Infrared spectrometry is useful for the identification of both organic and inorganic compounds. Aggregates of atoms (or functional groups) such as C=O, -NO2, C-N, and C-F; just to name a few, are all associated with characteristic infrared absorptions. Thus, infrared spectrometry is ideal for the identification of functional groups present within a sample. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) capabilities within the MCL are geared towards the analysis of solids (organic, inorganic, and biological) in a variety of forms to include: fibers, thin films, microtome cuts, particles, powders, coatings, residues, monolayers, and monolithic solids. With the recent acquisition of an infrared microscope, the Materials Characterization Lab now has FT-IR mapping/imaging capabilities along with the capacity to perform infrared microanalysis on samples down to ~10 microns in size.
Bruker Vertex 80 spectrometer. Credit: Bruker Optics.
Details include:
- Dating a mastodon tooth
- Diffusion into polymers
- Polymer phase changes
- Thermal barrier coatings
- Identifying cancer cells
- Common lab contaminants
- Modifying clay surface chemistry
- In-situ studies of carbon monoxide (CO) adsorption on catalyst surfaces using diffuse reflectance FT-IR spectroscopy (DRIFTs)
- Temperature induced morphology changes in polymers using in-situ attenuated total reflection (ATR)
- Quantification of bio-molecules in organic solvents using liquid transmission FT-IR
- Mapping of bio-molecules I tissue sections using micro-FT-IR with a focal plane array detector
| FT-IR Acessory | Transmission |
|---|---|
| Liquid transmission cells | Interchangeable spacers and windows |
| Temp controlled high pressure cell | Can operate at 0C- 200C and up to 4.5 MPa with ZnSe windows |
| Brewsters angle holder | Allows rotation of sample 360 degrees |
| Diamond compression cell | 1.5 mm diameter clear aperture |
| Short path gas sampling cell | 100 mm path length gas cell with KBr windows |
| Pellet press | Hydraulic press for 7 mm KBr pellet preparation |
| ATR | Transmission |
|---|---|
| Harrick Diamax | Routine ATR analysis with diamond ATR crystal, heated ATR 0C-175C |
| Harrick MVP Pro | Routine ATR analysis with diamond and ZnSe crystals |
| Pike HATR | Multibounce high sensitivity liquid ATR analysis |
| Harrick Horizon | Multibounce high sensitivity liquid ATR analysis |
| Pike Veemax | Variable angle ATR allowing depth profiling with ZnSe and Ge crystals with polarizer |
| Harrick Seagull | Variable angle ATR allowing depth profiling with ZnSe and Ge crystals with polarizer |
| Harrick VariGATR | Grazing angle ATR with Ge ATR crystal with polarizer |
| Specular Reflectance | Transmission |
|---|---|
| Pike Veemax | Variable angle specular reflectance with precise wire grid polarizer |
| Harrick Seagull | Variable angle specular reflectance with polarizer |
| Diffuse Reflectance | |
| Harrick Seagull | Variable angle specular and diffuse reflectance accessory |
| Harrick Praying Mantis | Diffuse reflectance with inert transfer vessel |
| High Temp Reaction Cell | In-situ diffuse reflectance from RT-700C |
| Low Temp Reaction Cell | Can operate at 10-6 torr to 1 ktorr and at temperatures from -150°C to 600°C |
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| Micro-FT-IR | |
| Transmission | 15X, 20X and 30X reflective objectives with polarizer |
| ATR | 100 and 250 micron 20X Ge objectives with polarizer |
| Reflectance | 15X, 20X and 30X reflective objectives, 15X grazing angle objective with polarizer |