Characterizing polymorphism and crystal transformation of polylactide by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS), which has been proved to show promising application in complex polymer systems, was employed to investigate the polymorphism phenomenon and crystal transformation of polylactide (PLA) in this study. The THz-TDS shows sensitive response on the crystal structure. The α'-form, α-form and stereocomplex crystals exhibit absorption peaks of lattice vibration at 1.82, 2.01 and 2.09 THz, respectively. THz-TDS has no direct chirality identification on the difference between poly (d-lactide) (PDLA) and poly(l-lactide) (PLLA). However, the PLA stereocomplex shows an extra and distinctive absorption peak at 1.43 THz compared with homo-PLA, and the peak was proved to be stemmed from the collective vibration of L-lactic unit and D-lactic unit pairs connecting by hydrogen bonds. This is the first time that THz-TDS has been proved to be of great potential in identification of polymer stereocomplex crystal. Also, the α'→α crystal transformation of PLA were intuitively investigated at 120 °C using THz-TDS, while the transformation rate was quite slow.     

太赫兹时域光谱技术在化学领域中应用的新进展

随着超快激光技术的发展及其人们对太赫兹(THz)电磁波波段及与脉冲光源认识的进一步深入,太赫兹时域光谱(THz-TDS)技术作为一种新的、快速发展的光谱分析方法在许多领域备受关注。尤其在化学领域,THz-TDS技术已得到了广泛的应用,并显示出了广阔的应用前景。本文介绍了THz技术的特点、THz辐射的产生、探测及其信号处理;讨论了该技术在化学及其相关领域中的应用;初步探讨了该技术在化学领域应用中一些亟待解决的问题及今后发展的方向。     

Non-invasive single bunch monitoring for ps pulse radiolysis

A single-shot electro-optic (EO) diagnostic has been installed on the ELYSE photocathode RF gun accelerator to monitor the electron bunch at the place and under the conditions of the ps pulse radiolysis experiments. The EO signal is due to the coulombic field of the electron bunch and to a contribution of a free-space THz radiation generated by the same electron pulse. This signal is recorded shot-to-shot at the repetition rate of the accelerator. The jitter of the arrival time of the electron bunch is characterized for the first time with a non-invasive method and is confirmed to be around 1 ps.     

含硫氨基酸的太赫兹光谱

利用太赫兹时域光谱(THz-TDS)技术研究室温条件下多晶含硫氨基酸L-蛋氨酸(Met)和L-半胱氨酸(Cys)的光谱特性, 得到相应的吸收谱和折射率谱, 表明含硫氨基酸在THz波段具有区别于其它氨基酸的显著特征. 在实验测量的有效光谱范围0.2～2.8 THz内, L-蛋氨酸的THz吸收峰分别位于1.06, 1.88和2.70 THz; L-半胱氨酸的吸收峰分别位于1.40, 1.70, 2.33和2.61 THz, 两种氨基酸的平均折射率均为1.44. 利用GAUSSIAN 03软件包中的Hartree-Fock理论计算了蛋氨酸双分子的低频振动谱, 表明了与蛋氨酸各吸收峰对应的分子微观振动模式, 并对实验光谱进行了解析讨论.     

Conductivity of solvated electrons in hexane investigated with terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

We present investigations of the transient photoconductivity and recombination dynamics of quasifree electrons in liquid n-hexane and cyclohexane performed using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). Quasifree electrons are generated by two-photon photoionization of the liquid using a femtosecond ultraviolet pulse, and the resulting changes in the complex conductivity are probed by a THz electromagnetic pulse at a variable delay. The detection of time-domain wave forms of the THz electric field permits the direct determination of both the real and the imaginary part of the conductivity of the electrons over a wide frequency range. The change in conductivity can be described by the Drude model, thus yielding the quasifree electron density and scattering time. The electron density is found to decay on a time scale of a few hundred picoseconds, which becomes shorter with increasing excitation density. The dynamics can be described by a model that assumes nongeminate recombination between electrons and positive ions. In addition, a strong dependence of the quasifree electron density on temperature is observed, in agreement with a two-state model in which the electron may exist in either a quasifree or a bound state.     

20种α-氨基酸的太赫兹光谱及其分子结构的相关性

应用太赫兹时域光谱(THz-TDS)技术, 在室温下对构成蛋白质的20种基本氨基酸的多晶粉末压片样品进行了光谱测试分析. 结果表明, 所有氨基酸对THz波反应非常灵敏, 在0.2-3.0 THz的有效频谱范围内, 表现出各自特征吸收峰, 故而利用THz光谱可以有效地区别不同种类的氨基酸. 我们以新数据验证和补充了前人的研究结果, 建立了以氨基酸分子结构及其THz光谱特征为基础的分类方案, 讨论并揭示了氨基酸分子的结构差异与其THz吸收光谱之间的相关性. 认知这些相关性将有助于鉴定氨基酸分子, 促进THz光谱学的理论研究以及在生物医学领域的推广应用.     

Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy of Naphthalene and Naphthols

Low-energy vibrational modes have been investigated in polycrystalline naphthalene and its derivatives naphthols using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) over the frequency range from 17 to 73 cm^–1 (0.5–2.2 THz) at room temperature. We propose that naphthalene and naphthols show spectral features originating from intermolecular vibrational modes. Because of the collective origin of the observed modes, the absorption spectra are highly sensitive to the overall structure and configuration of the molecules, as well as their environments. For light-sensitive materials, the THz-TDS procedure can avoid effects like photobleaching.     

乐果分子的太赫兹时域光谱研究

研究了有机磷农药乐果在0.2~2.5 THz波段的光谱特性。应用密度泛函理论的Becke-3-Lee-Yang-Parr(B3LYP)方法计算了乐果分子在THz波段的振动吸收谱,同时利用THz时域光谱系统(THz-TDS)测得了乐果在此波段的吸收谱和折射率谱。根据理论计算结果,借助于Gaussian View软件对乐果的THz吸收谱进行了指认,并给出了与光谱特征吸收对应的分子振动构象。研究表明:乐果分子在THz波段存在吸收峰,理论计算与实验结果符合较好,且乐果分子在THz波段的吸收是由分子内和分子间振动共同引起。本研究证明了将THz-TDS技术用于乐果分子探测和识别的可行性,为THz时域光谱技术在其它农药分子识别和残留检测中的应用提供了有益的借鉴。     

D-、L-和DL-青霉胺的太赫兹时域光谱

利用太赫兹时域光谱技术(THz-TDS)对D-、L-和DL-青霉胺的研究发现, 三种样品在0.2 THz到1.8 THz波段的吸收光谱存在显著差异, 实验结果表明, THz吸收光谱能够鉴别青霉胺对映异构体, 这一特点将可以用于青霉胺药物的检测. 本文利用纯D-、L-青霉胺的THz吸收光谱, 对D-、L-青霉胺混合样品的THz吸收光谱进行拟合, 证明可以用THz光谱定量分析混合样品中D-、L-青霉胺的相对含量. 这项研究为手性药物分子检测和分析提供了新的实验方法, 也对深入了解手性药物与生物靶分子之间相互作用提供了启示.     

太赫兹时域光谱技术在化学和生物学研究中的应用

太赫兹时域光谱(Terahertz Time Domain Spectroscopy,THz-TDS)技术作为一种新的研究手段在凝聚态、气体以及生物分子研究中有着重要的作用。它利用物质在THz波段的不同特征吸收来研究物质的结构、组成及其相互作用等。本文主要介绍了THz-TDS技术在化学及生物学领域中的应用进展以及目前存在的问题,对其前景进行了展望。     

MWNTs/HDPE复合体系在太赫兹波段的光电性质

利用太赫兹时域光谱技术和电导测量研究了多壁碳纳米管/高密度聚乙烯(MWNTs/HDPE)复合体系的光电性质. 直流电导率结果表明, 复合体系的逾渗阈值在5%左右; 交流电导率则随频率的变化出现一个拐点, 拐点的位置与颗粒浓度以及导电颗粒的存在状态密切相关. 加入碳纳米管后, 复合体系在太赫兹波段的吸收系数和折射率均有很大的提高. 通过假定在此波段导电颗粒在聚合物中的介电行为类似于偶极子的弛豫, 利用Cole-Cole理论对复合材料的介电性质进行了解释.     

Far-infrared investigation of kaolinite and halloysite intercalates using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

Two clay minerals from the kaolin group, namely well-ordered kaolinite and poorly ordered halloysite, were investigated by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). Both clay samples were used for preparation of their respective intercalates using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and potassium acetate (KAc) with water. The intercalates were also characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The dielectric behaviour of clay samples was investigated in the far-infrared region of 0.2–2.7 THz corresponding to about 6.7–89.9 cm⁻¹. The frequency dependence of the power absorption coefficient revealed clear absorption bands for DMSO intercalates but not for KAc with water. For kaolinite – DMSO intercalate a distinct doublet at 1.70 THz (56.6 cm⁻¹) and 1.88 THz (62.6 cm⁻¹), and for halloysite – DMSO intercalate a single broad band centred around 1.72 THz (57.3 cm⁻¹) were found. These bands are reported for the first time in this type of intercalation substances and indicate the application potential of THz time-domain spectroscopy for use in the investigation and detection of chemical behaviour of molecular species introduced into the interlayer space of layered substances such as clays and clay minerals. Additionally, the qualitative characteristics of observed bands of DMSO intercalates in the THz region reasonably resembled the structural order/disorder of used kaolinite and halloysite samples.     

Characterization of THz radiation generated by ultra-short bunch from energy chirping cell attached RF electron gun

The coherent radiation spectrum extends into the far-infrared/THz region when the electron bunch is shorter than 1 ps (0.3 mm). Such ultra-short electron bunches can be produced using a variety of bunching schemes in electron accelerators. We have designed a photocathode RF electron gun, named ECC RF gun, specifically for ultra-short bunch generation. ECC stands for energy chirping cell. This paper describes the brief principle of the ECC RF gun, CTR (coherent transition radiation) observation using Schottky barrier diodes (SBD) and spectrum measurement using interferometry with SBDs. We have successfully confirmed the generation of 0.05–0.3 THz high peak power pulsed CTR.     

β-丙氨酸的THz时域光谱研究

运用THz时域光谱测试技术(THz-TDS)与理论模拟相结合的方法, 研究了β-丙氨酸在THz波段的光谱特性. 在室温氮气环境中, 得到了样品在0.2～2.4 THz波段的吸收谱和折射率谱, 表明其特征吸收峰位于2.11 THz处, 平均折射率为1.96. 同时利用Gaussian 03软件的半经验理论计算了该分子在0.1～10.0 THz的振动吸收谱, 其在0.2～2.4 THz波段的吸收峰与实验相互对应, 且峰位符合较好. 研究了分子低频的振动模式, 并给出了分子的构象参数.     

Terahertz-time domain spectroscopy for the detection of PCR amplified DNA in aqueous solution

In this work we present a label free quantitative detection method for DNA samples amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in aqueous medium using terahertz-time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) in the frequency range from 0.3 to 1.2 THz. The DNA samples of 133 and 697 base pairs were prepared using PCR. We measured the absorption coefficients of DNA solutions in the concentration range of 0-0.3 ng μl(-1). For both DNA types, the absorption coefficients decreased with increasing DNA concentrations. The average change in absorption coefficients compared to buffer within the frequency range of 0.8-1.0 THz showed a linear behavior. Our results demonstrate that THz-TDS can detect PCR amplified DNA in aqueous solution with a minimum concentration of 0.1 ng μl(-1) and a minimum sample volume of 10 μl.     

Far-infrared characteristics of ZnS nanoparticles measured by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

The optical and dielectric properties of ZnS nanoparticles are studied by use of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) over the frequency range from 0.3 to 3.0 THz. The effective medium approach combined with the pseudo-harmonic model of the dielectric response, where nanoparticles are embedded in the host medium, provides a good fit on the experimental results. The extrapolation of the measured data indicates that the absorption is dominated by the transverse optical mode localized at 11.6+/-0.2 THz. Meanwhile, the low-frequency phonon resonance of ZnS nanoparticles is compared with the single-crystal ZnS. The THz-TDS clearly reveals the remarkable distinction in the low-frequency phonon resonances between ZnS nanoparticles and single-crystal ZnS. The results demonstrate that the acoustic phonons become confined in small-size nanoparticles.     

High-resolution waveguide terahertz spectroscopy of partially oriented organic polycrystalline films

We have characterized the terahertz (THz) vibrational spectroscopy of organic polycrystalline thin films using the new experimental technique of waveguide terahertz time domain spectroscopy (waveguide THz-TDS). The organic materials used in this study are tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and 1,3-dicyanobenzene (13DCB). For each material, a thin film is cast onto one of the inner surfaces of a metal parallel plate waveguide (PPWG), followed by measurement of the low-frequency vibrational spectrum using waveguide THz-TDS. The vibrational spectra of the waveguide films are compared to corresponding vibrational spectra of standard pellet samples made by dispersing the organic solid in transparent polyethylene. We show how the waveguide films produce significantly narrower THz vibrational line shapes and reveal additional spectral lines that are obscured by inhomogeneous broadening effects in the pellet samples. When TCNQ waveguide films are cooled to 77 K, vibrational line widths as sharp as 25-30 gigahertz (0.83-1.0 cm(-1)) at the full width at half-maximum are observed, which are among the narrowest far-infrared line widths measured for this material. The origin of the line-narrowing effect for the waveguide films is the suppression of inhomogeneous broadening due to the planar ordering of the film on the waveguide surface. The TCNQ waveguide films are further characterized using optical microscopic evaluation to understand how film morphology affects the THz vibrational spectrum. X-ray diffraction is used to determine the orientation of the polycrystalline TCNQ films on the PPWG surface and to qualitatively explain the different vibrational line strengths observed for the ordered waveguide film relative to the random pellet.     

L-和DL-福多司坦的太赫兹光谱分析

利用太赫兹时域光谱技术(THz-TDS)在室温下对L-福多司坦和DL-福多司坦进行测量,发现L-和DL-福多司坦在THz波段都有特征吸收峰,且两者的吸收谱有明显差异.运用密度泛函理论的B3LYP方法计算了L-和DL-福多司坦在太赫兹波段的吸收谱,并对L-和DL-福多司坦的特征吸收峰进行了指认,理论计算与实验结果基本吻合.此外,还对福多司坦胶囊成品药进行了测量,发现该胶囊的吸收谱与L-福多司坦非常吻合,证明胶囊药的主要成分为L-福多司坦.这项研究对手性物质的检测以及化合物有效成分的鉴别有一定的参考作用.     

Dielectric properties of conducting polyaniline films by THz time-domain spectroscopy

The dielectric function of composite polyaniline (PANI)/polyurethane (PU) is studied in the terahertz range. Different free-standing films of composite PANI-CSA/PU with different PANI concentrations are measured by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). The Fourier transmission spectrum, the permittivity and conductivity are then precisely obtained between 0.1 and 4 THz. The behaviour of the dielectric function does not follow Drude theory and the extracted data are well fitted by Jonscher’s universal dielectric response. Furthermore, the percolation threshold is also deduced from the insulating to conducting transition extracted for several doping level at very high frequency.     

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy of some pentoses

1 Introduction Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) is a new spectral technique based on femto-second laser technology developed since the 1980s[1]. Terahertz (THz) waves lie between the infrared and microwave bands in the electromagnetic spectrum covering the frequency range from 100 GHz to 10 THz. Despite great scientific interest, the THz frequency range re- mains one of the least tapped regions of the electro- magnetic spectrum because there are neither conven- ient high-power…