Back

Low-Cost Raman Spectrometer

Personal Project

 Raman spectroscopy is a powerful analytical tool for identifying the molecular “fingerprints” of various materials. This tools has many applications in fields such as bioengineering research, material science, and planetary science. The high cost of commercial systems, which can exceed $10,000, makes them inaccessible for many research and educational applications. 

The goal of this project was to engineer a functional and cost-effective Raman spectrometer. The design was based on existing literature but incorporated 3D-printed opto-mechanical components to significantly reduce expenses. The system uses a 532 nm laser to excite a sample and a long-pass filter to isolate the weak Raman scattering signal from the intense laser line, allowing for molecular identification. A custom MATLAB script controls the device and processes the spectral data. The spectrometer has a theoretical detection range from approximately 615 cm⁻¹ to 3123 cm⁻¹ with a resolution of about 7 cm⁻¹.

  Currently, I am working on a custom enclosure that holds the components for simple and precise assembly. The enclosure is also designed to eliminate all ambient light from entering the detector.