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Detection of Organic Colorants in Historical Painting Layers Using UV Laser Ablation Surface‐Enhanced Raman Microspectroscopy
Author(s) -
Cesaratto Anna,
Leona Marco,
Lombardi John R.,
Comelli Daniela,
Nevin Austin,
Londero Pablo
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201408016
Subject(s) - raman spectroscopy , surface enhanced raman spectroscopy , laser ablation , materials science , laser , ultraviolet , painting , sampling (signal processing) , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , optics , raman scattering , art , physics , detector , visual arts
Abstract Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been increasingly used in the study of works of art to identify organic pigments and dyes in paintings, which (depending on the material) are difficult or not possible to detect by other current methods. The application of SERS to the study of paintings has been limited, however, by the lack of a sampling approach with sufficient sensitivity and spatial resolution. We show that ultraviolet laser ablation (LA) sampling coupled with SERS detection can be successfully used to study paint layers. LA‐SERS permitted the isolation of signals from colorants in individual thin paint layers in sample cross‐sections, avoiding contamination from adjacent layers. These results expand the range of analytical applications of SERS demonstrating how the technique can be used to sensitively detect minor organic components in complex matrices. While this is fundamental for the study of cultural heritage, it is also relevant in other fields such as forensic analysis, food science, and pharmacology.