Fourier Transform - Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)

Innovatech Labs uses Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) as a materials characterization technique to identify organic (and in some cases inorganic) materials. This technique measures the range of wavelengths in the infrared region that are absorbed by a material. These infrared absorption bands identify molecular components and structures. Absorption bands in the range of 4000 - 1500 wavenumbers are typically due to functional groups (e.g. -OH, C=O, N-H, CH3, etc.). The region between 1500 - 400 wavenumbers is referred to as the fingerprint region. Absorption bands in this region are generally due to intra-molecular phenomena, and are highly specific for each material. The specificity of these bands allow computerized data searches to be performed against reference libraries to identify a material.

The microscope attachment to the FTIR enables samples as small as 10 microns to be analyzed.  Thin organic films on a reflective surface can be analyzed in situ using the microscope in the reflectance mode.

Unknown materials are identified by searching the FTIR spectrum against a database of reference spectra.  Materials can be quantified using FTIR as long as a standard curve of known concentrations of the component of interest can be created.

Details of Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy