A team working in the UK have demonstrated that spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) using short wave infrared can detect chemicals through physical barriers such as containers, which is a step forward in detection and security.

The performance of SORS compared to conventional Raman (CR) spectroscopy to detect the sub-surface layer beneath a barrier is better because of its ability to suppress fluorescence and Raman scattering from the target container. However, there is still a problem with the fluorescence of the target chemical beneath, as this can mask the useful Raman signature that can be used to identify the contents.

Schematic diagram of experimental configuration used for 1064nm SORS measurements

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Short-wave infrared excited spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) for through-barrier detection

Rebecca J. Hopkins ,  Suzanne H. Pelfrey and Neil C. Shand
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35681C