INVESTIGATING PRE-1949 CHINESE PAPER-BASED MATERIALS BY RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY: SHORT REVIEW (2000-2017).

Raman spectroscopy over the last two decades has shown its power and great potential in advancing our knowledge about the use of materials in the human past. Raman applications on paper-based materials are relatively few, however, compared to the countless case studies on other base materials. In this short review, I summarize post-2000 Raman applications on Chinese paper-based materials, in the hope of keeping non-Chinese scientists updated--which subjects have been investigated by Raman spectroscopy and to address what questions, how Raman applications shed light on the manufacture of pre-1949 Chinese paper-based materials, and what interesting topics arise from these Raman applications. I close my review by proposing a few topics worthy of exploration and investigation in future Raman applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]