High-Throughput Two-Dimensional Infrared (2D IR) Spectroscopy Achieved by Interfacing Microfluidic Technology with a...

The precision control of microfluidic technology was successfully interfaced with a 100 kHz two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectrometer to observe the sensitivity of the anion cyanate (OCN^-) to the surrounding solvent environment in a high-throughput manner. Producing high-throughput 2D IR spectroscopy measurements allows us to observe the vibrational response of cyanate in mixed solvent environments. Changes in solvation environment around the cyanate ion yield frequency shifts from 2150 to 2165 cm^-1 when moving from a pure dimethylformamide solvent environment to a pure methanol environment. 2D IR spectra were captured laterally across microfluidic devices tailored to produce a tunable gradient to observe the OCN^- vibrational response to mixed solvent environments. These experiments reveal that there is no preferential solvation of cyanate in this system; instead, a more complex local solvent environment is observed.