Arduino-based Raman spectrometer for drug identification

[sbrothy]

Well, my project is moving forward, albeit slowly as it takes time for things to arrive from China. I mostly have all the cheapest items now. The optic parts are pretty expensive though.

I'm not trying to fool anyone: I'm in way over my head here. Luckily I don't need to understand the theory in detail to actually build the thing, but some things naturally puzzles me being an autodidact hack.

My latest acquirement is an infrared camera, so now, as mentioned, I'm "just" missing the optics and filters (perhaps some heat sinks).

i have a bunch of questions for you here, let me just find them....

 

[sbrothy]

OK,. Q#1:

In summary, the design and fabrication of a cost-effective
portable Raman spectrometer are presented here. The
simplicity of the fabrication procedures detailed herein and
the nominal cost of materials make it easily achievable at any
educational institution. The design strategy provided in the
manuscript offers the flexibility of configuring Raman systems
with a different excitation wavelength, and the only
modification to be implemented will be the choice of the
long-pass filter with the right cutoff wavelength. This helps to
explore other capabilities of RS. For example, configuring the
system with 405 nm allows study of the well-known resonance
Raman effect, which provides a 106 signal enhancement with
biologically important molecules such as heme and chlorophyll.
On the other hand, configuring it with a longer
wavelength laser diode (e.g., 650 nm) will help record the
Raman spectrum with reduced fluorescence. Yet, another
possibility is to explore the demonstration of the concept of
SERS with easily preparable metal nanoparticle solutions,48−50
which yield enhancement factors as high as 1010.

---- Fabricating a Low Cost Raman Spectrometer... (boldness mine)

Now my question is: if I want to detect organic compounds like illicit drugs and adulterants, what nm should I use?

 

[sbrothy]

I was searching for answers to my question among ready-made systems. And even though I was already aware the prices still shocked me. I'm guessing you get what you pay for though. These gizmos look really smart! And they're only ~$22.000!

Zurich Instrumensts

Raman Systems