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.