WITec GmbH applications

Materials science is a diverse field including the development and testing of new substances, as well as the refinement of manufacturing processes and quality control for existing products. WITec imaging systems are particularly well-suited for comprehensive sample analyses in materials science and provide the opportunity to acquire a thorough knowledge of the sample surface morphology and chemical composition.

The development and production of drug delivery systems requires efficient and reliable control mechanisms to ensure the quality of the final products. These products can vary widely in composition and application. Therefore analytical tools such as the WITec imaging systems that provide both comprehensive chemical characterization and the flexibility to adjust the method to the investigated specimen are preferred in pharmaceutical research.

From measurements in liquids to solid samples or soft tissues in life science varied samples are analyzed on a regular basis. With their convenient handling and versatile analytical capabilities the flexible WITec imaging systems provide the opportunity to adjust the imaging technique to changing requirements and are particularly well-suited for life science. The samples can be comprehensively characterized regarding their biochemical and physical properties and depth profiles and 3D images can be generated to visualize the results in a clear and accessible manner.

The WITec confocal Raman imaging systems are excellent analytical tools for the comprehensive investigation of geological samples, such as the identification and characterization of minerals, or in the observation of mineral phase transitions in high and ultra-high pressure/temperature experiments. With confocal Raman imaging the spatial distribution and association of components or mineral phases, or chemical variation can be observed and this information may contribute significantly to the understanding of a sample’s complexity. Such characteristics can be evaluated with the WITec imaging systems from large scale scans in the centimeter range to the finest detail with sub-micron resolution. Considering that most geo-materials are transparent from the NUV to VIS and NIR to some degree, this information can be furthermore obtained three-dimensionally due to the confocal set-up of the WITec confocal Raman microscopes.

From liquids to emulsions, solid samples, or coatings, etc. in the food technology diverse samples are analyzed on a regular basis. The flexible WITec imaging and analytical tools provide the opportunity to adjust the imaging technique to varying requirements. The samples can be comprehensively analyzed regarding their chemical and physical properties and depth profiles and 3D images can be generated to visualize the results in a clear and accessible manner.

Structured substrates are widely employed in semiconductor and photovoltaics research and development. The high demands on device quality and reliability make it increasingly important to have a detailed knowledge of the inherent strain and crystalline properties of such device structures. The WITec imaging techniques provide the opportunity to analyze the samples comprehensively regarding their chemical and physical characteristics.

2D materials such as carbon nano-tubes, graphene or transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) show immense promise in many applications such as transistors, sensors, and optoelectronics. Flexible and adaptive analytical methods can support effective investigation and accelerate progress in 2D materials research and development.

Polymers have an important place in modern materials science. Due to the varying mechanical and chemical properties of polymers, they are used in almost every field of application and are important for the development of new materials with demanding requirements. WITec imaging systems enable comprehensive sample analysis that provides a thorough characterization of the physical and chemical properties of the polymers on the nanometer scale.

Crucial tasks in forensics include the microscopic analysis of very small objects in order to accurately verify the source of specific compounds within a sample, or to compare the properties of several samples. WITec imaging systems enable comprehensive sample analysis to provide a thorough characterization of the physical and chemical properties of various samples in forensics. Confocal Raman imaging for example is a very effective tool for these investigations as it provides information on the chemical composition as well as the spatial distribution of the components. The samples typically do not require specific sample preparation and remain unaltered for further investigations with other methods due to Raman imaging being a non-destructive, non-contact and non-contaminating analysis technique.

In archeological research, various specimens such as paintings, mummies, antique objects or fabrics are regularly investigated. Those samples are often unique and require specialized treatment when being analyzed. WITec imaging systems enable comprehensive sample analysis that provides a thorough understanding of the physical and chemical properties of archaeological samples. Confocal Raman imaging for example is a flexible, non-invasive and non-destructive tool for the chemical and molecular characterization of archaeological specimens. The samples typically do not require specific sample preparation and remain unaltered for further investigations with other methods.