Application of Raman Spectroscopy and Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering to the Analysis of Synthetic Dyes Found in Ballpoint Pen Inks* |
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| Authors: | Irina Geiman BS Marco Leona PhD John R Lombardi PhD |
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| Institution: | 1. John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY, 445 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019.;2. Department of Scientific Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028.;3. Department of Chemistry and Center for Analysis of Structures and Interfaces (CASI), The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract: The applicability of Raman spectroscopy and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to the analysis of synthetic dyes commonly found in ballpoint inks was investigated in a comparative study. Spectra of 10 dyes were obtained using a dispersive system (633 nm, 785 nm lasers) and a Fourier transform system (1064 nm laser) under different analytical conditions (e.g., powdered pigments, solutions, thin layer chromatography TLC] spots). While high fluorescence background and poor spectral quality often characterized the normal Raman spectra of the dyes studied, SERS was found to be generally helpful. Additionally, dye standards and a single ballpoint ink were developed on a TLC plate following a typical ink analysis procedure. SERS spectra were successfully collected directly from the TLC plate, thus demonstrating a possible forensic application for the technique. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science questioned documents ink analysis dyes Raman spectroscopy surface‐enhanced Raman scattering SERS |
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