Designing and building a 3D printed low cost modular Raman spectrometer

• Published in: CERN ideaSquare journal of experimental innovation Vol. 2; no. 2; pp. 3 - 14
• Main Authors: Onur Aydogan, Erol Tasal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: CERN 01.12.2018
• Subjects: 3D printing; experimental innovation; Raman spectrometer; Raman spectroscopy
• ISSN: 2413-9505
• DOI: 10.23726/cij.2017.799

Raman spectroscopy is broadly used in both industrial and academic communities, including nanotechnology, biology, materials engineering, physics, pharmaceutical industry and environment protection monitoring. Most of these devices are worth thousands of dollars and usually require a PhD-level assistant to operate them, hence they are usually not available for college and undergraduate students. The present paper describes an affordable, easy-to-use, Raman spectrometer that can be built with commercially available electronics and optics and 3D printing. A Crossed Czerny Turner spectrometer optical configuration has been built with a linear CCD module driven by a Nucleo F401RE and Raspberry Pi. Raman spectra of Rhodamine B liquid was obtained. We propose that this system could make it easier for universities to build and use an affordable, effective, easy-to-use, Raman spectrometer for educational purposes. Introducing this technology to students with an affordable, easy-to-use, device as early as possible would help universities and colleges to draw attention to studying science. Further research into the development of affordable and effective Raman spectrometers has the potential to pave the way for broadening the application of this technology in more innovative ways in the daily lives of future residents of smart cities.