WITHDRAWN: A strategy of product standardization and general performance evaluation for Raman spectrometers

Abstract

Raman spectroscopy has attracted more and more attention because of its advantages in rapid and non-destructive detection, as well as characteristic identification of molecular "fingerprint". It is now widely used in various fields such as food safety, biomedicine, material characterization, environmental science and judicial expertise. With rapid development of Raman technology, there are a variety of Raman spectrometers with different designs, properties, and applications. However, it is hard to assess the performance of different Raman spectrometers because of the lack of standardized testing and evaluation methods, which will severely hinder their production, sales and applications. In this paper current application status and configuration of Raman spectrometers are firstly reviewed, illustrating the urgent need of standardization in application and industrialization of Raman spectrometers. Then a novel overall testing procedure and evaluation method were developed so as to be adapted to a variety of Raman spectrometers. Five key specifications of Raman spectrometers were determined for performance evaluation. The entire testing procedure is economical, accessible, and environmentally friendly as using reusable solid materials and element lamps, as referenced. The validation results clearly illustrated the feasibility and applicability of the developed procedures and evaluation. Presented testing procedures and evaluation methods of Raman spectrometers provide a feasible strategy for the standardization of Raman spectrometers. The results of this study would be beneficial to instrumentation and technical exchanges for the development of Raman technology, which would definitely improve the application of Raman spectroscopy as an excellent analytical method.