Overview of the Options for Time Course Measurement by FTIR

Introduction

FTIR-4000 and 6000 Series spectrometers — FTIR-4000 and 6000 Series Spectrometers

FTIR offers three methods for time course measurement: interval measurement, rapid-scan, and step-scan; the time resolution is 1 sec, 50 msec, 5 msec (optional: 10 nsec) respectively.

Here we will review the basic features and measurement for each method. Each method uses a different type of scanning method for the moving mirror in the interferometer. “Interval measurement” is performed with regular scanning and “rapid-scan measurement” uses a faster scan rate of the moving mirror. Using “step-scan measurement,” the moving mirror stops at each data-sampling point and perturbed at each of the points.

Experimental

Measurement Conditions
*Interval Measurement ^1**	Time Res.: 1 sec ~	Application: structural transition of a sample, monitoring of gas concentration
Measurement Ex.: Measure the transition of CO₂ concentration in room air. (Fig. 1) Interval measurement is effective for long-time monitoring of gas analysis. *1 JASCO interval measurement program can be used for up to 60001 scans or 24 days.
Rapid-Scan Measurement	Time Res.: 50 msec ~	Application: photo-polymerization reaction, orientation relaxation of polymer film
Measurement Ex.: The curing process of a UV cured resin was measured, a photo-polymerization reaction. (Fig. 2) The peak intensity transition at 1637 cm^-1 (bottom of Fig. 2) is attributed to the C=C stretch. The peak intensity rapidly decreased responding to the UV irradiation and continued to decrease moderately indicating that the initial reaction and reaction process for photo-polymerization was observed very accurately.
*Step-Scan Measurement^2**	Time Res.: 5 msec ~^*3	Application: relaxation of liquid crystal orientation
Measurement Ex.: The relaxation process of the orientation of a liquid crystal in response to an electric field was measured. (Fig. 3) The peak intensity transition at 2925 cm^-1 (bottom of Fig. 3), is attributed to the C-H stretch. The peak intensity fluctuated responding to the power voltage being applied and stopped, and decreased in two phases - rapidly and then moderately. It is known that the liquid crystal in the area near the electrode has a faster orientation relaxation than the bulk and this difference can be observed. 2 limited to the materials with repetitive response. 3 10 nsec ~ is optionally available.