Raman Microscopy - simple question

[n0_3sc]

What's the best way to hold a sample of micron-sized polystyrene beads for raman microscopy?

[chemisttree]

My first attempt would be carbon tape of the type used in electron microscopy. Other than that, you might try to get one to sit still enough on a roughened glass slide. There should be enough confinement in the rough part of a glass slide to hold one still. I can tell you from experience that the rough glass slide won't hold micron-sized silicate particles still in the EM... too much charging and the particle flys off to find something to dump it's extra electrons onto.

[n0_3sc]

roughened glass? Wouldn't that diffract my focussed input beam? I'm thinking of either 'optically trapping' it, or just placing it in a drop of water on a microscope slide. Also, does anyone know by anychance why they use water in specific?

[chemisttree]

See here (http://www.nanophoton.jp/eng/raman/raman-11_application.html). Visualizing the roughened surface of a diamond file, for example, is one of the applications of raman microscopy.

[n0_3sc]

I think that was more too do with Spontaneous Raman Microscopy. In which case the slide preparation isn't as important as Coherent Antistokes Raman Microscopy - which is what I'm doing.