Shimadzu FTIR TALK LETTER - Vol. 40

Significance of the Topic

The combination of infrared (IR) and Raman microspectroscopy in a single instrument addresses growing demands for micro‐area analysis across pharmaceutical, environmental and materials research.
By overlaying complementary vibrational information, analysts can identify both organic and inorganic components with spatial resolution down to the micrometer scale.

Objectives and Study Overview

This work introduces Shimadzu’s AIRsight infrared/Raman microscope and AIMsight infrared microscope, controlled by the new AMsolution software.
Key goals include:

• Demonstrate seamless switching between IR and Raman modes on the same sample spot
• Present new measurement functions (length, depth, contaminant recognition)
• Showcase instrument validation capabilities for pharmaceutical compliance
• Provide application examples illustrating microplastic, contaminant and packaging analyses

Methodology and Instrumentation

Infrared spectroscopy probes molecular dipole changes via mid‐IR absorption, while Raman spectroscopy detects inelastic scattering of visible/NIR laser light, yielding complementary vibrational fingerprints.
Key optical features of AIRsight:

• Shared stage for IR and Raman with motorized switching mirror
• IR path fed by FTIR spectrometer (e.g. IRXross) with reflective objectives and transmittance/reflectance switching
• Raman path equipped with 532 nm and 785 nm solid‐state lasers, ND filter for intensity control, confocal objective lenses (50×,100×) and cooled CCD detector
• Wide‐field camera for sample observation in both modes

Instrumentation Used

• Shimadzu AIRsight infrared/Raman microscope
• Shimadzu AIMsight infrared microscope (AIM‐9000 successor)
• IRXross FTIR spectrophotometer
• AMsolution control software (mode switching, measurement tools, validation)
• 532 nm and 785 nm lasers; Peltier‐cooled CCD; mapping program (optional)

Main Results and Discussion

1. Mode Switching and Measurement Tools

• One‐click swap between IR and Raman UIs with minimal interface changes
• Length measurement on images (up to 60 points, annotations, printable reports)
• Depth profiling in transparent samples via confocal Raman (linear mapping option)
• Automatic contaminant recognition: object detection, aperture sizing, measurement point registration
• Built‐in instrument validation routines compliant with JP, USP, EP, ChP (IR and Raman)

2. Application Examples

1. Micro‐area analysis of a 1 μm polystyrene bead by Raman (100× objective), resolving spectra undetectable in IR due to diffraction limits
2. Tablet contaminant identification: IR spectra failed to reveal adherent particles, Raman confirmed iron oxide by matching library data
3. Packaging film layer analysis: IR mapped polymer layers (Nylon, PE) but missed TiO₂; Raman distinguished PET and rutile TiO₂ peaks at low wavenumbers

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Single‐instrument workflow reduces sample handling and alignment errors
• Enhanced detection of fluorescent or low‐absorbance components
• Automated features speed QA/QC tasks in pharmaceuticals, electronics, food safety and microplastics research
• High spatial resolution and chemical imaging for defect analysis and materials development

Future Trends and Opportunities

• Integration of AI‐driven spectral interpretation and automated mapping to further reduce analyst workload
• Expanded use in environmental microplastic tracking, contaminant surveillance and forensic analysis
• Advances in laser technology and detector sensitivity to extend measurement range and lower detection limits
• Cloud‐based data management and remote operation for global collaboration and instrument validation

Conclusion

Shimadzu’s AIRsight and AIMsight systems, powered by AMsolution software, deliver a versatile platform for combined IR/Raman microanalysis.
Their seamless mode switching, automated measurement tools and compliance validation support diverse applications from academia to industry.
By uniting two complementary vibrational techniques, these instruments enable precise, high‐resolution chemical insights in micro‐areas.

References

• Takeshi Hasegawa, Yukihiro Ozaki, Experts Series for Analytical Chemistry Instrumentation Analysis: Vol. 2 Infrared Spectroscopy & Raman Spectroscopy, Kyoritsu Shuppan, 2020
• Hiro‐o Hamaguchi, Koichi Iwata, Spectroscopy Series 1—Raman Spectroscopy, Kodansha, 2015