Quantitative infrared spectroscopy of environmentally sensitive and rough materials

Area of Science:

• Spectroscopy and Spectroscopic Analysis
• Materials Science
• Optical Engineering

Background:

• Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is crucial for material characterization but struggles with environmentally sensitive or rough samples.
• Challenges include dynamic responses to stimuli and light scattering, limiting quantitative analysis.
• Existing methods lack the capability for precise measurements on such complex materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for quantitative infrared spectroscopy measurements of environmentally sensitive and/or rough materials.
• To enable accurate transmittance, reflectance, and emissivity measurements.
• To address limitations of conventional FTIR equipment in characterizing challenging samples.

Main Methods:

• Designed and 3D-printed a miniaturized environmental chamber for conventional integrating spheres.
• Developed a calibration method to correct for light scattering and IR window distortion.
• Performed quantitative infrared measurements (specular and diffusive) on sapphire and textile samples.

Main Results:

• The environmental chamber facilitated total transmission and reflection measurements in controlled environments.
• The calibration method successfully excluded light scattering and window distortion effects.
• Quantitative results from the equipped chamber matched those without IR windows, validating the approach.

Conclusions:

• The developed environmental chamber and calibration method enable quantitative infrared spectroscopy for challenging samples.
• This technique is viable for materials with rough surfaces and dynamic environmental responses.
• The method has potential applications in fields like metasurfaces and adaptive textiles.