Infrared reflectance as a tool to reveal preferential molecular orientation of polymers adsorbed onto flat substrates

FTIR-Reflectance experiments have been made on thin ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer layers deposited on aluminum mirrors in order to determine orientation of polymer functional groups at the interface. This was accomplished by using various reflection angles under p polarization state of the incident IR beam. Film thicknesses were estimated by ellipsometric experiments. Kramers-Kronig analysis is first applied to the external infrared reflection spectrum from a single copolymer surface measured near the normal incidence angle. Absorption spectra, k(v), are then deduced and used to calculate specular reflectance intensities of the functional groups of interest as a function of incidence angle, polarization state and film thickness. The calculated values are compared to those observed. A layer model is developed, which allows the molecular orientation of both EVA carbonyl groups and the main chain axis at the interface to be determined. Only carbonyl groups involved in specific electron donor-electron acceptor interactions at the interface appear to be subject to specific orientation. A persistence thickness of the preferential orientation in the film is determined, also from which it is concluded that even in nanofilms, preferential molecular orientation induced by an hydroxylated substrate does not persist throughout the film thickness. It is localized at a near interfacial region, the thickness of which depends on the ability of the comonomer to undergo conformational changes.     

Characterization of the surface hydrolysis of kevlar-49 fibers by diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy

A modified diffuse reflectance technique is used to characterize the surface hydrolysis of Kevlar-49 fibers. Treatment with 10 wt% NaOH solution produces carboxylate groups on the surface which increase rapidly up to treatment times of about 20 min at room temperature or 50 min in boiling solution. After this maximum the carboxylate groups decrease and then level out. This behavior can be explained by considering the increase as due to hydrolysis of the surface amide groups, competing with the decrease due to removal of the extensively hydrolyzed, fragmented molecules into the treatment solution. Our results shows that mild conditions (10 wt% NaOH and room temperature) as well as relatively small treatment times (less than 20 min) can be used for modifying the surface of the Kevlar-49 fiber without destroying the skin and thus deteriorating the mechanical properties of the fiber.     

A new approach for fluorine determination by solid sampling graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry

This work deals with the determination of fluorine by solid sampling graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry. The molecular absorbance of aluminum monofluoride (AlF), which is produced in the vapor phase in the presence of Al³⁺, is measured at 227.5 nm, a non-resonant platinum line. A conventional graphite furnace program has been used with pyrolysis and vaporization temperatures of 800 and 2300 °C, respectively. Solutions of Ba²⁺ and Al³⁺ have been used to avoid fluorine losses during the pyrolysis stage and to produce AlF in the vaporization stage, respectively. Certified coal and alumina samples were analyzed using aqueous standards for calibration. The agreement between the found concentration and the certified value, or the value obtained by another method ranged from 92 to 105%, with a relative standard deviation less than 8.5%. The limit of detection and the characteristic mass was 0.17 μg g^− 1 and 205 pg, respectively.     

Xylenol orange adsorbed on silica surface as a solid phase reagent for lead determination using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

The solid-phase reagents on the base of xylenol orange and its complex with Fe(III) immobilized on silica surface were obtained. The interaction of Pb(II) with developed reagents was studied. The conditions of quantitative recovery of Pb(II) from diluted solutions, such as acidity of aqueous phase, the amount of the sorbent, the volume of solutions and the time of equilibrium reaching, were examined. The tolerance limits of metal ions in the sorption of Pb(II) at pH 4.5-5.5 are reported. The capabilities of immobilized xylenol orange for Pb(II) pre-concentration prior to its diffusion reflectance spectroscopic detection was evaluated. The detection limit was 2 mug l(-1). The developed method was applied to Pb(II) determination in natural water and foodstuffs.     

A strategy for enhancing the quantitative determination ability of the diffuse reflectance near-infrared spectroscopy

Near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (NIRDRS) has been proved to be a convenient and fast quantitative method for complex samples. The high detection limit or the low sensitivity of the method, however, is a big problem obstructing its application in the analysis of low concentration samples. A strategy for quantitative determination of low concentration samples was developed by using NIRDRS. The method takes an adsorbent as a substrate for gathering the analytes from a solution, and uses the multivariate calibration technique for quantitative calculation. So, the detection limit can be improved and the interferences can be eliminated when complex samples are analyzed. Taking benzoic and sorbic acids as the analyzing targets and the alumina as the adsorbent, partial least squares (PLS) model is built from the NIRDRS of the adsorbates. The results show that the concentrations that can be quantitatively detected are as low as 0.011 and 0.013 mg mL(-1) for benzoic and sorbic acids, respectively, and the co-adsorbates do not interfere each other.     

A new approach to the determination of the statistical segment length of wormlike polymers

The Stockmayer-Fixman-Burchard (SFB) and the Dondos-Benoit (DB) equations have been applied to determine the unperturbed dimensions parameterK of wormlike polymers. An empirical relation between the Flory's constant and the Mark-Houwink-Sakurada (MHS) exponenta has been proposed. The values found by this equation are lower than the value 2.5×10²³ used in the case of flexible polymers and this deviation is attributed to the influence of the draining effect. From theK value and the so calculated value of , we calculate the Kuhn statistical segment length of wormlike polymers. The obtained — for a great number of wormlike polymers — statistical segment lengths are almost the same as these calculated by the Yamakawa-Fujii and the Bohdanecky methods. The molecular mass regions in which the SFB, the DB, and the MHS equations are valid are explored. A criterion for the distinction between flexible and wormlike polymers is proposed based on the way of approach to the power law.     

Rapid determination of ions by combined solid-phase extraction--diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

We introduce colorimetric solid-phase extraction (C-SPE) for the rapid determination of selected ions. This new technique links the exhaustive concentration of an analyte by SPE onto a membrane disk surface for quantitative measurement with a hand-held diffuse reflectance spectrometer. The concentration/measurement procedure is complete in approximately 1 min and can be performed almost anywhere. This method has been used to monitor iodine and iodide in spacecraft water in the 0.1-5.0 ppm range and silver(I) in the range of 5.0-1000 microg/l. Applications to the trace analysis of copper(II), nickel(II), iron(III) and chromium(VI) are described. Studies on the mechanism of extraction showed that impregnation of the disk with a surfactant as well as a complexing reagent results in uptake of additional water, which markedly improves the extraction efficiency.     

Size and persistence length of molecular bottle-brushes by Monte Carlo simulations

Single-chain simulations of densely branched comb polymers, or "molecular bottle-brushes" with side-chains attached to every (or every second) backbone monomer, were carried out by off-lattice Monte Carlo technique. A coarse-grained model, described by hard spheres connected by harmonic springs, was employed. Backbone lengths of up to 100 units were considered, and compared with the corresponding linear chains. The backbone molecular size was investigated as a function of its length at fixed arm size, and as a function of the arm size at fixed backbone length. The apparent swelling exponents obtained by a power-law fit were found to be larger than those for the corresponding linear polymers, indicative of stiffening of the comb backbone. The probability distribution function for the backbone end-to-end distance was also investigated for different backbone lengths and arm sizes. Analysis of this function yielded the critical exponents, which revealed an increase in the swelling exponent consistent with values found from the molecular size. The apparent persistence length of the backbone was also determined, and was found to increase with increasing branching density. Finally, the static structure factors of the whole bottle-brushes and of their backbones are discussed, which provides another consistent estimate of the swelling exponents.     

Analysis of polymer films by diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy: Characterization of terminal carboxyl functionalities

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in the diffuse reflectance mode was used to study polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films. The polymer film (12 μm, molecular weight M₁ = 18,000) was placed on a finely powdered KBr matrix, used as a reference. Infrared spectra exhibited a new band at 1684 cm^?1, not usually reported in the literature. This band is assigned to the C? O stretching vibration of a terminal acidic function in the presence of internal hydrogen bonds. In the carbonyl region, artifacts created by specular reflection are also discussed. The assignment of the band at 1684 cm^?1 is confirmed by transmission measurements on the overtone of carbonyl group (3335 cm^?1), using polymer films with thicknesses greater than 200 μm and by comparison with polymer of different molecular weight. These acidic functions can be used to monitor the rate of polymerization. It is therefore possible to obtain information on the polymerization rate of PET films, using diffuse reflectance and transmission analysis, directly on the solid. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A characterization of the surface acidity of HfO2by FTIR spectroscopy of adsorbed species,electron microscopy and adsorption microcalorimetry

A preparation of HfO₂, derived from the hydrolysis of hafnium isopropylate, has been characterized by XRD, (HR)TEM, MR and adsorption microcalorimetry. The thermal destruction of the amorphous hafnium hydroxide starting phase is complete at ≈700 K, and leads to the crystalline (monoclinic) phase of HfO₂. The latter exhibits a particle morphology which, upon thermal treatment, evolves quickly from one of large and loose aggregates of tiny microcrystallites (microcrystalline HfO₂) to one made of large single crystallites or of large polyaggregates, in which relatively small ordered microcrystals stack together in a rather disordered fashion (partially sintered HfO₂). The evolving morphology of HfO₂ is monitored, on a microscopic surface scale, by a varying IR spectrum of surface OH groups and by a varying surface Lewis acidic activity (e.g. towards CO chemisorption), due to coordinatively unsaturated Hf⁴⁺ surface centres produced upon vacuum activation. CO uptake, both at ambient temperature and at low temperature (≈78 K), is mainly due to two families of adsorbing sites: sites in structurally and/or coordinatively highly defective configurations, onto which CO adsorbs with an adsorption enthalpy of ≈65 kJ mol⁻¹, and sites located in relatively extended patches of regular crystallographic planes, onto which CO adsorbs with an adsorption enthalpy of ≈50 kJ mol⁻¹. The relative population of the two families of adsorbing sites depends to some extent on the degree of sintering of the material, but it is observed that, unlike other similar systems, the early sintering process causes a rather limited destruction of the crystallographically/coordinatively defective configurations. Both families of adsorbed CO species exhibit a strong dependence of their spectral features on several parameters, among which of primary importance are the degree of surface hydration/dehydration and the surface concentration of charge withdrawing/releasing adsorbed species which, through surface inductive effects, affect the strength of the CO adsorption process.     

Whole-molecule approach for determining orientation at isotropic surfaces by nonlinear vibrational spectroscopy

Nonlinear vibrational spectroscopies such as visible-infrared sum-frequency spectroscopy may serve as powerful probes of interfacial structure. Obtaining quantitative orientation information, however, has been limited by the required knowledge of the corresponding molecular-level nonlinear optical properties. We provide a general scheme for calculating the vibrational hyperpolarizability of any infrared- and Raman-active mode, regardless of the molecular symmetry or complexity of the structure. Our method involves all atoms and therefore does not rely on making any local mode approximations. We show how this information is used together with experimental data to arrive at the tilt and twist angles of a surfactant headgroup at the air/water interface. Since our approach is completely general, it may be used for the analysis of any adsorbate at an isotropic interface.     

Use of FTIR spectroscopy coupled with ATR for the determination of atmospheric compounds

Attenuated total reflection Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) can be successfully used for the quantitative determination of small amounts of pollutants like the organic fraction of aerosols. The relation between sample concentration and reflectance is described by the Kubelka-Munk equation and was found to be linearly proportional to the absorption band of some functional group. Several parameters like the matter of solid matrix, the cleaning of the sampling support, the treatment of reflectance spectra and the base line correction considerably influenced the reflectance spectra and facilitated data interpretations. The feasibility of the ATR-FTIR was evaluated by the monitoring of specific organic group bands on filters collected in the French cities of Grenoble and Clermont-Ferrand. We have obtained for hydroxyl group a calibration curve by plotting the relative intensity of reflectance versus the concentration. The linearity was obtained for OH from 1 × 10⁻¹ to 1 × 10⁰ mol L⁻¹ with r² = 0.9959. We can consider that for a direct measurement of the intensity of reflectance, it is possible to perform quantitative ATR-FTIR organic group analysis.     

A new cryoscopic micro-method for the determination of molecular weights

A method is described for molecular weight determination based on a temperature-heat content curve About 2 mg of substance is required The method is applicable even when solute and solvent form mixed crystals. A wide variety of solvents may be used. The method may yield good results in the polymer field.The accuracy obtained is better than 1%. The new method appears to be more reliable and accurate than known cryobcopic methods     

Characterization of the molecular deformation behavior of glassy epoxy resins by rheo-optical FTIR spectroscopy

Rheo-optical FTIR spectroscopy was used for the first time to monitor molecular orientation phenomena in highly crosslinked epoxies. After studying the orientation behavior of epoxy/amine networks during uniaxial deformation above their glass transition temperature in a preceding article, this article deals with the rheo-optical characterization of the deformation process of those epoxy systems below T_g. The orientation behavior is influenced by the different molecular structure of the constituents and the free volume entrapped in the resins. Yield strain and tensile modulus are correlated with the slope of the orientation function. The orientation function was found to show an abrupt change of its slope in the yield point region. This phenomenon is discussed with respect to the mechanism of plastic deformation. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Determination of the molecular structure of diacetylene from high-resolution FTIR spectroscopy

The high-resolution infrared absorption spectra of eight²H or¹³C substituted isotopomers of diacetylene have been recorded, and the bands corresponding to thev ₄ fundamental andv ₆ combination of the major isotopomer have been analyzed using a Loomis-Wood-type program. Effective ground-state rotational constants have been obtained from ground-state combination differences. A number ofr ₀,r _s,r _m , and (r _m )_corr structures have been calculated from the available data and are compared to those obtained by ab initio methods. The (r _m )_corr structure, which is a reliable near-equilibrium structure of diacetylene, isr _C–H=106.131(13) pm;r _C–C=137.081(16) pm;r _C-C=120.964(14). (r _m )_corr structures of the related molecules cyanogen, cyanoacetylene, and cyanodiacetylene have been calculated, and near-equilibrium structures of triacetylene and dicyanoacetylene have been predicted.     

A new theoretical formula for the determination of the copolymer composition distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography

A new theoretical formula, used for the determination of the chemical composition distribution of copolymers, is proposed in this paper. The composition distribution of styrene in chlorinated butyl rubber/polystyrene comb graft copolymer was obtained by gel permeation chromatography utilising a combination of refractive index and ultraviolet detection. It is a more convenient and time-saving method for the characterization of the molecular structure parameters of a copolymer compared to the conventional experimental method.     

An approach by using near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and resin adsorption for the determination of copper, cobalt and nickel ions in dilute solution

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been proved to be a powerful analytical tool and used in various fields, it is seldom, however, used in the analysis of metal ions in solutions. A method for quantitative determination of metal ions in solution is developed by using resin adsorption and near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (NIRDRS). The method makes use of the resin adsorption for gathering the analytes from a dilute solution, and then NIRDRS of the adsorbate is measured. Because both the information of the metal ions and their interaction with the functional group of resin can be reflected in the spectrum, quantitative determination is achieved by using multivariate calibration technique. Taking copper (Cu²⁺), cobalt (Co²⁺) and nickel (Ni²⁺) as the analyzing targets and D401 resin as the adsorbent, partial least squares (PLS) model is built from the NIRDRS of the adsorbates. The results show that the concentrations that can be quantitatively detected are as low as 1.00, 1.98 and 1.00 mg L⁻¹ for Cu²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺, respectively, and the coexistent ions do not influence the determination.     

A practical high-throughput screening system for enantioselectivity by using FTIR spectroscopy

For the first time FTIR spectroscopy has been applied to the measurement of enantiomeric purity. The underlying concept is based on the use of pseudo-enantiomers that are (13)C-labeled at appropriate positions. Upon applying Lambert-Beer's law in the determination of the concentrations of both enantiomers, the ee values are accessible, accuracy to within +/-5 % of the true values being possible. The application of a commercially available high-throughput FTIR system results in a slightly decreased accuracy (+/-7% for the ee values), but this allows a throughput of up to 10000 samples per day. The method is of interest in the area of combinatorial symmetric catalysis and directed evolution of enantioselective enzymes.     

A simple and green analytical method for determination of glyphosate in commercial formulations and water by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

This article describes a simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly method for the monitoring of glyphosate using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The proposed method is based on reflectance measurements of the colored compound produced from the spot test reaction between glyphosate and p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (p-DAC) in acid medium, using a filter paper as solid support. Experimental designs were used to optimize the analytical conditions. All reflectance measurements were carried out at 495 nm. Under optimal conditions, the glyphosate calibration graphs obtained by plotting the optical density of the reflectance signal (AR) against the concentration were linear in the range 50-500 μg mL(-1), with a correlation coefficient of 0.9987. The limit of detection (LOD) for glyphosate was 7.28 μg mL(-1). The technique was successfully applied to the direct determination of glyphosate in commercial formulations, as well as in water samples (river water, pure water and mineral drinking water) after a previous clean-up or pre-concentration step. Recoveries were in the ranges 93.2-102.6% and 91.3-102.9% for the commercial formulations and water samples, respectively.