Raman Spectroscopy

How has Raman spectroscopy been applied to the development of materials that are important in technology?

Over the past two years, Spectroscopy magazine has extensively documented and analyzed the growing role of artificial intelligence in spectroscopy through articles, interviews, podcasts, and technical features, highlighting both its hype and its potential as a transformative advancement in data processing and analytical science.

This new feature in Spectroscopy introduces a structured, application-focused series that curates and examines the most influential research papers in molecular and atomic spectroscopy. Each installment presents a focused “Top 10” collection of seminal publications within a specific analytical domain, spanning techniques such as ultraviolet–visible, infrared, Raman, near-infrared, and atomic spectroscopy. Across biomedical, biopharmaceutical, environmental, and forensic applications, the selected papers illustrate how spectroscopic methods are applied to real-world analytical challenges. Emphasis is placed on the integration of spectral data with chemometric approaches to enable robust calibration, accurate prediction, and meaningful interpretation. Together, these curated collections provide practitioners with a concise, application-oriented perspective on impactful developments in spectroscopy. This article brings together the first nine “Top 10” collections in the series, offering a cross-disciplinary view of influential work shaping the field.

Metrohm USA has introduced two new laboratory Raman spectrometers—the i-Raman NxG and i-Raman Duo—targeting researchers and quality control teams who require more detailed chemical characterization than standard identification systems provide.

The following articles are the 10 most accessed digital object identifier (DOI) manuscripts for Spectroscopy and LCGC International during March, 2026.

What does the rise of portable and handheld spectroscopic instrumentation tell us?

A recent study used a multi-technique analytical approach to characterize the 2021 Tiglit meteorite, revealing unexpected mineral phases that point to a more complex history of shock events and post-fall alteration.

Over the past two years, molecular spectroscopy has undergone a marked transformation from a predominantly laboratory-based analytical approach into a field-deployable, data-rich forensic toolkit. This evolution has been driven by three converging trends: (i) advances in vibrational spectroscopic instrumentation (Fourier transform infrared [FT-IR], Raman, and near-infrared [NIR], (ii) the integration of chemometrics and machine learning for extracting actionable information from complex spectra, and (iii) the emergence of portable and miniaturized devices suitable for in situ analysis. The ten papers reviewed here collectively demonstrate how spectroscopy is now addressing some of the most persistent challenges in forensic science—such as time since deposition (TSD), post-mortem interval (PMI), trace evidence discrimination, and rapid drug identification—while maintaining evidentiary integrity through non-destructive analysis. Importantly, these works also reflect a shift toward interpretability, validation, and legal defensibility, which are essential for courtroom acceptance.

Metrohm's new i-Raman Platform is designed for both researchers and industry professionals alike. This Q&A overview provides the necessary information users would want to know.

In this Q&A overview, we explore how vibrational spectroscopy is set to help create a robust framework for identifying complex biomarkers that traditional blood tests might not be able to detect.

This partnership will digitize spectra from more than 120,000 mineral specimens, opening reference data to researchers across geology, forensics, materials science, and related fields.

In this Q&A article, we explore C. V. Raman’s journey, the mechanics of his discovery, and his lasting impact on the global spectroscopic community.

This article is derived from an invited talk given at the Pittcon Conference and Expo in San Antonio, Texas on Monday, March 9, exploring how generative artificial intelligence may transform the daily practice of analytical chemistry. It was presented in The James L. Waters Symposium.

In this interview clip, Igor Lednev, a Distinguished Professor and Williams-Raycheff Endowed Professor at the University at Albany, State University of New York, discusses the advancements that have resulted from Raman spectroscopy being integrated with chemometrics.

In this interview clip, Igor Lednev, a Distinguished Professor and Williams-Raycheff Endowed Professor at the University at Albany, State University of New York, recaps his talk about the integration of Raman spectroscopy and machine learning for forensic purposes in biomedical applications.

In this Q&A overview, we explore how these scientific advancements are reshaping our understanding of Ancient Egyptian history and culture.

The Pittcon (Pittsburgh) Conference and Expo in San Antonio featured a forward-looking symposium exploring how generative artificial intelligence (AI) may transform the daily practice of analytical chemistry. The James L. Waters Symposium, “Generative AI in the Analytical Chemist’s Toolbox for Chemical Measurements”, took place on Monday, March 9, 2026 (2:30–4:40 p.m.) in Room 221A. The session was presided over by Daniel W. Armstrong of The University of Texas at Arlington, who introduced the topic by emphasizing the rapidly expanding knowledge base required of modern analytical chemists. In addition to chemistry, today’s analytical scientist must command elements of physics, advanced mathematics, data science, and, increasingly, AI. The symposium focused on the practical integration of generative AI tools into chemical measurement science. Speakers discussed how AI can assist analytical chemists with tasks such as algorithm generation, signal processing, literature synthesis, and data interpretation. Importantly, the session emphasized responsible implementation, highlighting the need for rigorous validation, high-quality data sets, and integration into existing laboratory workflows.

At the Pittcon Conference and Expo in Saan Antonio, Texas, on Monday, March 9, 2026 (8:30–11:00 AM, Room 304C), the session “Spectroscopy and Sustainability: A Perfect Match” explored how modern spectroscopic technologies are helping laboratories and industries operate more efficiently while reducing environmental impact. Chaired by John Wasylyk and sponsored by the Society for Applied Spectroscopy, the session brought together 6 presentations covering applications from pharmaceutical process monitoring and biomedical diagnostics to chemical manufacturing, defense, and remote sensing. Throughout the morning, a consistent theme emerged: spectroscopy’s speed, nondestructive nature, and rich chemical information make it inherently aligned with the goals of sustainability.

Webinar Date/Time: Wednesday, March 25th, 2025 Morning Session: 10am EDT | 7am PDT | 2pm GMT | 3pm CET Afternoon Session: 1pm EST | 10am PST | 5pm BST | 6pm CET

In this overview, we explore how spectroscopy is advancing the agriculture industry.

A continuation of our recap of a recent study published in Microchemical Journal highlights the implications of how Raman spectroscopy can help analyze ancient DNA remains.

A recent study shows that non-destructive Raman spectroscopy measurements of protein-to-mineral ratios in ancient teeth can accurately predict endogenous DNA preservation, enabling archaeologists to pre-screen specimens and avoid unnecessary destructive sampling.

Between 2024 and 2026, environmental applications of vibrational spectroscopy advanced rapidly through innovations in multimodal instrumentation (combining 2 or more distinct measurement techniques), spectral data fusion, portable sensing technologies, and the integration of chemometrics and machine learning (ML). Near-infrared (NIR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy were increasingly deployed to address pressing environmental challenges such as microplastics contamination, soil organic matter quantification, indoor air quality monitoring, and pesticide residue detection in food and ecological systems. This article reviews 10 influential peer-reviewed papers published during this period, providing expanded narrative discussions of their technical contributions and explaining why each paper represents a significant impact on the field.

This brief tutorial offers an overview of Raman spectroscopy and the scientist responsible for discovering this technique.

A recent review article explores how machine learning (ML)-assisted Raman spectral classification is being used in applications such as biomedicine and material analysis.