Data Exploration Tools

Use these browser-based workspaces to look closely at characterization data, try common processing steps, and learn how those choices affect what you see. Each tool opens on the MIT-hosted Carbonio server in a new browser tab.

Laptop or desktop computer recommended

These interactive workspaces are designed for a larger screen and work best with a keyboard and mouse or trackpad. You will need to select data files stored on your device. Each tool loads a reference library; the Raman and XRD libraries are especially large, so allow extra time on a slower connection.

Choose a tool

Infrared spectroscopy

Explore an FTIR spectrum

Open and compare spectra, try common processing steps, explore introductory band fitting, and compare marked bands with reference spectra.

Input: .jdx, .dx, .csv, and common text formats
Processing: In your browser
Host: carbonio.mit.edu

Open the FTIR tool on Carbonio (new tab)

Raman spectroscopy

Explore a Raman spectrum

Open and compare spectra, try baseline correction and smoothing, explore introductory band fitting, and compare marked bands with reference spectra.

Input: .h5, .hdf5, .xml, and two-column text
Processing: In your browser
Host: carbonio.mit.edu

Open the Raman tool on Carbonio (new tab)

X-ray diffraction

Explore an XRD pattern

Open one or more diffraction patterns, crop and compare scans, explore background subtraction and smoothing, and perform introductory peak fitting.

Input: .xrdml and .csv
Processing: In your browser
Host: carbonio.mit.edu

Open the XRD tool on Carbonio (new tab)

How to use these tools

Start with an example or a familiar dataset whose important features you already understand.
Make one processing change at a time.
Compare the processed result with the original rather than replacing it.
Record the settings and sequence you used.
Treat automated fitting or reference matching as evidence to evaluate, not a final identification.

Interpret carefully: These tools are intended for teaching, exploration, and preliminary review. They do not replace validated research workflows, complete reference databases, advanced quantitative-analysis software, or expert review.

Hosting and maintenance

The analysis applications and their associated reference libraries are hosted on carbonio.mit.edu and maintained separately from the Breakerspace website. Features, availability, reference-library content, and application updates are therefore outside the maintenance scope of this site.

The applications are developed in the open-source ScienceScripts project by Feranick. Breakerspace provides these links as a convenient starting point for learning and exploratory analysis.

Questions about Breakerspace teaching materials or accessibility barriers on this page can be sent to dmse-breakerspace@mit.edu.