FTIR and Raman photothermal spectroscopy for material analysis are well established, mature technologies that have their practical and theoretical limitations. Now, with the breakthrough technique of O-PTIR (Optical Photothermal Infrared microspectroscopy), those limitations are shattered. The novel use of a dual purpose visible light probe not only provides for submicron IR spatial resolution, but it also doubles as the Raman excitation laser, thus providing submicron simultaneous IR+Raman spectroscopy on a single platform – the mIRage+R microscope. This generates complementary and confirmatory analysis through IR and Raman spectroscopy for a more detailed and thorough characterization for the ultimate in vibrational spectroscopic synergy.
O-PTIR photothermal spectroscopy overcomes several of the key limitations of traditional FTIR microscopy such as poor spatial resolution and complex sample preparation. By working in reflection mode, it generates high quality spectra without any dispersive scatter artifacts that are comparable to FTIR transmission/ATR spectra.

While at the same time, O-PTIR is not affected at all by fluorescence interference, a key limitation of Raman spectroscopy, thus allowing for submicron molecular characterization that is completely fluorescence free.