Trace detection of explosives by Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

S. Almaviva; S. Botti; L. Cantarini; A. Palucci; A. Puiu; A. Rufoloni; L. Landstrom; F.S. Romolo

doi:10.1117/12.970300

30 October 2012 Trace detection of explosives and their precursors by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy

S. Almaviva, S. Botti, L. Cantarini, A. Palucci, A. Puiu, A. Rufoloni, L. Landstrom, F.S. Romolo

Proceedings Volume 8546, Optics and Photonics for Counterterrorism, Crime Fighting, and Defence VIII; 854602 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.970300
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2012, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy measurements on some common military explosives were performed with a table-top micro-Raman system integrated with a Serstech R785 minispectrometer. Serstech R785 is a miniaturised spectrometer suitable for Raman and NIR measurements. Integration of R785 in our table-top system aims to the realization of a portable SERS detector, able to perform in-situ measurements. SERS Spectra were obtained exciting the substance of interest with a 785 nm diode-laser, while these substances were deposited starting from commercial solutions on commercial SERS substrates, to improve the detection sensitivity. The amount of the sampled substance was determined through the analysis of images of the substrate covered with the residue of explosive. In fact, once the solvent is completely evaporated, the residue of explosive was observed to be uniformly distributed on the substrate surface. Images acquired with a Scanning Electron Microscope provided further details of the deposition process showing that a fraction of the active SERS sites are completely covered with the analyte while other sites appear to be empty; from the analysis of the images the sampled quantity was estimated to be about 200 pg. The main Raman features of each substance were clearly identified, the spectral resolution was sufficiently high to clearly distinguish spectra belonging to different substances.

Citation Download Citation

S. Almaviva, S. Botti, L. Cantarini, A. Palucci, A. Puiu, A. Rufoloni, L. Landstrom, and F.S. Romolo "Trace detection of explosives and their precursors by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy", Proc. SPIE 8546, Optics and Photonics for Counterterrorism, Crime Fighting, and Defence VIII, 854602 (30 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.970300

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available