Applications | ATR3000-1064 Portable Raman for High-Fluorescence Samples

2026-11-06

Raman spectroscopy is known as the "molecular fingerprint"—no pretreatment, non-destructive, and fast. A drop of liquid, a grain of powder, or a gemstone placed on the instrument reveals its identity within seconds.

But in real testing scenarios, many samples deliver an immediate "slap" to the instrument: a strong fluorescence background that completely drowns out the weak Raman signal. Dyes, petroleum, biological tissues, dark pharmaceuticals, colored plastics… these are precisely the samples that most urgently need rapid on-site identification.

Traditional 532 nm and 785 nm Raman systems often have no solution when facing high-fluorescence samples. The 1064 nm excitation wavelength, with its extremely low fluorescence excitation cross-section, has become the key to solving this problem.

Optosky's newly released ATR3000-1064 is a high-sensitivity portable Raman spectrometer built around 1064 nm and specifically designed for high-fluorescence sample testing.

01 Why 1064 nm?

Raman scattering intensity is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the excitation wavelength—the longer the wavelength, the weaker the Raman signal itself. But at the same time, the fluorescence excitation cross-section decreases exponentially with increasing wavelength. This is a trade-off:

532 nm has a strong signal, but fluorescence almost explodes. 785 nm is a compromise and is sufficient for ordinary samples; but once dark, colored, or highly fluorescent samples are encountered, 785 nm is still overwhelmed by fluorescence.

The choice of 1064 nm is essentially trading a "weaker Raman signal" for a "nearly clean background." For dyes, petroleum, biological tissues, pharmaceuticals, and explosives—the "fluorescence giants"—1064 nm is not an optional solution; it is the required solution.

02 Hardware: InGaAs Detector + -20°C Ultra-Low Temperature Cooling

To measure weak Raman signals at 1064 nm, the detector and circuitry must be sufficiently powerful. The ATR3000-1064 makes three key design choices in its core optical chain:

First, a high-sensitivity InGaAs array detector. It uses a 512-pixel linear InGaAs CCD with a detection range of 900–1700 nm, pixel size of 25 × 500 μm, and dynamic range up to 50,000:1.

Second, ultra-low temperature TE cooling. The detector is cooled to as low as -20°C, suppressing dark noise at the source.

Third, ultra-low-noise circuitry + high extinction ratio filter set. Combined with a ≥500 mW 1064 nm laser with power stability σ/μ < ±0.2%, the overall signal-to-noise ratio reaches >3000:1.

The final spectral range is 200–2600 cm⁻¹, resolution 13 cm⁻¹, entrance slit 50 μm, and focal length 98 mm. This covers the main Raman characteristic regions from inorganic minerals to organic macromolecules.

03 Field-Level Reliability: 7.5 kg, IP67, 5-Hour Battery Life

Being able to measure in the laboratory is not the real skill. Being able to measure stably in the field is the true threshold for portable Raman. The ATR3000-1064 makes these structural choices:

• 11.6-inch 1920×1080 capacitive touchscreen, multi-touch, Android 6.0 operating system—peak search and display are all completed on the instrument.

• The entire unit weighs only 7.5 kg, with dimensions of 40 × 30 × 18 cm—pick it up by the protective case and go.

• Battery life >5 hours—from morning meetings to on-site continuous testing all day without looking for a power outlet.

More critical are the reliability specifications: spectral stability σ/μ < 0.5% (8-hour continuous operation), temperature drift ≤1 cm⁻¹ (10–40°C), spectral intensity variation <±5% (5–40°C); the entire unit is IP67 waterproof and dustproof, and supports LAN remote control.

This means—laboratory data remains stable when moved to workshops, docks, mining areas, and jewelry counters.

04 Real Testing: How Do These "Difficult Samples" Perform?

Beautiful parameters are no match for a set of real comparisons. We used the ATR3000-1064 to test several types of samples that give 785 nm the biggest headaches.

Pharmaceutical testing: 785 nm drowned by fluorescence, 1064 nm characteristic peaks clearly visible. The blue line on the right is the result measured at 785 nm—a huge fluorescence hump; the red line is 1064 nm—clean molecular fingerprint peaks directly revealed.

The same capsule, different wavelengths—two different worlds.

Plastic pellet identification: identical appearance, indistinguishable at 785 nm, easily distinguished at 1064 nm. EVA2 and ABS-557 plastic pellets are almost impossible to distinguish with the naked eye. Under 785 nm, the two curves are wrapped into one mass by fluorescence; switching to 1064 nm, the two sets of characteristic peaks immediately separate.

Recycled plastic sorting relies on precisely these peaks.

Biomedical: three-wavelength comparison of 532 nm / 785 nm / 1064 nm.For strongly fluorescent biological samples, the shorter the wavelength, the higher the fluorescence hump; the black line at 1064 nm is the only curve where characteristic peaks can still be seen.

The harsher the fluorescence, the more 1064 nm is needed.

In addition, the ATR3000-1064 has also completed validation on dyes/pigments, petroleum fractions, bacteria, explosives, and other samples. The low stray light design makes it particularly friendly to dark samples, colored samples, and fluorescent samples.

05 Measurement Accessories: A Complete Set Covering Solids, Liquids, and Field Use

Beyond the main unit, Optosky provides a complete measurement accessory ecosystem:

• Solid/powder measurement probe—simply press against the sample to measure.

• Liquid sample measurement cell—available in two specifications: Thermo bottles and HPLC micro-vials.

• ATR20107 gun-type Raman probe (optional)—for long-distance, large-sample, and hazardous-scenario handheld testing.

• Test adjustment stand (optional)—a stable base for laboratory repeatability measurements.

From laboratory benches to hazardous sites, one optical cable switches between them.

05 Model Family: One Main Unit, Five Industry Versions

The ATR3000-1064 is not just a scientific research instrument. Around the same hardware platform, Optosky has created five industry versions, achieving "out-of-the-box usability" for different scenarios.