About us

The purpose of this service is to meet the needs of the scientific community for the realization of qualitative and quantitative analyzes of substances (major, traces, syntheses, natural, ...).
Vibrational spectroscopies (Raman and infrared) make it possible to probe the vibrations of the atomic groups in the material. They therefore make it possible to obtain a vibrational impression of the molecule or solid analyzed and thus to identify them. The coupling with microscopes makes it possible to locate the analysis and thus to obtain information on the heterogeneities present within the sample. In particular, automated 3-axis motorized decks make it possible to obtain 2D or 3D (Raman) samples with a good spatial resolution (1 μm in Raman, 10 μm in IR).
Vibrational spectroscopies are adapted to any type of sample (solid, liquid gas) and of any chemical nature (organic, polymer, inorganic, metallic, ....)
By working under a microscope, the amount of sample required is minimal and the possibility of working on thin sections or in capillary allows the study of compounds sensitive to air or humidity. The analyzes are completely non-destructive and generally require no prior preparation on a quantity of material of the order of μg. The preparation time is almost zero.

Our services

For internal and external partners:
  • provision of the spectrometer (for trained users only)
  • Raman and FTIR analysis with presentation of the results
  • Preliminary studies
  • Expertise with report delivery
  • Training

Facilities / Equipments

Raman

A Jobin Yvon T64000 spectrometer is coupled with an olympus confocal microscope. The excitation sources are an argon ionized laser spectra physics (main lines at 514.5, 488, 457.9 nm) and a solid-state laser (532 nm). This tool equipped with three diffraction gratings and a CCD detector cooled with liquid nitrogen is the most versatile on the market with the possibility:
  • working at low frequency up to a few cm-1 of the exciting line using the triple subtractive configuration,
  • to have an ultimate resolution (<0.5 cm-1) using the triple additive configuration,
  • to have maximum brightness using the simple configuration where the exciter is eliminated via a frequency tuned EDGE filter,
  • to do mapping on a sample and thus to reveal heterogeneities.
A new macroraman database and accessory have just been acquired by the service.
The so-called "macro" mode makes it possible in particular to reduce the numerical aperture of the beam, whereas by using a microscope, the size of the light spot is substantially reduced; the diameter is then of the order of one micron. We can analyze samples of the order of ten dm3 and better dispersed heat induced by the laser so the heating under beam is less / microraman. We can focus the radiation on a tank containing a solid and consider monitoring a chemical reaction.
In addition, many accessories can be fitted to the microscope stage, allowing the analysis of samples in an inert atmosphere, in cold (-196 ° C) and hot (up to 1500 ° C), under pressure, and in electrochemical coupling.

Infrared

The Magma and Volcans laboratory has a Bruker Vertex 70 Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer with a Hyperion microscope.
This spectrometer allows the analysis of H2O, CO2 volatiles in minerals and mantle glasses with a minimum spot size of 10 μm. The method is applied to high-pressure synthetic minerals but also to vitreous inclusions trapped in mantle olivines.


Some of our achievements

These characterizations are essential techniques of the Inorganic Materials (MI), Thermodynamics and Molecular Interactions (TIM), Materials for Health (MPS) and Photochemistry teams of the ICCF (evolution of solid material bonds as a function of temperature and pressure in situ), the teams of the LMV and the MINAMAT team of the Pascal Institute. They are also used in many contracts; the ANR CORECAT for which spectroscopy has brought a real added value (determination of the rate of carbon defects serving as electrocatalyst in fuel cells). Infrared and Raman spectroscopies are also commonly used in regional projects, FLUOPLAST is a good example. It is also used in industrial projects for the UCA / CNRS / Orano Joint Research Laboratory (formerly Areva), agri-food industries such as Beauvalet or Carbogen Amcis (validation of the purity of food plastic or industrial mixer), pharmaceuticals such as the CHMP (aid in the detection of counterfeit products), energy such as SAFT or CNES (identification of electrode materials and evolution during in-situ cycling).

Training

Course on vibrational spectroscopies is proposed for students in the Master of chemistry.