Chapter 8
New Trend in Instrumentation of NIR
Spectroscopy—Miniaturization
Christian W. Huck
Abstract The emergence of handheld spectrometers in the past decade marked a
significant turning point in the evolution of the practical applications of near-infrared
(NIR) spectroscopy. Miniaturized sensors enabled a new and previously unattainable
spectrum of applications of NIR spectroscopy. Nonetheless, several issues connected
with the use of miniaturized spectrometers have become apparent. In contrast to a
matured design of a FT-NIR benchtop spectrometer, the handheld devices are much
less uniform and incorporate various novel technologies. These compact technologies
result in different performance of miniaturized spectrometers, with narrower spectral
regions or lower resolution over which they operate. For this reason, current research
focus is on thorough systematic evaluation of the applicability limits and analytical
performance of these devices in a variety of applications. This chapter aims to present
a comprehensive information on the principles of the technology and application
potential of miniaturized NIR spectrometers.
Keywords NIR spectroscopy · Portable · Handheld · Miniaturized · Sensor
8.1 General Introduction
In principle, from the point-of-view of instrumentation, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is an optical absorption spectroscopy. Therefore, NIR spectrometers share
the general design scheme with those used in more popular types of spectroscopy such
as visible (Vis) or infrared (IR) spectroscopy. This similarity goes further, and often
instrument dedicated to operate in Vis or IR regions is able to measure at least some
part of NIR spectra. This is primarily limited by the emission spectrum of the source
and sensitivity of the detector. The performance of these key elements is not curtailed
sharply with any arbitrary wavelength boundaries, but rather steadily diminish at
the extended ranges. For this reason, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrometers
C. W. Huck (B)
CCB-Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, Institute of Analytical Chemistry
and Radiochemistry, Leopold-Franzens University, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
e-mail: Christian.W.Huck@uibk.ac.at
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Ozaki et al. (eds.), Near-Infrared Spectroscopy,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8648-4_8
193
New Trend in Instrumentation of NIR
Spectroscopy—Miniaturization
Christian W. Huck
Abstract The emergence of handheld spectrometers in the past decade marked a
significant turning point in the evolution of the practical applications of near-infrared
(NIR) spectroscopy. Miniaturized sensors enabled a new and previously unattainable
spectrum of applications of NIR spectroscopy. Nonetheless, several issues connected
with the use of miniaturized spectrometers have become apparent. In contrast to a
matured design of a FT-NIR benchtop spectrometer, the handheld devices are much
less uniform and incorporate various novel technologies. These compact technologies
result in different performance of miniaturized spectrometers, with narrower spectral
regions or lower resolution over which they operate. For this reason, current research
focus is on thorough systematic evaluation of the applicability limits and analytical
performance of these devices in a variety of applications. This chapter aims to present
a comprehensive information on the principles of the technology and application
potential of miniaturized NIR spectrometers.
Keywords NIR spectroscopy · Portable · Handheld · Miniaturized · Sensor
8.1 General Introduction
In principle, from the point-of-view of instrumentation, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is an optical absorption spectroscopy. Therefore, NIR spectrometers share
the general design scheme with those used in more popular types of spectroscopy such
as visible (Vis) or infrared (IR) spectroscopy. This similarity goes further, and often
instrument dedicated to operate in Vis or IR regions is able to measure at least some
part of NIR spectra. This is primarily limited by the emission spectrum of the source
and sensitivity of the detector. The performance of these key elements is not curtailed
sharply with any arbitrary wavelength boundaries, but rather steadily diminish at
the extended ranges. For this reason, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrometers
C. W. Huck (B)
CCB-Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, Institute of Analytical Chemistry
and Radiochemistry, Leopold-Franzens University, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
e-mail: Christian.W.Huck@uibk.ac.at
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Ozaki et al. (eds.), Near-Infrared Spectroscopy,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8648-4_8
193