development in agriculture and in pharmaceutical field.

Forensic and Alternate light sources are useful tools to detect both fluorescent and non-fluorescent trace evidence.

Gallium Nitride (GaN) is one of a generation of promising light-emitting materials. Its direct energy band gap of ~3.4 eV at room temperature make it particularly suitable for emission in the blue, and near UV spectral ranges. The material often exhibits high temperature stability and low electrical leakage, and hence GaN is generally a good candidate for fabricating high-temperature and high-power devices.

Hydraulic fracturing is used in the oil and gas industry to increase the flow of oil and/or gas from a well. Proppants are pumped into the oil well with fracturing fluid to hold the fissures open. The proppant size, shape, and mechanical strength influences the integrity of the newly created fractures, and therefore the flow of oil and gas out of the well.

Many food products exist in particulate form ranging from powders to emulsions, suspensions and pellets. The size distribution of the particulates can affect the taste, appearance, stability, processability, and functionality of the final product. Proper particle characterization of food products requires a range of analytical instrumentation that HORIBA particle technologies have successfully applied into the food industry.

Polymorphisms characterization of active molecules is one piece of important information for the pharmaceutical industry, not only on raw powders, but also in the final form. Raman microscopy remains the most appropriate solution for this application. In this paper, we present an example of polymorphisms characterization by Raman microscopy using the super low frequency module.

In 2016 the European Commission´s (EC) Member States agreed on new procedures and requirements for light-duty vehicle type approval certification introducing Portable Emission Measurement System (PEMS) for vehicle testing on the road.

There are several different types of residues found both in ammunition and explosives, which fluoresce. By using a tunable Forensic Light Source, observations can be made on items without touching the surface, to see if fluorescent residues are present.

Foods we love rely on flavorings (or flavorants) to enhance their taste. Flavorants can reduce the costs of food processing while allowing a healthier diet. For maximum impact, particle size is important. Chefs and food scientists look beyond the name of the flavor and consider how it behaves during cooking and manufacturing. Much of this depends on particle size.

In order to control formulations of pharmaceutical products, characterizing their active compounds is critical, especially in terms of morphological and chemical characterization of particles. In this application note, two formulations from a generic and an innovator nasal spray have been analyzed to compare their compounds size and shape, and chemically characterized to compare the two formulations based on the ParticleFinderTM app for LabSpec 6. A focus is done on the active compound.

To comply with newest emission legislation it is necessary to test vehicle emissions on chassis dynamometer with the corresponding driving cycles.

In recent years, Spectroscopic Ellipsometry application is extended to the life science. In this article, we introduce two examples from this field: Biocompatibility of DLC films and demineralization and remineralization process of tooth surface.

On some individuals, a tunable or multiple wavelength forensic light source may reveal bruise and patterned wound details that are invisible under normal white light illumination.

Photoluminescence is the optical emission obtained by photon excitation (usually a laser) and is commonly observed with III-V semiconductor materials. This type of analysis allows non-destructive characterization of semiconductors (material composition, qualitative investigations, etc.

Quality control is an essential part of sugar production. In this study, the LA-960V2’s ability to rapidly analyze particle separation and the particle size of powdered sugar at its de-agglomerated state is demonstrated.

Protein aggregation is an important concern when developing and manufacturing biotherapeutics. It is important to quantify protein aggregation and particle formulation as this data is needed to guide formulation development, evaluate handling requirements, and monitor product quality.

Research in nanoscience has garnered much interest because of the different properties of small structures compared to the respective bulk material.

III-V semiconductors are important to the fabrication of active photonic devices such as light sources and detectors. Successful fabrication of such devices relies on the high quality of the underlying materials and precise deposition of intended geometries on a wafer substrate.

Historically, the primary application of a forensic light source is for enhancing the detection of latent fingerprints. The use of fluorescent enhancement processes that compliment a light source greatly increases the types of surfaces from which a latent fingerprint can be detected.

Resulting from the combination of Raman spectroscopy and optical microscopy, Raman hyperspectral imaging has proven to be an indispensable tool in the pharmaceutical field. This article will broach a number of Raman hyperspectral imaging applications that were developed in our laboratory, in order to demonstrate the significance of the technique.

InGaAs/GaAs and InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) have been identified as suitable candidates for various applications in the terahertz range by using their intraband carrier transitions.

Monolithic integration of optical components on CMOS platforms is ongoing in the optical communications industry. CMOS offers a mature and robust platform, and therefore is logical for building optical-interconnect modules.

Since body fluids like semen, saliva, and vaginal fluids are naturally fluorescent, the use of a light source offers a unique method for locating them. A crime scene investigator can narrow down the specific locations of stains for collection instead of testing entire, large pieces of evidence such as a mattress, a carpet, a sheet, an article of clothing, etc. The dried body fluids will actually glow under the light source illumination.

Determining the nitrate concentrations of sudangrass and pearl millet before feeding them to livestock prevents nitrate toxicity.

For thirty years there has been a research focused onto carbonization of 3D structures especially to be employed in electronic applications. These structures are prepared with the help of lithography and pyrolyzed afterwards. For making features below 100 nm, a bottom-up approach using lipids nanotubes is attempted.

The Nanolog has a reputation as the premier instrument for the exploration of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs).

GaN and related alloys are important materials used to build short-wavelength light sources (lasers and LEDs). Room- and low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) are used to characterize these materials as well as device performance.

This study focuses on the critical particle diameter of dry sugar granules as particle diameter is an indicator of: Flowability, Dissolution and mixing, and Powder uniformity.

The zeta potential of polyethylenimine, PEI, is measured as a function of polymer concentration with the SZ-100 Nanoparticle Analyzer. Charged polymers, that is, polyelectrolytes can be analyzed with the SZ-100.

The LA-960 Particle Size Analyzer and SZ-100 Nanoparticle Analyzer may be used to measure the particle size distribution and zeta potential for drug delivery vehicles. These characteristics directly affect bioavailability, dissolution, immunotoxicity, amongst other critical formulation factors.

In this article, we present the combination of Raman spectroscopy, Photoluminescence and SEM-CL techniques, where the instruments weren’t physically connected. Smart nanostructured materials require a comprehensive understanding of their morphology, elemental and chemical composition. nanoGPS Suite solution allows a colocalized combination of a variety of microscopy techniques, providing a full characterization of nanostructured materials and a precise superimposition of the results obtained.

Silica is currently one of the most important industrial materials, whose nanoparticles are formed via a sol-gel process.

Hybrid perovskite photovoltaics (PV) show promise because of their good efficiencies, which can be around 20%. Along with their PV characteristics, perovskite materials exhibit a high degree of radiative recombination.

This application note reviews the important role that particle size plays in the formation of mayonnaise and mayo products and how changes affect the taste and consistency of these alternatives.

Many particle size measurements are made to track size reduction operations such as milling, mixing, homogenizing, etc. Laser diffraction is the most common analysis technique for monitoring size reduction operations due to its very broad dynamic range.

Graphene oxide is a nanocarbon material with a high aspect ratio and a high surface area with a thickness of about 1 nm and a sheet length of several to tens of microns.

In order to optimize vehicles dynamics with regard to their speed characteristics and acceleration, fuel economy as well as handling, it is necessary to improve the vehicle’s drag coefficient (Cd). Drag is the force that impacts the vehicle dynamics in direction of the airflow. The drag coefficient is the main measurement of a vehicle’s aerodynamics. In research and development, manufacturers work on optimizing various performance characteristics in wind tunnel tests, including the drag coefficient.

HORIBA Jobin Yvon’s spectrofluorometers have many applications in nanophotonics research: single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), quantum dots (QDs), and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Quantum confinement affects nanomaterials’ photoluminescence: when the semiconducting nanoparticle is smaller than the bulk material’s Bohrexciton radius, the bandgap energy is inversely proportional to the nanoparticle size.

The study of protein aggregation encompasses a broad range of interactions and mechanisms. The LA-960 laser diffraction particle size analyzer possesses the unique ability to measure from 10 nanometers to 5 millimeters, accurately detecting the aggregates and, in some cases, the primary protein size.

The improvement of vehicle’s aeroacoustics plays a major role in the development process regarding comfort and customer perception as well as safety. The necessary acoustic measurements are carried out in a wind tunnel. In order to optimize the wind noise performance for the driver it is necessary to minimize the aeroacoustics noise sources generated by the vehicle's shape.

The brightly-colored coral reefs that make scuba-diving and snorkeling so enjoyable are essential to the survival of much underwater life. Not only do reefs offer a haven for smaller fish to hide from larger predators, but also some fish actually survive by eating the reefs themselves. Reefs offer protection to plants and animals from the ravages of waves and ocean currents. Thus, when the reefs die, so do many other living creatures.

Raman spectra, in conjunction with Multivariate (Chemometric) Analysis, have been demonstrated to provide real-time information on the progress of a polymerisation reaction. As shown by this example, these results can provide unexpected information on the details of the reaction. in this case, the inequivalent reaction rates of the two monomers. Such information ultimately enables the process engineer to optimise his process.

Particle size of cocoa powder used in chocolate affects color and flavor strength. The industry refers to “mouthfeel” as a gauge of acceptability or rejection. If the particles are too large, it will not have a consistent creamy taste. Particle size also affects the level of bitterness when tasted.

The size of a protein is an important physical characteristic that provides useful information including the presence of monomers, dimer and trimer, changes in conformation, aggregation state, and denaturation. Protein scientists typically discuss “protein size” or molecular weight, as opposed to using the phrase “particle size”, but particle size analyzers are often used in their studies.

Graphene oxide is a nanocarbon material with a high aspect ratio and a high surface area with a thickness of about 1 nm and a sheet length of several to tens of microns.

Gold nanorods are rod-shaped gold nanoparticles. Fig. 1 shows that gold nanorods have two surface plasmon bands in the directions of the short and long axes derived from their anisotropic shapes.

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are attracting attention and being utilized as cutting-edge materials, including battery materials, due to their lightness, strength, and current density resistance. Various applications have been developed based on these characteristics.

Silica particle size standards with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable certified mean diameters are suitable for a wide variety of particle measurement applications. This time, four types of monodispersed colloidal silica Sigma-AldrichTM (SA) were mixed to evaluate the resolution and quantitative capability of the centrifugal sedimentation method.

Internal Quantum Efficiency (IQE) and External Quantum Efficiency (EQE) measurements are indicators of the effectiveness of a photosensitive device such as those used in telecommunications and solar cells. EQE is the ratio of the charges generated to the total amount of photons incident on the surface; a larger EQE indicates a more efficient device.

Pulsed RF Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry, coupled with the Ultra Fast Sputtering system, offers the Ultra Fast Elemental Depth Profiling of plastic thin films Polymer Mobile Screen Protection Covers. By coupling this technique with the Raman spectroscopy z-Scan analysis it is possible to acquire important information concerning the fabrication of smartphone screen protectors.

Pharmaceutical aerosols including metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) and dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are devices that deliver a specific quantity of drug to the lungs. The particle size distribution and shape of the delivered dose is more critical for inhalation aerosols than for most other conventional drug products because these factors greatly influence the deposition profile in the lungs of the patient.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) are needle-like materials with a width of about 5-20 nm and a length of about 100-250 nm defibrated using chemical treatment. It is important to understand the fiber size and dispersion state. It is necessary to have an analysis method that can quickly evaluate a wide ranges of particle size distribution for separated particles to agglomerates.

The phenomenon of upconversion is an optical process that takes in lower energy (longer wavelength) photons and emits higher energy (shorter wavelength) photons.

Optimization and follow up of manufacturing process of plastics films are easily achieved using Pulsed RF Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry. This technique allows the fast detection of defects and presence of contaminants. The GD Profiler 2 can be a key instrument during the optimization and follow up of manufacturing process. Indeed, GDOES is a fast technique which allows the easy comparison of different materials, the detection of defects and the presence of contaminants. Moreover, combined with the «UFS» system, it proves to be a flexible technique for organic and hybrid materials opening numerous new applications domain.

The particle size distribution of active ingredients and excipients is an important physical characteristic of the materials used to create pharmaceutical products. The size, distribution and shape of the particles can affect bulk properties, product performance, processability, stability and appearance of the end product.

Nanocellulose is a fibrous material derived from wood and is used as composite materials, etc. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) are needle-like materials with a width of about 5-20 nm and a length of about 100-250 nm defibrated using chemical treatment. CNC is cheaper and more attractive than other high-performance nanomaterials as an alternative to some other petrochemical products. It is expected to be useable for oil spill cleaning, engineering, pharmaceuticals, container substitutes, biodegradable food packaging, etc. It is important to understand the fiber size and dispersion state. It is necessary to have an analysis method that can quickly evaluate a wide ranges of particle size distribution for separated particles to agglomerates.

Nanocellulose is a fibrous substance derived from wood and is attracting attention as a cutting-edge material. Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) manufactured by TEMPO oxidation are cellulose fibers that have added carboxy groups at high density. This type of CNF is made with high efficiency and is characterized by a very thin and uniform fiber width of about 3 nm. To utilize nanocellulose, it is important to understand the fiber diameter and dispersion state. To do so, it is necessary to have an analytical method that can quickly evaluate a wide ranges of particle size distribution, from well-dispersed particles to agglomerates at high resolution.

Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) technology is used as an indispensable fundamental technology in the manufacturing process of ultra-large-scale semiconductor integrated circuits (ULSI). CMP is a technique in which the surface of a substrate is softened, removed or flattened by chemical etching and frictional abrasion with a chemical slurry that contains abrasive particles. Fumed silica abrasive particles are synthesized in a gas phase reaction in flame and are dispersed as secondary particles that are aggregates of primary particles. They are known to have thiogenic properties. Although the rate of polishing is high for fumed silica, its polishing precision is inferior to that of colloidal silica.

MXenes is the largest and fastest growing 2D materials. They have unique properties such as good conductivity and a hydrophilic surface. The control of nanoscale composition would ultimately allow for engineering properties locally, gaining more control over the 2D material-based systems.

The Flowing Gas Technique for determining BET Surface Area has been in use for over 70 years. Many facets of the technology make it a very attractive alternative to the Static-Volumetric approach. Detection is done by measuring a gas concentration difference instead of an absolute pressure. Difference measurements are typically more accurate than many absolute measurements.

A feasibility study to measure low specific surface areas was performed using Certified Reference Materials consisting of two alpha-alumina powders and one quartz powder. The results show the SA-9600 can measure low specific surface area, with great agreement with certified values.

Nanocellulose is a fibrous material derived from wood that is applied to composite materials and is attracting attention as an advanced material. In order to utilize nanocellulose, it is important to understand the fiber diameter and dispersion state. 3 types of nanocellulose were analyzed using the Partica CENTRIFUGE centrifugal nanoparticle analyzer.

Examples of application of pulsed RF GDOES to the analysis of polymer layers and organic/inorganic films have been show illustrating the possibilities of the technique. Thanks to the use of pulsed RF source and UFS, GDOES takes its role in the multidimensional characterization of advanced multilayered organic materials where its specific strong points (speed, ease of use, large observation zone, measurement of all elements) are of great interest.

Vitamins are classified by their biological and chemical activity, not by their structure. They are grouped under an alphabetized generic descriptor title such as vitamin A that includes the compounds retinal, retinol, and four carotenoids.

Elemental distribution is crucial for material science. The XGT-9000 Series provides this information non-destructively.

Glasses are essential materials with a multitude of uses and many forms. In the area of optoelectronics there is an interest to modify the glass composition to favor the incorporation of lanthanide elements.

As far as polymeric fibres are concerned, slight modifications of Raman features are directly related to differences in the molecular orientation and the degree of crystallinity of the fibres. To utilize these subtle spectral changes and correlate them with physical properties of the polymer, one is obliged to use Chemometrics on the Raman spectra. The resulting synergism between Raman spectroscopy and Chemometrics will provide a powerful tool for monitoring and control of manufacturing of polymeric materials.

Nutraceuticals are food extracts that have been demonstrated to produce a physiological benefit or provide some protection against chronic disease. Nutraceuticals are the intersection of nutrition and pharmaceutical and can also include functional foods and dietary supplements.

This technical note serves as a guideline to selecting the best solid state detector with the Fluorolog-QM modular research spectrofluorometer for a given series of photoluminescence experiments.

The transmission design has demonstrated to be the technique of choice whenever Raman spectral information of a bulk material is required. It has already proven its utility for pharmaceutical applications, as tablets or even powder mixtures are good candidates for this measurement mode. However, transmission Raman might be applied successfully to other sample types, such as polymers, bio-tissues or any translucent material, and can be envisaged for evaluating the content of product inside a package. In addition, as TRS provides a global spectral information of the measured sample, it will be a technique of choice when quantitative evaluation of mixtures is needed.

This Application Note outlines three different kinds of spectroscopic tools being used for the characterization of sunscreens, and discusses the obtained results. These include Fluorescence spectroscopy for photoactivity, Particle Size analysis for composition and Raman microscopy for formulation investigation.

It is not yet understood how co-crystal nanoparticles (co-crystallinity combined with nanostructuring) have superior properties to single compound crystals. Only a technique capable of probing single nanoparticles can bring answers.

Using holographic techniques we have structured the surface in a one step procedure (no wet nor photocuring processing ) along the X and Y directions. A grating is first inscribed with grooves along the X direction, the sample is rotated by 90° and a second grating is inscribed with grooves along the Y direction. The intensity of the 1st diffracted orders is monitored to have equal intensities in both X and Y directions.

Cell culture media for bioreactors are commonly prepared as aqueous solutions that provide the essential nutrients and conditions required for optimal cell growth, product yield, and quality. Even subtle variations in media composition can significantly impact cell growth rates and yield. Consequently, the identification and analysis of cell culture media are critical for maintaining consistency and optimizing performance.

Recent developments in Raman instrumentation have made the technique easier to use, more compact, and more affordable. Consequently, all of the demonstrated potential of the spectroscopy for industrial uses can now be exploited, including its use in combination with statistical methods for concentration calibrations.

Pharmaceutical and crystallographic samples typically require detailed characterization and analysis to optimize a samples stability, physical properties and indeed general efficacy where an active drug substance is involved.

Blending, an alternative method for engineering products that combines the properties of polymer types is a physical mixing. It has the advantage of being not only simple and inexpensive, but also allows for re-cycling used material. Incompatibility or non-miscibility of the differing chemical components is often an issue in the final performance of the polymer product. The first part of this note concerns the dispersion of the two components in a polyethylene-polybutylene terephthalate blend. The chemical imaging capabilities of the LabRAM are used to get this information. The second part deals with the depth analysis of laminated films made of different polymer layers.

The coupling of the power of confocal Raman microscopy to the inverted sampling geometry has enabled detailed investigations to be made of solvent and water based coating systems, providing important information on the processes and chemistry that occurs at the coating interface and within.

Many cosmetic products include particulate material or emulsions. Some examples of cosmetic products consisting of or including particulates include facial powders, moisturizers, and lipstick. The particle size distribution of these components effects appearance, stability, and protection.

Raman Spectroscopy was evaluated as a non-invasive method of analysis of sperm DNA and the influence of UV irradiation on the sperm. The results show that Raman Spectroscopy, combined with multivariate analysis provide the reproducible and accurate information on DNA of sperm and the effect and location of damage.

Liposomes are bilayer vesicles made of phospholipids derived from natural or man-made materials. They are mainly used in the pharmaceutical field for treatment of cancers as carriers of chemotherapeutic drugs to the tumor area.

Visualizing the distribution of structural defects and functional groups present on the surface of two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene oxide challenges the sensitivity and spatial resolution of most advanced analytical techniques.

Light incident on a leaf can be absorbed by chlorophyll to commence the photosynthetic cycle. Excess energy can be liberated as heat or by emission of fluorescence and this can be used to assess the efficiency of the photosynthetic process.

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) associated to Raman spectroscopy has proven to be a powerful technique for probing chemical properties at the nanoscale. TERS in liquids will bring promising results in in-situ investigation of biological samples, catalysis and electrochemical reactions.

Automobile-parts production can be paralyzed by a defective electrongalvanizing (EV) bath line.

This application note describes two experiments where laser diffraction proved capable of determining both the base biopolymer nanoparticles and also larger particles outside of the range of DLS.

Segmented channel waveguides have been fabricated in single crystal KTiOPO4 through a topotactic process of partial cation exchange. The ion-exchanged waveguides maintain the high nonlinear susceptibility of KTiOPO4 to function as frequency doubling laser light sources. We apply three dimensional (3D) Raman imaging to understand and characterize the changes to the chemical bonding and crystalline structure as well as measure the volumetric structure of the waveguide segments.

Fast and non-invasive methods for clinical and non clinical investigations for biological tissue are more and more required. Raman imaging at micro scale can answer to crucial questions about the monkey brain tissue morphology and structural evolution.

Confocal Raman Spectroscopy is an important analytical tool in various fields and it has shown high efficiency for specific applications in the cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical fields. Its non-invasive behavior, and its high molecular sensitivity make it one of the preferred label-free analytical techniques to characterize materials such as skin and cosmetic products.

2D materials are state-of-the-art in nano- and opto-electronics. Characterizing their structural properties with a non-destructive approach at the micron scale is very important. We demonstrate in this paper how LabRAM Soleil™ confocal Raman multimode microscope is the perfect tool for these materials characterization.

Many challenges remain before the promise of 2D materials is realized in the form of practical nano-devices. An information-rich, nanoscale characterization technique is required to qualify these materials and assist in the deployment of 2D material-based applications.

The ViewSizer™ 3000 enables scientists to visualize and quantify the kinetics of protein aggregation in real-time for biologic therapeutics under a variety of stress conditions.

During the last two decades, a great deal of attention has been focused on the optoelectronic properties of nanostructured semiconductors or Quantum Dots (QDs).

To access intrinsic amino acids, such as tryptophan, as probes, the UV excitation wavelengths for pulsed phosphorescence measurements have long been the preserve of low-repetition-rate gas-filled lamps or larger laser systems. Recent developments have enabled the use of interchangeable semiconductor diodes...

Biological tissues contain chromophores that absorb light, as well as fluorophores that absorb and reemit light (fluorescence effect). Light absorption depends on the chromophores’ content and their distribution within the organic matter.

Metal nanoparticles (also known as colloidal metal) have been around for a very long time. Both pure metal and metal oxide colloids are used in a wide variety of applications including catalysts, ferrofluids, biological markers, and many others. Particle size and zeta potential of these suspensions are critical physical parameters that affect functionality and stability.

The TRIAX and iHR series spectrometers used in Raman system configurations provide superior imaging performance with no re-diffracted light and maximized optical throughput.

Nanotechnology is extremely diverse, ranging from novel extensions of conventional device physics, to completely new approaches based upon molecular self-assembly and to developing new materials with dimensions on the nanoscale. Materials reduced to the nanoscale can show different properties compared to what they exhibit on a macroscale, enabling unique applications.

Quantum dots (QDs) have potential applications in optoelectronics, biosensing, biolabeling, memory devices, and sources of laser light.

HORIBA Jobin Yvon’s NanoLog® spectrofluorometer, specially optimized for recording near-IR fluorescence from nanoparticles, includes a double-grating excitation monochromator, imaging emission spectrograph with a selectable-grating turret, and a variety of detectors.

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconducting spheres in the size typically in the range of 1 to 10nm. The size of these small spheres give quantum dots the semiconducting properties and resulting photoluminescence that would not necessarily occur for the same material on larger scales.

Tryptophan phosphorescence within protein molecules is gaining attention as a probe of protein dynamics and structure. The tryptophan phosphorescence lifetime, τ, varies with the protein molecule’s local environment and conformation.

The fluorescence spectra of intrinsic protein fluorophores have been studied extensively and used in investigating biological events.

Corrected emission spectra1 of carbon nanoparticles can provide excitation–emission matrices (EEMs) for a range of excitation wavelengths.

Samples can be valuable. Either you don’t want to waste them, or you may not have very much starting material. Biological proteins and enzymes, for example, are often obtained in small volumes and may be expensive.

When a fluorophore absorbs a photon of light, an energetically excited state is formed. The fate of this species is varied, depending upon the exact nature of the fluorophore and its surroundings, but the end result is deactivation (loss of energy) and return to the ground state.

This technical note describes kinetic fluorescence as an analytical technique to quantify non-fluorescent species. The technique is applied to the determination of thiamine (vitamin B1) in solution.

Upconverting lanthanide-based nanomaterials exhibit a unique fluorescence anti-Stokes shift, which enables them to convert NIR wavelength excitation into visible shorter wavelength emissions (NIR to UV-Vis).

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), consisting of rolled-up single sheets of carbon atoms, have received much attention recently.

The choice of protecting group is of crucial importance in the success of many steps in organic synthesis and the manipulation of polyfunctional molecules, since they can prevent the formation of undesired side products and reactions.

Nanophotonics is one of the most exciting new fields to come out of nanotechnology. The quantum-confinement effects observed in these very small (~10 nm) particles can lead to unique optical properties.

The development and evaluation of UVA (320–400 nm) sunscreens is important because UVA sunlight can penetrate deep into human skin and cause severe internal damage, as well as erythema and photoaging.

Monitoring culture media conditions is critical for optimizing cell growth in the Biopharma industry. The health of cells has drastic impacts on the yield and quality of APIs in regenerative medicine, monoclonal antibody production (mAB), protein synthesis, and many more applications.

Improvements to the HORIBA Scientific NanoLog®, already the best spectrofluorometer for exploration of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), render it even more suitable for this application.

Traditionally, Raman has been a technique of the material scientist, physicist or chemist, but as instrumentation continues to evolve, the power of Raman in biological and medical applications is fast being realized, not least because of the high information content provided and an excellent tolerance for water.

Confocal Raman spectroscopy is beginning to be recognized as a high potential technique for the non invasive study of biological tissues and human skin under in vivo conditions. Raman spectroscopy can be applied to obtain information regarding the molecular composition of the skin down to several hundred micrometers below the skin surface.

Fluorescence measurements with HORIBA Scientific spectrofluorometers are a sensitive tool for probing biochemical interactions such as molecular beacons and DNA.

Resulting from the combination of Raman spectroscopy and optical microscopy, Raman hyperspectral imaging has proven to be an indispensable tool in the pharmaceutical field, especially to study the distribution of active(s) and excipients in a pharmaceutical drug product.

RF GD OES is well known for ultra fast elemental depth profile of thin and thick films. All elements can be measured including Hydrogen (H) which is important in many application fields - for corrosion studies, for PV, in metallurgy, for the development of hydrogen storage materials and for all polymeric coatings studies to name a few. The most sensitive emission line for H is in the VUV range at 121,567 nm.

The majority of proteins are glycosylated: they possess oligosaccharide chains and are hence termed glycoproteins. Oligosaccharides, also called carbohydrate or sugar, are often quite large (as large as some protein domains for example) and they have many functions in molecular interactions.

Both TEPL and TERS images are well correlated with AFM morphological images obtained simultaneously, and all are consistent in revealing the nature (number of layers) of MoS2 flakes. Upon deconvolution, the TEPL signal is even capable of revealing local inhomogeneities within a MoS2 flake of 100 nm size. Kelvin probe measurement supports TEPL and TERS measurements and adds to the power of such tip-enhanced combinative tools. TEOS characterization of 2D materials is likely to contribute to further deployment of these materials into commercial products through a better understanding of their electrical and chemical properties at the nanoscale.

Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy reveal different aspects of the solid state structure of 2D materials. Raman and photoluminescence imaging performed simultaneously with one instrument reveals the spatial variation of the solid state structure and electronic properties of 2D crystals that is not revealed in reflected white light imaging. That ability should allow materials scientists to better design and fabricate electronic and optoelectronic devices based upon 2D crystals.

The use of TERS to reveal the defects density in the structure of CNTs is of interest for a better understanding of the electrical properties of the devices made with such nano-objects. Not only defects concentration but also local chirality changes from the different radial breathing modes, pressure effect and strain distribution can be studied at the single carbon nanotube level through TERS.

Description of the advantages of combining the use of peptide chips with direct label-free detection as achieved by SPR imaging (SPRi).

This application note shows that the HORIBA Scientific SPRi platform is suitable for the analysis of aptamer-based molecular interactions. For this purpose, the interaction between human IgE protein, an antibody involved in allergic reactions, and a human IgE specific aptamer4 is presented as proof-of-concept.

The two methods - Analysis of fingerprint modes (intralayer) and Analysis of low-frequency modes (interlayer) - give complementary results and allow the determination of the number of MoS2 layers. Method 2 (using low frequency modes) gives excellent contrast; however it does not show single layer regions (which is related to the nature of the modes, rising from interaction between at least two layers). Method 1 (using fingerprint modes) shows all the layers, but the contrast is poorer, particularly for higher numbers of layers. The best result can be obtained combining the two methods. All the measurements (low-frequency and fingerprint) were done using ultra-low frequency ULFTM filters which allow a high throughput measurement in a full Raman range, down to <10 cm-1.

Among the possible fluorescence biosensors for medical and biochemical monitoring and imaging are the flavonoids, compounds that occur in many plants and their products, such as tea, chocolate, and red wine.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) is used to determine the optical constants of C60 and C70 thin films over the range 0.6-6.5eV (i.e. 190-2100nm). The information provided by the optical constants allows for a better understanding of the electronic structure of these materials.

The UVISEL Spectroscopic Ellipsometer is the ideal tool for reliable film thickness and optical constants characterization of amorphous carbon coatings, even in difficult cases where the film thickness is very thin. Roughness, and interface "adhesion" can also been determined.

Raman has shown a high potential in characterising the SWCNTs' structure. The correlation between knowledge about structure with physical and chemical properties about the tubes make the technique extremely powerful to control the quality of the SWCNTs for specific applications. Raman spectrometer capabilities like spatial resolution, spectral resolution and excitation wavelength versatility have been examined. Beside Raman, preliminary fluorescence studies are describing the potential of the technique.

Our SPRi technology (Surface Plasmon Resonance imaging), is able to measure multiplexed label-free biolo-gical interactions in a complex media such as serum.We will demonstrate the ability to monitor specific interactions between immobilized peptides and proteins issued from non purified immune sera, using a cystamine/glutaraldehyde SAM surface chemistry on the bio-chip surface. We chose to illustrate this ability by monitoring the interaction between an ovalbumin peptide fragment and an ovalbumin immunized serum.

The Raman spectra of the various forms of elemental carbon are very sensitive to the type of nearest neighbour bonding, and to intermediate and long range order. In many cases Raman spectroscopy is the technique of choice for characterization of carbon materials. Correlation of Raman spectral features with tribological properties can facilitate the deposition of carbon films.

Graphene is a new nanomaterial which may partially replace silicon in microcircuits and computer chips in the future. In order to better understand its quality characteristics, fast reliable techniques that deliver the right property measures are needed. Raman spectroscopy has emerged as a key technique for studying this exceptional material.

In this work, spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) was successfully applied to characterize the optical properties and the thicknesses of doped and undoped diamond layers. The sensitivity of this technique enables the doped layer to be distinguished from the undoped one in a sample consisting of a stack of these two layers. Moreover, an interface between the two layers has been detected. This work and others reported previously show clearly that ellipsometry is the technique of choice for the characterization of optical and structural properties of layered materials thanks to its sensitivity and the wide range of information it provides.

The Raman spectra of elemental carbon materials are known to be sensitive to polymorphy. For hard carbon films, the spectra of amorphous and diamond-like carbons can be band-fit to separate the contributions of the "graphitic carbon" (G band) from the "disordered carbon" (D band). The spectral behaviour of carbon films has been empirically correlated with thin film physical properties such as hardness, durability, optical transparency, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance, and can be of use for prediction of these properties without extensive alternative testing. The DiskRam has been designed to automate the collection of Raman spectra from hard carbon coatings on computer hard disk media and the extraction of parameters that are well correlated with the properties of the films. The extracted information is output in spreadsheet format for SPC at a manufacturing facility.

The colour enhancement treatment on native brown and yellow diamonds can be highlighted by Photoluminescence analyses performed with the Raman spectrometer LabRAM HR. The PL signature of green and violet diamonds has also been recorded. The defect centres responsible of the colour of the diamonds have all been detected and assigned. This proves the Raman spectrometer to be a very good tool to investigate the fine defects in the Diamond structure by Photoluminescence analysis.

The purpose of this proof of concept is to show that Surface Plasmon Resonance imaging (SPRi) is a suitable technique to detect allergens. Compared with other techniques, such as ELISA or Luminex, which are based on colorimetric or fluorescence detection, this technology does not require the labeling of antibodies.

HORIBA provides the pharmaceutical industry, biotech companies and academic research laboratories with high performance instrumentation based on SPRi technology (Surface Plasmon Resonance imaging). To demonstrate the power of this technology, we carried out an experiment based on an antibody-antigen interaction. Original surface chemistry combined with an electrochemical process allows the rapid coupling of biomolecules to the gold layer (polypyrrole co-polymerisation) on the top of a glass prism.

Rapid mixing accessories to perform stopped flow measurements have found application in characterizing interactions and reactions occurring in solution. Reactants are expelled from syringes, mixed and injected into a flowcell.

The potential health benefits stemming from the antioxidant activity of curcumin, commonly found in turmeric (Curcuma longa L), has attracted the interest of several research groups.

Polarized light striking a fluorescent molecule results in polarized fluorescence. This polarized emission gradually returns to unpolarized fluorescence depending on rotational diffusion and other factors. Anisotropy is directly related to the polarization, and is the ratio of the polarized light component to the total light intensity.