Infrared spectroscopy absorption frequencies

The role of specific interactions in the plasticization of PVC has been proposed from work on specific interactions of esters in solvents (eg, hydrogenated chlorocarbons) (13), work on blends of polyesters with PVC (14—19), and work on plasticized PVC itself (20—23). Modes of iateraction between the carbonyl functionaHty of the plasticizer ester or polyester were proposed, mostly on the basis of results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ftir). Shifts in the absorption frequency of the carbonyl group of the plasticizer ester to lower wave number, indicative of a reduction in polarity (ie, some iateraction between this functionaHty and the polymer) have been reported (20—22). Work performed with dibutyl phthalate (22) suggests an optimum concentration at which such iateractions are maximized. Spectral shifts are in the range 3—8 cm . Similar shifts have also been reported in blends of PVC with polyesters (14—20), again showing a concentration dependence of the shift to lower wave number of the ester carbonyl absorption frequency. 

Infrared spectroscopy has broad appHcations for sensitive molecular speciation. Infrared frequencies depend on the masses of the atoms iavolved ia the various vibrational motions, and on the force constants and geometry of the bonds connecting them band shapes are determined by the rotational stmcture and hence by the molecular symmetry and moments of iaertia. The rovibrational spectmm of a gas thus provides direct molecular stmctural information, resulting ia very high specificity. The vibrational spectmm of any molecule is unique, except for those of optical isomers. Every molecule, except homonuclear diatomics such as O2, N2, and the halogens, has at least one vibrational absorption ia the iafrared. Several texts treat iafrared iastmmentation and techniques (22,36—38) and thek appHcations (39—42). 

The structure of the protonated enamines has been investigated by infrared spectroscopy. On protonation there is a characteristic shift of the band in the double-bond stretching region to higher frequencies by 20 to 50 cm with an increased intensity of absorption (6,13,14a). Protonated enamines also show absorption in the ultraviolet at 220-225 m/x due to the iminium structure (14b). This confirms structure 5 for these protonated enamines, because a compound having structure 4 would be expected to have only end absorption as the electrons on nitrogen would not be available for interaction with the n electrons of the double bond. 

Backus EHG, Boim M. 2005. A quantitative comparison between reflection absorption infrared and sum-frequency generation spectroscopy. Chem Phys Lett 412 152-157. 

We note that the formalism presented here plays a major role in infrared spectroscopy. The process that gives rise to a fundamental line in the infrared spectrum of a molecule is the absorption of a photon whose frequency corresponds to that of one of the normal modes, and the simultaneous transition of this mode from the ground state (n = 0) to the first excited state. 

Reflection Absorption Infrared Spectroscopy (RAIRS) Sum Frequency Generation (SFG)... 

Carbon monoxide on metals forms the best-studied adsorption system in vibrational spectroscopy. The strong dipole associated with the C-O bond makes this molecule a particularly easy one to study. Moreover, the C-0 stretch frequency is very informative about the direct environment of the molecule. The metal-carbon bond, however, falling at frequencies between 300 and 500 cm1, is more difficult to measure with infrared spectroscopy. First, its detection requires special optical parts made of Csl, but even with suitable equipment the peak may be invisible because of absorption by the catalyst support. In reflection experiments on single crystal surfaces the metal-carbon peak is difficult to obtain because of the low sensitivity of RAIRS at low frequencies [12,13], EELS, on the other hand, has no difficulty in detecting the metal-carbon bond, as we shall see later on. 

Note that in all the examples discussed so far, infrared spectroscopy gives its information on the catalyst in an indirect way, via hydroxyl groups on the support, or via the adsorption of probe molecules such as CO and NO. The reason why it is often difficult to measure the metal-oxide or metal-sulfide vibrations of the catalytically active phase in transmission infrared spectroscopy is that the frequencies are well below 1000 cm-1, where measurements are difficult because of absorption by the support. Infrared emission and Raman spectroscopy, discussed later on in this chapter, offer better opportunities in this respect. 

Summarizing, infrared spectroscopy measures, in principle, force constants of chemical bonds. It is a powerful tool in the identification of adsorbed species and their bonding mode. Infrared spectroscopy is an in situ technique, which is applicable in transmission or diffuse reflection mode on real catalysts, and in reflection-absorption mode on single crystal surfaces. Sum frequency generation is a speciality... 

It is important to appreciate that Raman shifts are, in theory, independent of the wavelength of the incident beam, and only depend on the nature of the sample, although other factors (such as the absorbance of the sample) might make some frequencies more useful than others in certain circumstances. For many materials, the Raman and infrared spectra can often contain the same information, but there are a significant number of cases, in which infrared inactive vibrational modes are important, where the Raman spectrum contains complementary information. One big advantage of Raman spectroscopy is that water is not Raman active, and is, therefore, transparent in Raman spectra (unlike in infrared spectroscopy, where water absorption often dominates the spectrum). This means that aqueous samples can be investigated by Raman spectroscopy. 

Amino-amido-thiol HS —(CH2)io CO— NH—CH2—NH2 adsorbed on Au(lll) has been studied by sum frequency generation and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) in the CH2 stretching vibration region [151]. 

At infrared wavelengths extinction by the MgO particles of Fig. 11.2, including those with radius 1 jam, which can be made by grinding, is dominated by absorption. This is why the KBr pellet technique is commonly used for infrared absorption spectroscopy of powders. A small amount of the sample dispersed in KBr powder is pressed into a pellet, the transmission spectrum of which is readily obtained. Because extinction is dominated by absorption, this transmission spectrum should follow the undulations of the intrinsic absorption spectrum—but not always. Comparison of Figs. 10.1 and 11.2 reveals an interesting discrepancy calculated peak extinction occurs at 0.075 eV, whereas absorption in bulk MgO peaks at the transverse optic mode frequency, which is about 0.05 eV. This is a large discrepancy in light of the precision of modern infrared spectroscopy and could cause serious error if the extinction peak were assumed to lie at the position of a bulk absorption band. This is the first instance we have encountered where the properties of small particles deviate appreciably from those of the bulk solid. It is the result of surface mode excitation, which is such a dominant effect in small particles of some solids that we have devoted Chapter 12 to its fuller discussion. 

The wavelengths of IR absorption bands are characteristic of specific types of chemical bonds. In the past infrared had little application in protein analysis due to instrumentation and interpretation limitations. The development of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FUR) makes it possible to characterize proteins using IR techniques (Surewicz et al. 1993). Several IR absorption regions are important for protein analysis. The amide I groups in proteins have a vibration absorption frequency of 1630-1670 cm. Secondary structures of proteins such as alpha(a)-helix and beta(P)-sheet have amide absorptions of 1645-1660 cm-1 and 1665-1680 cm, respectively. Random coil has absorptions in the range of 1660-1670 cm These characterization criteria come from studies of model polypeptides with known secondary structures. Thus, FTIR is useful in conformational analysis of peptides and proteins (Arrondo et al. 1993). 

Figure 9.7 Vibrational energy levels determined from solution of the one-dimensional Schrodinger equation for some arbitrary variable 6 (some higher levels not shown). In addition to the energy levels (horizontal lines across the potential curve), the vibrational wave functions are shown for levels 0 and 3. Conventionally, the wave functions are plotted in units of (probability) with the same abscissa as the potential curve and an individual ordinate having its zero at the same height as the location of the vibrational level on the energy ordinate - those coordinate systems are explicitly represented here. Note that the absorption frequency typically measured by infrared spectroscopy is associated with the 0 —> 1 transition, as indicated on the plot. For the harmonic oscillator potential, all energy levels are separated by the same amount, but this is not necessarily the case for a more general potential...

Infrared spectroscopy is an old and familiar technique for polymer characterization. It is based on the absorption of radiation in the infrared frequency range due to... 

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