RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, MICRO SPATIALLY OFFSET RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, NON-INVASIVE SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE ANALYSIS

Raman Spectroscopy Lab

The Raman Spectroscopy Lab is focused on the development of advanced non-invasive Raman methods and their application to Cultural Heritage materials. The research is aimed at optimizing conventional methods, mainly non-invasive, to address the challenges arisen in-situ, as in museum collections or conservation sites. The Raman Spectroscopy Lab, in collaboration with Central Laser Facility of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL-STFC, UK), developed a new Raman method, micro-Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (micro-SORS), for the non-invasive study of the subsurface of stratified materials, as painted layer sequences; the method has been recently recognized by the Coblentz Society, which supports the knowledge and the application of vibrational spectroscopy, that selected Dr. Claudia Conti, senior researcher of ISPC Milan Unit, as the 2020 recipient of the “Craver award” for her effort to the development of vibrational spectroscopy.

The Raman Spectroscopy Lab is equipped with a conventional benchtop dispersive micro-Raman spectrometer (Senterra, Bruker), an advanced benchtop prototype (Renishaw, InVia Qontor) modified for obtaining high depth sensitivity and 3D micro-SORS mapping/imaging capabilities, and an in-house built prototype for the non-invasive in-situ measurements, consisting on WP785 spectrometer (Wasatch Photonics), coupled with an iDus DU4011A-BR-DD CCD (Andor), a wavelength-stabilized 785-nm diode laser (IPS) and a micro-sized optical fiber bundle (Armadillo SIA - LV) enabling the simultaneous acquisition of both conventional and micro-SORS spectra.

Due to its high degree of chemical selectivity and high lateral resolution (a few µm with benchtop micro-Raman instruments and a few tens of µm with portable instruments), Raman spectroscopy is essential for the characterization of artist’s technique, conservation state of the artwork and its conservation history.

The Raman Spectroscopy Lab is strongly connected with the CNR ISPC laboratories network for the development of advanced multi-analytical protocols. The Raman Spectroscopy Lab expertise and instruments are included into the MOLAB platform of the European Research Infrastructure of Heritage Science (ERIHS).

Raman Spectroscopy Lab Staff

 

Alessandra Botteon

Alessandra Botteon

Chiara Colombo

Chiara Colombo

Claudia Conti

Claudia Conti

Alberto Lux

Alberto Lux

Marco Realini

Marco Realini

 

Associati a Spettroscopia Raman Lab

Pavel Matousek, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory STFC, UK.

How to contact us

ramanlab@ispc.cnr.it

Projects and Research activities

  • BiOmimetic fluorinated nanoProbes for multIscale Tumor detection by MRI and Advanced Raman techniques (OPTIMA). Funded by: European Union NextGenerationEU and Italian Ministry of University and Research. Call: PNRR: Missione 4 – Componente 2 “Dalla ricerca all’impresa” – Investimento 1.1 – "Progetti di Ricerca di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale" (PRIN). 2023-2025
  • PolymEr Research Studies for PreventivE Conservation through non invasIVe analytical strategiEs (PERSPECTIVE). Funded by: European Union NextGenerationEU and Italian Ministry of University and Research. Call: PNRR: Missione 4 – Componente 2 “Dalla ricerca all’impresa” – Investimento 1.1 – "Progetti di Ricerca di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale" (PRIN). 2023-2025
  • Cultural heritage active innovation for next-gen sustainable society (CHANGES). Funded by: Italian Ministry of University and Research Call: PNRR: Missione 4 – Componente 2 “Dalla ricerca all’impresa” – Investimento 1.3 "Partenariati estesi a Università, centri di ricerca, imprese e finanziamento progetti di ricerca". 2022-2025
  • Implementation of Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy at The National Archives for analysis of hidden materials. Finanziato da Strategic Research Fund scheme of Grant and Funding Office from The National Archives of London (2022)
  • Non-invasive micro-scale depth resolved imaging and sensing of materials in cultural heritage. International Exchanges 2020 Cost Share, project funded by the Royal Society (UK) (IEC\R2\202126) in collaboration with the School of Science and Technology of Nottingham Trent University.
  • Development of a portable micro-SORS device for in-situ probing of cultural heritage subsurface. Project in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati (US) and thel Central Laser Facility of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (UK).
  • Micro-layered diffusive materials: non destructive investigation of subsurface by advanced spectroscopic methods. Project in collaboration with the Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta”Department of the Politecnico di Milano.
  • Investigation of materials and techniques of The Peruzzi Altarpiece, Giotto di Bondone. Project in collaboration with the North Carolina Museum of Art (US).
  • Caratterizzazione materica di opere “Achromes” di Piero Manzoni. Project in collaboration with Manzoni Foundation, Milano.
  • Studio di polveri presenti sulla superficie del Cenacolo di Leonardo da Vinci. Project in collaboration with the Cenacolo Vinciano Museum, Milano.
  • Indagine non invasiva in-situ tramite micro-SORS portatile della stratigrafia pittorica del dipinto S. Francesco e Bona Bevilacqua Trivulzio (o Antonia Pallavicini) e S. Antonio da Padova e Giulia Trivulzio (or Lucia Bevilacqua) di Marco D’Oggiono. Progetto in collaborazione con la Pinacoteca di Brera di Milano e i laboratori scientifici della Fondazione Centro Conservazione e Restauro dei Beni Culturali La Venaria Reale di Torino.
  • Studio non invasivo della superficie policroma dell’Autoritratto di Francesco Hayez. Project in collaboration with the Pinacoteca di Brera di Milano.
  • Studio dei materiali presenti nel Corredo funebre della Tomba di Kha e Merit. Project in collaboration with Museo Egizio di Torino.

For further information on ISPC research activities click the button.

CNR ISPC Projects

Main collaborations

Universities

  • Ghent University (BE), Department of Archaeology
  • Nottingham University (UK), School of Physics and Astronomy
  • Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta”
  • Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Energia
  • Università di Bologna, Dipartimento di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician”
  • University of Cincinnati (US), Department of Chemistry

no-profit Foundations

  • Fondazione Centro Conservazione e Restauro dei Beni Culturali La Venaria Reale, Torino

Research Institutions

  • Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL-STFC), Central Laser Facility (UK)
  • Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Department of Chemistry, Republic of Korea

Museums

  • Museo Egizio di Torino
  • Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano
  • Musei del Castello Sforzesco di Milano

Main publications

M. Vieira, M.J. Melo, C. Conti, F. Pozzi, A combined approach to the vibrational characterization of medieval paints on parchment: Handheld Raman spectroscopy and micro‐SORS, Journal of Raman Spectroscopy 55 (2), 263-275, 2024.

A. Botteon, M. Vermeulen, L. Cristina, S. Bruni, P. Matousek, C. Miliani, M. Realini, L. Angelova, C. Conti, Advanced micro-spatially offset Raman spectroscopy for non-invasive imaging of concealed texts and figures using Raman signal, fluorescence emission and overall spectral intensity, Analytical Chemistry, 2024.

A. Lux, M. Realini, A. Botteon, M. Maiwald, A. Müller, B. Sumpf, C. Miliani, P. Matousek, P. Strobbia and C. Conti, Advanced portable micro-SORS prototype coupled with SERDS for heritage science, Analyst, 2024. OPEN ACCESS.

A. Botteon, C. Colombo, M. Realini, C. Castiglioni, A. Piccirillo, P. Matousek, C. Conti, Non‐invasive and in situ investigation of layers sequence in panel paintings by portable micro‐spatially offset Raman spectroscopy, Journal of Raman Spectroscopy 51 (10), 2016-2021, 2020.

A. Botteon, J. Yiming, S. Prati, G. Sciutto, M. Realini, C. Colombo, C. Castiglioni, P. Matousek, C. Conti, Non-invasive characterisation of molecular diffusion of agent into turbid matrix using micro-SORS, Talanta, 121078.

C. Conti, A. Botteon, C. Colombo, D. Pinna, M. Realini, P. Matousek, Advances in Raman spectroscopy for the non-destructive subsurface analysis of artworks: Micro-SORS, Journal of Cultural Heritage, 43,  2020, 319-328.

D. Bersani, C. Conti, P. Matousek, F. Pozzi, P. Vandenabeele, Methodological evolutions of Raman spectroscopy in art and archaeology, Analytical Methods, Critical Review, 8, 48, 8395-8409, 2016. OPEN ACCESS.

C. Conti, A. Botteon, M. Bertasa, C. Colombo, M. Realini, D. Sali, Portable Sequentially Shifted Excitation Raman spectroscopy as an innovative tool for in situ chemical interrogation of painted surfaces, Analyst, 141, 4599-4607, 2016. OPEN ACCESS.

C. Conti, C. Colombo, M. Realini, P. Matousek, Subsurface analysis of painted sculptures and plasters using micrometre-scale spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (Micro-SORS), Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 46, 5, 476-482, 2015. OPEN ACCESS.

C. Conti, C. Colombo, M. Realini, G. Zerbi, P. Matousek, Subsurface Raman Analysis of Thin Painted Layers, Applied Spectroscopy, 68, 6, 686-691, 2014.