Technology


Cobalt’s technologies use the powerful analytical technique of Raman spectroscopy to qualitatively and quantitatively determine the composition of chemical mixtures. Unlike conventional Raman, which tends to be limited to surface or near-surface measurements, Cobalt’s inventions extend measurement into the bulk of objects. Cobalt applies the advantages of Raman to sub-surface or ‘thick’ samples to provide unique and rapid analysis properties.

Compared to other optical techniques, such as UV/VIS and near Infra-Red (NIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectra are feature-rich and offer high chemical specificity. Physical changes, such as changes in crystal structure, or polymorph form, are also detectable. In contrast with mid-IR and terahertz spectroscopy it is also notable for its compatibility with water-containing systems.

Cobalt’s variations on Raman spectroscopy retain the benefits of Raman but extend the measurement depths to many millimetres or even centimetres by using the scattering properties of common materials. This allows rapid analysis of bulk materials in a quantitative manner. Also, it allows overlying materials to be excluded from the analysis – allowing, for example, the contents of opaque plastic bottles to be measured without touching the container.

Cobalt's variants are: