Highly Sensitive, Low-Cost Deep-UV Resonant Raman Microspectroscopy Systems

Abstract

Deep-UV resonant Raman (DUVRR) spectroscopy is a powerful technique for chemical and structural analysis, offering significant advantages, including increased signal enhancement, reduced fluorescence interference, and higher spatial resolution. However, the high cost and complexity of traditional Deep-UV (DUV) excitation sources have limited its broader adoption. Herein, a novel, cost-effective DUVRR microscopy system utilizing a low-pressure mercury lamp emitting at 253.7 nm as the excitation source is presented. The system achieves efficient Raman filtering through a mercury vapor cell and incorporates multiplexed fiber optics for hyperspectral imaging. This design demonstrates robust performance across diverse applications, including fluorescence suppression, polymer characterization, biological imaging, and ultrasensitive detection of environmental contaminants. The integration of an optical cavity for signal enhancement enables the detection of nanomolar concentrations of analytes, paving the way for high-sensitivity measurements in biomedical and environmental research. These advancements demonstrate the practicality of affordable, high-performance DUVRR systems for widespread application.