The co-inventor of O-PTIR (Optical Photothermal Infrared spectroscopy) has been awarded the Ellis R. Lippincott Award 2019 for outstanding contributions to the field of vibrational spectroscopy.
O-PTIR is the basis for the mIRage IR microscope from Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp.
Blue Scientific is the official distributor for Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp instruments in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. For more information or quotes, please get in touch.
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The co-inventor of O-PTIR (Optical Photothermal Infrared spectroscopy) has been awarded the Ellis R. Lippincott Award 2019.
O-PTIR is the basis for the technique used by the mIRage IR microscope from Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp.
Lippincott Award
The Lippincott Award recognises “outstanding contributions in inventing and developing a broad spectrum of vibrational spectroscopic imaging technologies with groundbreaking discoveries and clinical applications.”
Innovation was a hallmark of Lippincott’s work, and is a key factor in choosing who it’s presented to.
The award is part of the OSA Awards from The Optical Society, which celebrate accomplishments in the science of light. The Lippincott Award was established in 1975, to honour the valuable contributions made by Ellis Lippincott to the world of vibrational spectroscopy.
The award was presented to Ji-Xin Cheng at SciX 2019 in Palm Springs, California.
Ji-Xin Cheng
Ji-Xin Cheng’s work has focussed on evolving molecular spectroscopy from an in vitro analytical tool to a range of in vivo label-free chemical imaging platforms. These are used to reveal hidden signatures inside living systems and discoveries that can be developed into medical diagnosis and treatment approaches.
Summary Bio
Ji-Xin Cheng studied at the University of Science and Technology of China, followed by a PhD in bond-selective chemistry. In 2000 he joined Sunney Xie’s group at Harvard University as a postdoc, then Purdue University, where he was promoted to Full Professor in 2013. He joined Boston University as the Inaugural Moustakas Chair Professor in Photonics and Optoelectronics in 2017.

Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp and O-PTIR
O-PTIR (optical PTIR) is the basis for the mIRage IR microscope from Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp, a spin-off from Anasys Instruments, pioneers in the field of AFM-based photothermal IR spectroscopy (PTIR) and now part of Bruker Nano.
O-PTIR overcomes the main limitations of conventional infrared: spatial resolution and sample preparation.
- Sub-micron spatial resolution
- Transmission-like FTIR quality spectra in non-contact reflection mode
- All the benefits of ATR without contact-related limitations
- No need for thin sections
- Spatial resolution similar to Raman, but with infrared sensitivity
Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp aims to enable IR spectroscopy to be used to solve high value problems in industry and academia through O-PTIR.
mIRage IR Microscope
The mIRage IR microscope gives you true sub-micron IR spatial resolution imaging and spectroscopy via O-PTIR. This bridges the gap between conventional IR micro-spectroscopy and AFM-based nanoscale IR spectroscopy.

- Wavelength independent spatial resolution
- Highly sensitive IR measurements
- Transmission quality absorption spectra in refection mode
More about O-PTIR
- Sub-Micron Chemical Analysis of Biological Samples with O-PTIR
- Characterising Multilayer Films with IR Spectroscopy at Sub-micron Resolution
- Simultaneous IR and Raman Microscopy
- Identifying Organic Contaminants with Simultaneous Sub-micron IR and Raman
Further Information
Blue Scientific is the official distributor of the mIRage IR microscope in the Nordic region. We’re available to answer all your questions – just get in touch: