Can Raman spectroscopy identify unknown substances?
Yes, Raman spectroscopy is a powerful tool for material identification, especially when combined with a spectral library. When you measure an unknown sample:
- The Raman spectrum is collected.
- It is compared against a database of known materials.
- A match score suggests the closest compound(s).
Important notes:
- Results are only as good as the quality and coverage of the library
- Spectral differences may arise due to polymorphs, mixtures, or fluorescence
- Advanced software can deconvolute multi-component samples
Raman is widely used in forensics, customs, quality control, and material verification for this reason.