Patent ID: 7599056
Filing Date: 2009-10-06
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A Raman spectroscopy apparatus comprising: (a) a light source; (b) a structure comprising a substrate, the substrate comprising a mesoporous or a microporous material selected from the group consisting of porous silicon, porous polysilicon, porous ceramics, porous silica, porous alumina, porous silicon-germanium, porous germanium, porous gallium arsenide, porous gallium phosphide, porous zinc oxide, and porous silicon carbide, wherein the substrate surface that is capable of receiving light from the light source does not have a metal layer disposed upon it capable of causing surface enhanced Raman scattering in a sample to be analyzed; (c) one or more lenses for directing light from the light source onto the substrate or for collecting Raman scattered light from the substrate and a sample; and, (d) a spectroscopic analyzer capable of producing an electronic signal proportional to an intensity of the Raman scattered light in a fixed wavelength range or as a function of wavelength and capable of receiving Raman scattered light from the substrate and a sample.