Terahertz time-domain spectroscopic investigation on quinones

Well resolved far-infrared spectra of 1,4-benzoquinone, 1,4-naphthoquinone, and 9, 10-anthraquinonme in polycrystalline form have been measured with terahertz time domain spectroscopy at room tem- perature. The characterizations of power absorption and index of refraction in the frequency range 0.3 -2.0 THz are presented. Theoretical calculation is applied to assist the analysis and assignment of individual THz absorption spectra of the p-quinones with semiempirical AM1, Hartree-Fock (HF), and density functional theory (DFT) method. Observed THz responses are assigned to the translational and torsional vibrations of p-quinone dimer held together by weak hydrogen bonds.