Synchrotron radiation – a brilliant source for solid‐state research in the infrared energy domain

Abstract

AbstractIR spectroscopy probes the rotations and the vibrations of molecules, the low‐energy excitations of solids and many other low‐energy phenomena occurring in condensed matter physics, chemistry, biophysics and materials science. Here we will present some examples of experiments that can experience a great advantage by IR synchrotron radiation sources in particular in the mid‐ and far‐IR domain. FTIR spectroscopy and reflectivity measurements are non‐destructive methods that can be applied to metallic, semiconductor or insulator systems returning accurate information on vibrtional and phonon spectra as a function of external parameters such as temperature or pressure. Far‐IR spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation may be indeed used to investigate with a DAC cell pressure‐driven insulator‐to‐metal transitions, one of the most intriguing phenomena exhibited by condensed matter. Another unique applications of IR SR is time‐resolved IR spectroscopy and imaging in materials science and in biology. However, also combined time‐resolved analysis (FTIR and SAXS) using two different radiations exciting the same system in a concurrent way is a powerful technique fundamental to understand complex phenomena.In particular, we will show how the combination of SAXS and mid‐IR spectroscopy correlates the solvent and the water evaporation kinetics explaining the structural organization of self‐assembly mesostructured films. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)