EVERYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

FTIR (FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY)

PRINCIPLE
 The heart of every FTIR is an optical device called an interferometer.
 Oldest one is the Michelson interferometer
 Collimating mirror functions to collect the light from the IR source and make its rays parallel
 Beamsplitter is designed to transmit some of the light incident upon it and reflect some of the
light incident from it. The light from these mirrors reflect back into the beamsplitter, where they
interfere with each other and are combined into one light beam that leaves the interferometer
and interacts with the sample and the detector.
 “interfere” means that the amplitudes of those beams add together to form a single wave
 The movable mirror allows for a difference in the distance of the pathway of light.
 Functional groups are identified based on the zones they are located in and the range of wave
numbers in each zone
o Example:
 Zone 1 – 3700 to 3200 cm-1. Functional groups present: OH, terminal alkyne CH,
amine or amide NH
 Zone 2 – around 3000 cm-1. Functional groups present: alkane CH, carboxylic OH
 Zone 3 – 2300 – 2100. Functional groups include alkyne triple bonds and nitrile
triple bonds
 Zone 4 – carbonyl double bonds (C=O) [peaks are very strong and intense]
 Zone 5 – around 1600 – 1500. Functional groups present are alkene double
bonds and aromatic C-C bonds

GENERAL USES

• Unknown Analysis
• Determine what molecules are present in a sample
• Industrial tool for the structural and compositional analysis of organic, inorganic, or
polymeric samples
• Quality control of raw materials and commercial products
• Information gaine using FTIR difference spectroscopy of photosystems:
• Conformational changes - FTIR difference spectroscopy is very sensitive to conformational
changes in proteins
• Hydrogen bonding interactions of cofactors and redox intermediates
• Identification and properties of metal ligands
• Properties and role of water molecules - direct analysis of water molecules with active roles in
proton transfer or in catalysis in proteins
FTIR ADVANTAGES

1. Fellgett's advantage.
- This arises from the fact that information from all wavelengths is collected simultaneously. It
results in a higher signal-to-noise ratio for a given scan-time for observations limited by a
fixed detector noise contribution
- it allows a shorter scan-time for a given resolution. In practice multiple scans are often
averaged, increasing the signal-to-noise ratio by the square root of the number of scans.

2. Jacquinot's advantage.
- This results from the fact that in a dispersive instrument, the monochromator has entrance
and exit slits which restrict the amount of light that passes through it.
- For a given resolution and wavelength this circular aperture allows more light through than
a slit, resulting in a higher signal-to-noise ratio.

3. Wavelength Accuracy or Connes' advantage

- The wavelength scale is calibrated by a laser beam of known wavelength that passes
through the interferometer. This is much more stable and accurate than in dispersive
instruments where the scale depends on the mechanical movement of diffraction gratings
- In practice, the accuracy is limited by the divergence of the beam in the interferometer
which depends on the resolution.

4. Less sensitivity to stray light

- radiation of one wavelength appearing at another wavelength in the spectrum.
- FT instruments there is no direct equivalent as the apparent wavelength is determined by
the modulation frequency in the interferometer

DISADVANTAGES
1. Range and Specificity
– Molecules with low dipole moment (nitrogen and oxygen atoms) can’t be seen using
infrared microscopy
– Data produced is not as specific or detailed as other forms of microscopy due to
versatility
– Specificity limited due to overlapping or non-diagnostic bands

2. Handling Procedures
– Samples must be diluted
• Concentrated samples absorb too much of the infrared radiation
• Dilution with KBr in some cases makes samples unrecoverable

3. Maintenance and Cost

– High initial cost
– Spectrum degrades with equipment maladjustment
– Cleaning and maintenance can be difficult due to infrared transparent windows
USES IN RESEARCH

 FTIR is perhaps the most powerful tool for identifying the types of chemical bonds (functional
groups) present in compounds. The wavelength of light absorbed is characteristic of the
chemical bond as can be seen in the annotated spectrum. By interpreting the infrared
absorption spectrum, the chemical bonds in a molecule can be determined.
 FTIR spectroscopy allows for a direct observation of the appearance or disappearance of bands
that come from distinct vibrations of functional lipid groups, whose changes indicate a
formation of primary oxidation products.
 FTIR spectroscopy is suitable to distinguish between body fluids and various substances which
could be mistaken as body fluid. Additionally, this technique shows potential for identification of
body fluids that were deposited on substrates.

Note: this is just the compiled version of the information you’ve searched about FTIR. Please do look for
other resources that could give you additional information on this device. Horray!