The focus of the research group is on Raman spectroscopy. As a consequence, our Raman spectrometers are the core of our laboratory. However, apart from these instruments, our research group has also other techniques at its disposal, that compliment the findings with Raman spectroscopy.

Kaiser System Hololab 5000 R Raman spectrometer

Our Kaiser System Hololab 5000R modular Raman microspectrometer (f/1.8) (KOSI, Ecully, France) is equiped with a Leica microscope, with a range of objectives and an automated XY stage. The samples are excited by a 785 nm diode laser (Toptica Photonics AG, Martinsried/Munich, Germany). The spectrometer (with a transmission grating) has a backilluminated deep depletion CCD detector (Andor, Belfast, Northern Ireland).

Mobile Art Analyser (MArtA)

The Mobile Art Analyser (MArtA) was the first mobile Ramanspectrometer that was designed for art analysis. [Vandenabeele P., Weis T.L., Grant E.R., Moens L., Anal Bioanal Chem. 2004 ; 379: 137-142] It is equipped with a 785 nm diode laser, with adjustable laser power. The fibre optics probe head has exchangeable objective lenses and a built-in camera, for easy visualisation. As positioning the probe head is critical, different stages and positioning equipment are available.

Bruker Senterra Raman microscope

Our Bruker Optics ‘Senterra’ dispersive Raman spectrometer is equipped with an Olympus BX51 microscope. It allows for point measurements, line scans as well as Raman mappings. The spectrometer is equipped with a red diode laser (785 nm) and a green Nd:YAG laser (532 nm). The system uses a thermoelectrically cooled CCD detector, operating at -65 °C. The instrument is controlled by using Bruker OPUS® software that allows to set laser power, measuring time and number of accumulations.

TSI portable Raman spectrometer

The research group uses a TSI (Before EnWave Optronics) EZ-RAMAN-I-DUAL portable Raman spectrometer. The fibre-optic-based spectrometer [Lauwers D., Hutando A.G., Tanevska V., Moens L., Bersani D., Vandenabeele P., Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 2014 118: 294–301] is equipped with two lasers, a red diode laser (785 nm) and a green Nd:YAG laser (532 nm). For each wavelength there are interchangeable lenses. The Raman spectrometer is also equipped with an adjustable power controller for each laser (maximum output 400mW and 100mW for 785 nm and 532 nm laser, respectively) and has a CCD detector. The spectrometer can be applied by using 230 V AC or by using an internal or external Li-battery, allowing for enhanced autonomy.

Olympus Innov-X Delta handheld XRF spectrometer

Handheld XRF measurements can be performed with an Olympus Innov-X Delta spectrometer. Measurements are performed in air and the instrument uses a rhodium X-ray tube as source and a silicon drift detector. Typically, we use a 5 × 5 mm² X-ray beam for excitation of the targeted sample in front of the probe head. The handheld XRF instrument can be positioned on a soil foot, for measuring in the field, as well as it can be positioned in a labstand, to avoid radiation hazards.

GNR - Total-reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometer

Total reflection X-ray fluorescence is a technique which allows us to determine the elemental composition of flat samples, positioned on a sample carrier. The technique is able to determine very low concentrations of elements, at a small sample consumption.

HIROX – High resolution 3D digital microscope

The research group has a high resolution 3D digital microscope, that is well-suited for the analysis of artefacts. Based on the microscopy measurements and the motorized stages, it is possible to measure the roughness of the surface and make depth profiles. The instrument can be mounted on a horizontal table, to study the paint surface of panel paintings.

Smarttech - 3D scanner

By using the Smarttech 3D scanner, it is possible to reconstruct the 3D-surface of an object and to measure it into detail. Next to the spatial information, that is obtained by using structured light patterns, colour information is added to the virtual reconstruction.