AIRsight™ Infrared/Raman Microscope

The AIRsight™ Infrared/Raman Microscope from Shimadzu Scientific Instruments offers a two-in-one solution for molecular analysis. This one-of-a-kind system includes a Raman unit compatible with the IRTracer-100, IRXross, and IRAffinity-1 series Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers and is available on Shimadzu’s AIMsight infrared microscope.

By making every process step simple to complete, from sample observation to data processing, the AIRsight Infrared/Raman Microscope increases analytical efficiency.

By allowing users to get Raman and qualitative infrared spectra at the same location without transferring samples to the same stage, the equipment also improves accuracy.

For infrared measurements, the system uses a proprietary wide-view camera, a microscope camera, and an objective lens. The wide-view camera and objective lenses share positional data with the microscope camera.

Measurement and analysis programs are part of the AMsolution software. The measurement software allows users to easily complete all tasks, from image acquisition to measuring infrared and Raman spectra, by controlling both infrared and Raman measurements through a single window. Infrared and Raman spectra can be searched and overlaid by the analysis software.

Operators can access information on both organic and inorganic materials from the same place, which can significantly improve the precision of qualitative analysis. Since this approach only requires one instrument to perform infrared and Raman measurements, it preserves essential laboratory space.

A standard wide range of libraries, including exclusive Shimadzu libraries and libraries for substances ranging from common chemicals to macromolecules, are available with the AIRsight Infrared/Raman Microscope. Add-on applications, peripherals, and libraries are also available. Software, accessories, and libraries are also offered as options.

Features

Both FTIR and Raman Spectra Can Be Measured without Moving Samples

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Raman and infrared spectra can be measured from the same location in a small area without having to relocate the samples. Information on both inorganic and organic substances can be gathered from the same point, which could significantly improve the accuracy of qualitative analysis.

The effectiveness of sample observation is enhanced with Shimadzu’s proprietary wide-view camera, microscope camera (for infrared measurements), or objective lens (for Raman measurements).

The wide-view camera provides variable digital zooming in addition to large-area observation up to 10×13 mm. The microscope camera and objective lenses can also access positional information from it.

The microscope camera can be used to examine regions as tiny as 30×40 μm, the 50× objective lens to examine areas as small as 15×20 μm, and the 100× objective lens to observe areas as small as 7.5×10 μm.

One Software to Measure and Analyze Both FTIR and Raman Spectra

Image Credit: Shimadzu Scientific Instruments

With one click, users can switch between infrared and Raman measurements. Numerous analyses can be carried out in addition to the superposition and display of infrared and Raman spectra.

Obtain Organic and Inorganic Information with One Instrument

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Although infrared microscopes can examine organic substances, it can be challenging to collect information on many inorganic substances.

Raman microscopes, on the other hand, can collect information on both organic and inorganic substances, such as carbon and titanium oxide. A single AIRsight device, in contrast, has the ability to evaluate mixtures of both inorganic and organic substances.

AIRsight Features for Raman Measurements

• Confocal optical system used
  • Facilitates Raman measurements with superior spatial resolution
• Equipped standard with 532 nm and 785 nm lasers
  • Characteristics of the lasers
  • 532 nm: Light scatters more easily, making it easier to obtain peak intensities
  • 785 nm: Less affected by fluorescence, making it suitable for fluorescent samples
• Systems can be equipped with either a 50× or 100× objective lens (or both)
  • Selectable depending on the target measurement area
• Includes XYZ correction for lens switching between infrared and Raman measurements
  • Enables both infrared and Raman measurements from the same location

Image Credit: Shimadzu Scientific Instruments

Image Credit: Shimadzu Scientific Instruments

Length Measurement Function

Image Credit: Shimadzu Scientific Instruments

Measurements of object lengths are possible using the AMsolution software. With the press of a single button, these measurement results can be produced.

Depth Measurements

Enables Analysis in the Depth Direction (Z-Direction)

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Raman measurements provide the ability to determine depths at a single point or along a line (needs a different mapping program). If a transparent sample, such as glass or plastic, has a thickness (depth) dimension, the components of laser light that can penetrate the sample can be used to measure the sample's interior.

AMsolution

AMsolution consists of two types of software: AMsolution Analysis and AMsolution Measurement. The measurement software can manage Raman and infrared measurements from the same window.

This allows for the efficient execution of every step, from image acquisition to the measurement of infrared and Raman spectra at the same location. The software for analysis can produce libraries, search and overlay infrared and Raman spectra, among other things.

The infrared mode data can be transferred into LabSolutions IR for analysis.*¹

AMsolution, a program for AIRsight, can be used to examine the data obtained with AIMsolution, a program for infrared microscopes.

*1 Only with LabSolutions IR Ver. 2.31 or later.

Image Credit: Shimadzu Scientific Instruments

• Infrared Mode Inspection Parameters
  • Shape and size of the power spectrum
  • Based on the polystyrene film spectrum:
    • Resolution
    • Wavenumber accuracy
    • Wavenumber reproducibility
    • Transmittance (or absorbance) reproducibility
    • Peak resolution function
• Raman Mode Inspection Parameters
  • Based on the polystyrene pellet spectrum:
    • Wavenumber accuracy
• Note
  • The wavenumber reproducibility is an inspection metric required by the Japanese Pharmacopoeia
  • The Peak resolution function is an inspection parameter that is exclusively needed by the Chinese Pharmacopoeia
  • The inspection parameter of US Pharmacopeia is only wavenumber accuracy

Library Creation Function

The AMsolution analysis program includes library creation capability as a standard. Analysts can build their own library by recording infrared and Raman spectra. Created libraries can also be used for searches.

Keeping track of the materials used in products and the substances used in manufacturing processes and utilizing them as a library can help increase search accuracy.

Libraries Containing around 12,000 Spectra

Systems are pre-loaded with a wide range of libraries, including exclusive Shimadzu libraries and libraries for anything from common reagents to macromolecules. Therefore, it is unnecessary to purchase additional libraries since the default arrangement offers sufficient data for qualitative analysis.

Main Contents

• Shimadzu Food Additives library (substances listed in official analysis methods for food additives
• Polymers
• Pharmaceuticals
• Inorganic substances
• Pesticides
• General reagents

Libraries of Wiley Raman spectrum can be added. Wiley provides libraries of spectra from a variety of substances, such as monomers, polymers, inorganic substances, and substances relevant to biochemistry or forensic science.

Database example:

Source: Shimadzu Scientific Instruments

Automatic Contaminant Recognition System

It comes inbuilt with the ability to automatically detect contaminants. The software can detect contaminants with only one button click from the analyst. For the infrared mode, there are two varieties available: the regular type and the micro type for really small regions, which can be chosen based on the analysis’s objectives.

The analyst can either add or remove measurement points while measuring samples or leave the automatically chosen measurement positions alone. Each measured spectrum is immediately stored as a sample image. It is therefore simple to verify the sample or measurement locations.

Image Credit: Shimadzu Scientific Instruments