A multimodal spectrometer for Raman scattering and near-infrared absorption measurement

•Addressed the significance of complementarity between Raman and near-infrared (NIR) absorption techniques. Explored the feasibility of merging two techniques into one system.•For the first time, described the construction and test procedures for a novel multimodal spectrometer capable of performing both Raman and NIR measurements.•Demonstrated the unique applications of the multimodal spectrometer in data augmentation and heterospectral correlation analysis. Described its application for use in conventional quantitative analysis and classification of biological samples.

Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy are complementary spectroscopic techniques. However, measurement of Raman and IR spectra are commonly carried out on separate instruments. A dispersive system that enables both Raman spectroscopy and NIR spectroscopy was designed, built, and tested. The prototype system measures spectral ranges of 2600–300 cm−1 and 752–987 nm for Raman and NIR channels, respectively. A wavelength accuracy better than 0.6 nm and spectral resolution better than 1 nm (14.4 cm−1 for Raman channel) could be achieved with our configuration. The linearity of spectral response was better than 99.8%. The intensity stability of the instrument was found to be 0.7% and 0.4% for Raman and NIR channels, respectively. The performance of the instrument was evaluated using binary aqueous solutions of ethanol and ovalbumin. It was found that ethanol concentrations (2–10%) could be predicted with a root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.45% using Raman peak height at 882.2 cm−1. Quantification of ovalbumin concentration (8–16 g/L) in aqueous solutions and in denatured states yielded RMSEP values of 1.05 g/L and 0.74 g/L, respectively. Using concentration as external perturbation in two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2DCOS), heterospectral correlation analysis revealed the relationship between NIR and Raman spectra.