O-PTIR non-contact submicron visible probe infrared spectroscopy

The use of O-PTIR submicron visible probe with no contact to detect the photothermal IR effect is the key breakthrough. It enables non-contact, submicron IR spectroscopy in reflection mode. This provides new analytical capabilities to analyze polymers, life science samples, particulates and more.

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O-PTIR
non-contact submicron visible probe infrared spectroscopy

Problem solved.

O-PTIR submicron visible probe non-contact detection of the photothermal IR effect overcomes the key limitation of traditional FTIR/QCL microscopy. It does this by removing the fundamental spatial resolution limits of IR spectroscopy (10-20 microns). This limit is now governed by the visible beam wavelength. O-PTIR achieves submicron spatial resolution, all in non-contact, reflection mode operation.

$Chart comparing infrared wavelength diffraction limits of O-PTIR, ATR, and FTIR$

Diagram describing how O-PTIR, Optical PhotoThermal InfraRed spectroscopy works.

“This is truly an exciting technology. The quality of the spectral data, at such high level of spatial resolution, is amazing.”

Professor John Reffner
John Jay College of
Criminal Justice (CUNY)
Pioneer in FTIR microspectroscopy

Spectra on thick samples that correlate to transmission FTIR

Provides the best of both worlds by combining the convenience of O-PTIR submicron visible probe in non-contact reflection mode technique with “FTIR transmission-like” quality. The spectra are collected in reflection mode, where thickness, surface roughness or particle shape/size are not issues.

Three different O-PTIR spectra collected from 20 µm thick samples were searched against the KnowItAll® database. The results were high matches for polystyrene (PS) (left), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (middle) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) (right).

Publications

Super‐resolution infrared imaging of polymorphic amyloid aggregates directly in neurons.

Two-dimensional correlation analysis of highly spatially resolved simultaneous IR and Raman spectral imaging of bioplastics composite using optical photothermal Infrared and Raman spectroscopy

Click here for further publications

Diagram illustrating the O-PTIR technique used on neuron sample

mIRage combines O-PTIR and Raman
to improve results

The world’s first simultaneous IR+Raman microscopy system is a unique dual modality platform that combines all the advantages of O-PTIR with complementary Raman microscopy via simultaneous detection of the visible probe laser.

Learn more

Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp

325 Chapala Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Phone: (805) 845-6568
Email: info [at] photothermal.com