Raman characteristics of various minerals constituting natural rocks collected from uranium deposits in Okcheon metamorphic zone in Korea are presented. Micro-Raman spectra were measured using a confocal Raman microscope (Renishaw in Via Basis). The focal length of the spectrometer was 250 mm, and a 1800 lines/mm grating was installed. The outlet of the spectrometer was equipped with a CCD (1,024256 pixel) operating at -70°C. Three objective lenses were installed, and each magnification was 10, 50, and 100 times. The diameter of the laser beam passing through the objective lens and incident on the sample surface was approximately 2 m. The laser beam power at 532 nm was 1.6 mW on the sample surface. Raman signal scattered backward from the sample surface was transmitted to the spectrometer through the same objective lens. To accurately determine the Raman peak position of the sample, a Raman peak at 520.5 cm-1 measured on a silicon wafer was used as a reference position. Since quartz, calcite, and muscovite minerals are widely distributed throughout the rock, it is easy to observe with an optical microscope, so there is no difficulty in measuring the Raman spectrum. However, it is difficult to identify the uraninite scattered in micrometer sizes only with a Raman microscope. In this case, the location of uraninite was first confirmed using SEM-EDS, and then the sample was transferred to the Raman microscope to measure the Raman spectrum. In particular, a qualitative analysis of the oxidation and lattice conditions of natural uraninite was attempted by comparing the Raman properties of a micrometer-sized natural uraninite and a laboratory-synthesized UO2 pellet. Significantly different T2g/2LO Raman intensity ratio was observed in the two samples, which indicates that there are defects in the lattice structure of natural uraninite. In addition, no uranyl mineral phases were observed due to the deterioration of natural uraninite. This result suggests that the uranium deposit is maintained in a reduced state. Rutile is also scattered in micrometer-sizes, similar to uraninite. The Raman spectrum of rutile is similar in shape to that of uraninite, making them confused. The Raman spectral differences between these two minerals were compared in detail.

Lately, Raman spectroscopy has become powerful tool for quality assessment of graphene analogues with identification of intensity ratio of Raman active D-band and G-band ( ID/IG ratio) as a vital parameter for quantification of defects. However, during chemical reduction of graphitic oxide (GrO) to reduced GrO (RGrO), the increased ID/ IG ratio is often wrongly recognized as defect augmentation, with “formation of more numerous yet smaller size sp2 domains” as its explanation. Herein, by giving due attention to normalized peak height, full-width half-maxima and integrated peak area of Raman D- and G-bands, and compliment the findings by XRD data, we have shown that in-plane size of sp2 domains actually increases upon chemical reduction. Particularly, contrary to increased ID/ IG ratio, the calculated decrease in integrated peak area ratio ( AD/AG ratio) in conjunction with narrowing of D-band and broadening of G-band, evinced the decrease in in-plane defects. Finally, as duly supported by reduction induced broadening of interlayer-spacing characteristic XRD peak and narrowing of ~ 43° centered XRD hump, we have also shown that the sp2 domains actually expands in size and the observed increase in ID/ IG ratio is indeed due to increase in across-plane defects, formed via along-the-layer slicing of graphitic domains.

Raman Spectroscopy is a non-destructive analysis method without complex pre-processing and it can reduce the costs and time. A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique was tried to the detection of Benzo[a]pyrene which is one of the hazardous minor components of foods. To demonstrate the Raman signal enhancement effect by graphene as substrate, thymine was used as the standard material. As a result, the Raman signal of thymine has 102 enhancement. Herein, new SERS trials established to pursue improve the speed, simplicity and suitability of detecting minor components in foods.

An enantioselective recognition of D- and L-tryptophan (Trp)-b-cyclodextrin (CD) inclusion complex was performed using electrochemical and FT-Raman spectroscopic analysis. From the electrochemical analysis, the selectivity coefficient (KDL) of b-CD inclusion complexes was found higher than that of the D- and L-Trp in phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH=7.0) solution. The percentage of enantioselectivity (I%ee) for peak current of D-Trp-b-CD inclusion complexes was observed higher than that of L-Trp-b-CD inclusion complexes in PBS solution. From Raman spectroscopy, chemical shift difference (D, cm-1) for the C=C stretch, ring vibration, and ring breathing of D-Try-b-CD inclusion complex were observed higher than that of L-Trp-b-CD inclusion complex. The electrochemical and Raman spectroscopic analyses were found very useful for chiral detection of racemic amino acid in the presence of b-CD.

The potential application of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was investigated to detect Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli. The silver colloidal suspension with optimum optical characteristics was obtained for SERS detection. The SERS spectra were collected the wavelengths from 500 to 1200 cm-1. The characteristic SERS spectra were obtained from both S. Typhimurium and E. coli; however the observed SERS peak profiles for both pathogens exhibited similar peak profiles. Therefore, the results suggest that even though SERS possesses the potential capability to detect pathogens rapidly, further study is required to resolve the ambiguous spectra profiles for S. Typhimurium and E. coli.

Successful application of graphene requires development of various tools for its chemical modification. In this paper, we present a Raman spectroscopic investigation of the effects of UV light on single layer graphene with and without the presence of O2 molecules. The UV emission from a low pressure Hg lamp photolyzes O2 molecules into O atoms, which are known to form epoxy on the basal plane of graphene. The resulting surface epoxy groups were identified by the disorder-related Raman D band. It was also found that adhesive residues present in the graphene samples prepared by micro-mechanical exfoliation using adhesive tape severely interfere with the O atom reaction with graphene. The UV-induced reaction was also successfully applied to chemical vapor deposition-grown graphene. Since the current method can be readily carried out in ambient air only with UV light, it will be useful in modifying the surfaces of graphene and related materials.

This study aims to find a correlation between XRD and Raman result of the oxidized high modulus carbon fibers as a function of its oxidation degrees, and compare with the isotropic carbon fiber reported early. La of the high modulus carbon fiber prepared by oxidation in carbon dioxide gas have been observed using laser Raman spectroscopy. The basic structural parameters of the fibers were evaluated by XRD as well. The La of the original high modulus carbon fibers were measured to be 144 a from Raman analysis and 135 a from XRD analysis. La of the 92% oxidized fiber were 168 a by using Raman and 182 a by using XRD. There was some correlation between the La value obtained from Raman and XRD. However the La value changes of the high modulus carbon fiber through whole oxidation process showed opposite tendency compare with the isotropic carbon fiber because of the fiber structure basically.

This study aims to find a correlation between XRD and Raman result of the activated carbon fibers as a function of its activation degrees. La of the isotropic carbon fiber prepared by oxidation in carbon dioxide gas have been observed using laser Raman spectroscopy. The basic structural parameters of the fibers were evaluated by XRD as well, and compared with Raman result. The La of the carbon fibers were measured to be 25.5 a from Raman analysis and 23.6 a from XRD analysis. La of the ACFs were 23.6 a and 20.4 a, respectively, representing less ordered through activation process. It seems that the ID/IG of Raman spectra were related to crystallite size(La). Raman spectroscopy has demonstrated its unique ability to detect structural changes during the activation of the fibers. There was good correlation between the La value obtained from Raman and XRD.

Symbiotic stars are known as binary systems of a giant with heavy mass loss and a white dwarf accompanied by an emission nebula. They often show bipolar nebulae, and are believed to form an accretion disk around the white dwarf component by attracting the slow but heavy stellar wind around the giant companion. However, the existence and physical properties of the accretion disk in these systems still remain controversial. Unique to the spectra of symbiotic stars is the existence of the symbiotic bands around 6830Å and 7088Å , which have been identified by Schmid (1989) as the Raman scattered features of the O VI 1032Å and 1038Å doublet by atomic hydrogen. Due to the incoherency of the Raman scattering, these features have very broad profiles and they are also strongly polarized. In the accretion disk emission model, it is expected that the Raman features are polarized perpendicular to the binary axis and show multiple peak structures in the profile, because the neutral scatterers located near the giant component views the accretion disk in the edge-on direction. Assuming the presence of scattering regions outflowing in the polar directions, we may explain the additional red wing or red peak structure, which is polarized parallel to the binary axis. We argue that in the accretion disk emission model it is predicted that the profile of the Raman feature around 6830Å is different from the profile of the 7088Å because the O VI line optical depth varies locally around the white dwarf component. We conclude that the Raman scattered features are an important tool to investigate the physical conditions and geometrical configuration of the accretion disk in a symbiotic star.