Experimental methods in chemical engineering: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy—FTIR

Abstract

AbstractWhen molecules absorb infrared radiation (IR), their vibrational mode—stretching and bending of the electric dipole—changes to an excited state. Functional groups in organic molecules absorb IR related to their characteristic vibrational modes. A Fourier transform infrared absorption (FTIR) analyzer measures the absorbed IR to identify molecular composition of surfaces, structural and geometric isomers, orientation in polymers and solutions, and quantify impurities. We describe the power of FTIR instruments and their basic operating principles, including the main experimental setups available: transmission, diffuse reflectance (DRIFTS), reflection adsorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), and attenuated total reflection (ATR), including the recent advances related to time‐resolved and operando applications. In catalytic studies, FTIR spectroscopy has demonstrated its versatility over the last several decades to understand reaction mechanisms, measure gas phase composition, and identify active sites. Over 3000 articles include catalysis and FTIR as keywords but 50 000 articles per year mention IR. We generated a bibliometric map of keywords in articles that Web of Science indexed in 2016 and 2017. The map identified four broad clusters of research related to or applying FTIR: nano‐composites, composites, and mechanical properties; nano‐particles, degradation, graphene oxide, and photo‐catalysis; adsorption, aqueous solutions, and waste water; and drug delivery, silver and gold nano‐particles, green synthesis, and antibacterial activity. Together with a synopsis of the principals of IR spectroscopy and a review of the applications, we discuss uncertainties and limitations of the technique.