https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202430914002
Raman spectroscopy advancements in heritage science
1 Institute of Heritage Science, National Research Council, Via Cozzi 53, Milano 20125, Italy
2 “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
3 Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, 201 Crosley Tower, Cincinnati, United States
4 Central Laser Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
5 The National Archives, Ruskin Av., Kew, Richmond (Surrey) TW9 4DU, United Kingdom
* Corresponding author: alessandra.botteon@cnr.it
Published online: 31 October 2024
Micro-Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (micro-SORS) is an advanced Raman technique that allows the non-destructive analysis of inner portions of cultural heritage artefacts, providing insights on their composition in a non-destructive way. The contribution delves into the methodological and technological advancements of micro-SORS at the CNR-ISPC Raman Spectroscopy Laboratory in Milan over the past decade. Developed in 2014, micro-SORS has become a versatile tool for characterizing artefacts from various historical periods and cultural contexts. Significant progress has been made in refining instrumentation and methodology, resulting in high-performance micro-SORS prototypes, including benchtop and portable systems. Key topics focus on investigating layered materials (e.g., paintings and painted objects) and studying the diffusion of conservation treatments and decay products into various substrates. The aim is to obtain information about the materials’ composition, the efficacy of treatments, and the conservation state of the objects under analysis. Additionally, mapping/imaging micro-SORS has been developed to reconstruct the distribution of compounds hidden by opaque layers, such as concealed text in sealed letters. Lastly, this presentation will cover challenges associated with in-situ micro-SORS analysis, including environmental constraints and data interpretation, and will explore strategies for overcoming these.
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2024
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
