FTIR Introduction to FTIR FT-IR is known as Fourier Transform InfraRed, the most common and preferable method of infrared

spectroscopy. Based on infrared spectroscopy, InfraRed radiation ray is transmitted or passed through the sample to obtain the data of the sample. During the radiation is transmitted, some of the infrared radiation is absorbed by the sample while some of it is passed through it (transmitted). The resulting spectrum represents the molecular absorption and transmission, creating a molecular ngerprint of the sample. This fingerprint is similar to human fingerprint which none of human fingerprint is similar to one another. Like a ngerprint no two unique molecular structures produce the same infrared spectrum. This is because different function groups absorb characteristic frequencies of infrared radition. This is an advantage for FTIR making infrared spectroscopy useful for several types of analysis. Besides that, infrared absorption spectroscopy even more useful that it is capable to analyse all gas, liquid and solid samples.

Function of FTIR ; It can identify unknown material It can determine the quality or consistency of a sample It can determine the amount of components in a mixture

Theory of FTIR The spectrometer described here is a common FTIR used in the lab. The heart of the FTIR is a Michelson interferometer (Figure 2). The mirror moves at a fixed rate. Its position is important because it determined accurately by counting the interference fringes of a collocated Helium-Neon (He-Ne) laser. The beam of radiation is splits by the Michelson interferometer into two paths having different lengths, and then recombines them. A detector measures the data which consist of intensity variations of the exit beam as a function of path difference. A monochromatic source would show a simple sine wave of intensity at the detector due to constructive and destructive interference as the path length changes (Refer Figure 3). In the general case, a superposition of wavelengths enter spectrometer, and the detector indicates the sum of the sine waves added together. Figure 3 shows some idealized light sources, and the interferograms that they would theoretically produce. The difference in path length for the radiation is known as the retardation d(OM = OF + d) in figure 1 and 2. When the retardation is zero, the detector sees a maximum because all wavenumbers of radiation add constructively. When the retardation is L/2, the detector sees a minimum for the wavelength L. An interferogram is the sum of all of the wavenumber intensities.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

All the figure obtain from the source : MS thesis submitted by Carl George Schmitt, UNR , 1998.

Dipole changes During Vibrations and Rotations

During infrared absorption, a molecule must commit to a net change in dipole moment because of vibrational or rotational motion. O2, N2 or Cl2 are example of homonuclear species that has no net change in dipole moment occurs during vibration or rotation. For a example, we take H2O since it charge distribution around molecule is not symetric because the oxygen has a higher electron density (higher electronegativity) compare to hydrogen. H2O has a significant dipole moment and known as polar molecule. Dipole moment can be determined by the magnitude of the charge difference and the distance between the two centres of centre of charge. As the H2O vibrates, a regular fluctuation in dipole moment occur, a field is established that can interact with the electrical field associated with radiation. If the frequency of the radiation exactly same with the natural vibrational frequency of the molecule, a net transfer of energy takes place that results in a change in the amplitude of the molecular vibration, absorption of the radiation is the consequence. Besides that, the rotation of asymmetric molecules around their centres of mass result in a periodic dipole fluctuation that can interact with radiation.

Rotational Transitions The energy required to affect the change in rotational is minute (small) and corresponds to radiation of 100 cm-1 or less (>100m) Rotational levels are quantized ; i) Absorption by gases in the far IR region is characterized by discrete, well-defined line ii) Absorption by liquids or solids intramolecular collisions and interactions cause broadening of the lines in to a continuum. Vibrational/Rotational Transitions Vibrational energy levels are also quantized for most molecules the energy differences between quantum states correspond to the mid-IR region. The IR spectrum of a gas usually consists of closely spaced lines, because there are several rotational energy state for each vibrational state. On the other hand, rotation is highly restricted in liquids and solids, in such sample, discrete vibrational/rotational lines disappear, leaving only somewhat broadening vibrational peaks.