In Situ Resonance Raman Spectra of Organic Pigments in Momo Coral

Abstract

In this study, Raman scattering measurements were obtained for momo corals covering their typical range of colors. Three different excitation wavelengths (785, 633, 514 nm) are used for the same samples at the same points. All the samples show the two major Raman features of polyenic compounds assigned to double carbon-carbon (C=C) stretching vibration at approximately 1 500 cm⁻¹ and single carbon-carbon (C—C) stretching vibration at approximately 1 130 cm⁻¹ bond stretching mode. These peaks are not detected in the corresponding white parts of momo corals. However, some changes in intensities, shape, and position of C=C stretching vibrations of the same point are observed by using different excitation wavelengths. The exact position of C—C stretching vibration of polyenic molecules depends strongly on the number of double bonds contained in their polyenic chain. In addition, the number of double bonds contained in the polyenic chains shows that different colors of the red momo coral are caused by different mixtures of polyenic compounds.