Fundamentals of Fourier transform spectroscopy
Comprehensive review of theories, data handling, systems, and calibration in Fourier transform spectroscopy
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Comprehensive review of theories, data handling, systems, and calibration in Fourier transform spectroscopy
Fourier-transform spectroscopy using holographic imaging without computing and with stationary interferometers
Resolution and noise in Fourier transform spectrometer, considering mechanical limitations and diffraction effects
This work presents a theoretical framework for the propagation of partially coherent Gaussian radiation in a modified Mach–Zehnder interferometer designed for Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTS) applications. Using the Wigner function formalism, we analytically propagate the radiation through the system and benchmark our approach by comparing the resulting interference pattern and interferogram with previous works in the diffraction limit. Our analysis reveals that the transverse coherence length requirement of the incident light field for detectable modulation is less stringent than previously assumed. Additionally, we provide theoretical demonstrations of FTS performance across various wavelengths using the proposed setup. These findings underscore the potential of this interferometer to achieve high-resolution FTS in the soft X-ray regime.
Protonic ceramic cells (PCCs) have emerged as a promising technology for power generation, energy storage, and value-added chemical synthesis, offering benefits such as fuel flexibility, low emissions, and efficient operation at intermediate temperatures (300–600 °C). Recently, significant breakthroughs in materials and manufacturing methods have markedly enhanced the performance of PCCs. However, establishing a fundamental understanding of their electrocatalytic reactions has gained less attention. As a fast and cost-effective method for physicochemical fingerprinting, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) has proven to be a surface-sensitive analytical tool for structural and functional studies. This review critically examines the most up-to-date applications of DRIFTS for characterizing key components of PCCs, including oxygen electrodes, protonic electrolytes, and hydrogen electrodes for different applications, with a focus on revealing hydration properties and catalytic reactions, and guiding rational material design. The challenges for advancing DRIFTS, including quantitative capabilities and operando applications for PCC investigations, are highlighted and strategies to tackle these challenges are discussed. Ultimately, this review underscores the critical role of DRIFTS in accelerating the development of high-performance and durable PCCs for next-generation energy solutions, offering methodologies and insights broadly applicable to a wide range of electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies.
Proton exchange kinetics plays an important role in governing the performance of intermediate-temperature protonic ceramic electrolysis cells (PCECs) for hydrogen production. Our understanding of the nature of the surface hydration reaction at the single-cell level, however, remains very limited, hampering further efficiency improvements. Here, in this study, we developed a custom operando diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) platform that operates under high temperature and steam conditions with applied bias. Quantitative investigations of surface H 2 O/D 2 O isotope exchange in a BaZr 0.1 Ce 0.7 Y 0.1 Yb 0.1 O 3−δ (BZCYYb1711) protonic electrolyte-based single cell were conducted under different applied voltages using this DRIFTS platform, to gain molecular-level insight into hydration kinetics. The findings show that the application of an external voltage significantly enhances the surface proton exchange rate, decreasing the apparent activation energy from 29.1 kJ mol −1 at open-circuit voltage (OCV) to 6.8 kJ mol −1 at 1.3 V. In addition, distinct voltage-induced spectral shifts in O–D vibrations point to dynamic changes in surface hydration. These findings demonstrate a sensitive spectroscopic platform for probing interfacial proton processes and reveal strong electrochemical control over surface proton kinetics, offering new opportunities for probing electrolyte hydration behavior in PCECs.
Fast Fourier transform used to solve interferogram integral obtained in Fourier spectroscopy
This dataset supports a publication, "Surface Protected Organozirconium Catalyzes C–H Alumination of Saturated Hydrocarbons", and describes the surface-organozirconium catalyzed exchange of ethyl group in AlEt3 for dodecyl or methyl from dodecane or methane. The research describes the benefits of capping remaining surface OH with SiMe3 for improving yields and turnovers. The dataset includes characterization of the precatalyst using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), as well as gas chromatography and solution NMR of reaction products.
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption spectroscopy, ultrafast two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that, in iongels composed of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethyl\-sulfonyl)imide ([C 2 C 1 Im][Tf 2 N]}) and cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate (cl-PEGDA), imidazolium cations solvate PEGDA chains in tight and loose complexes. H/D isotope substitution at the 2-position of the imidazolium ring simplifies the CH-stretching vibrational bands. Tight complexes are characterized by stronger, directional hydrogen bonding interactions between the 2-position of the imidazolium ring and the ethereal oxygens. The loose complexes resemble bulk ionic liquid (IL) non-specifically perturbed by the PEGDA chains.
This dataset supports a publication, "Trimethylaluminum Activates Zeolite-Confined Lanthanum Borohydrides to Enhance Catalytic C–H Borylation", in the Journal of the American Chemical Society which describes the lanthanum borohydride catalyzed reaction of pinacolborane and aromatic, heteroaromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. The chemical affects of AlMe3 treatment on the precatalyst are explored in detail. The dataset includes characterization of the precatalyst using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray adsorption spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and density functional theory.
Original data of whole-soil warming experiment after 9.5 years at Blodgett Forest Research Station. The Blodgett Forest is a mixed coniferous temperate forest with Mediterranean climate. The annual air temperature is 12.5℃ and the annual precipitation is 1774 mm yr-1- The soil is mesic ultic Alfisol of granitic origin, equivalent to Dystric Cambisol according to The World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) system. The soil is warmed down to 1 m at + 4℃ by vertically installed heating cables. At the time of soil sampling on 1 May 2023, the whole-soil warming experiment had been running for approximately 9.5 years, from January 2014 to May 2023. The dataset includes: - Bulk_EA: C, N content, δ13C, and CN ratio of bulk soil; - Density_fractionation: organic carbon concentration, δ13C, and C/N ratio of free light fraction (fLF), occluded ligh fraction (oLF), and heavy fraction (HF); - PCA_DRIFT_AUC: original data of area under the curve (AUC) values of eight carbon bond types integrated on diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy for each soil sample and soil fraction, which are consequently used for principal component analysis (PCA); - DRIFTS_stability_index: the calculation of aliphatic C–H (3000–2800 cm-1) to aromatic C=C (1670–1600 cm-1) ratios for each bulk soil sample and soil fraction. All data are provided in CSV format and can be viewed using Microsoft Excel.
Denitrification using Pd-based catalysts converts N-oxyanions into harmless products. However, the metal cost and scarcity are barriers to application. In this work, we synthesize water-suspended, structure-controlled Ni-core/Pd-shell nanoparticles (Ni@Pd NPs) that show Pd-catalyzed nitrite (NO 2 − ) reduction catalysis promoted by Ni. The NPs immobilized on Al 2 O 3 (0.47 wt % Pd and 0.74 wt % Ni) have higher NH 4 + selectivity and higher catalytic activity than wet-impregnated Pd/Al 2 O 3 (1.0 wt % Pd), i.e., 315.4 vs. 132.1 Lg surface Pd −1 min −1 . X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and CO-diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (CO-DRIFTS) analyses show that Ni increases Pd electron density, which is proposed to lower the bond dissociation energy barrier for nitric oxide surface intermediate. Low-coordinated Pd atoms correlate to high activity and low NH 4 + selectivity. Using CatCost software, we estimate Ni@Pd/Al 2 O 3 to have a ∼40% lower manufacturing cost compared to wet-impregnated Pd/Al 2 O 3 . This rationally designed catalyst illustrates how nickel promotes Pd catalysis and how Pd usage can be lowered for denitrification and other hydrogenation reactions.
High-entropy oxides (HEOs), as a subclass of high-entropy materials (HEMs), offer a versatile platform for catalysis by leveraging entropy-stabilized solid solutions with tunable compositions, lattice structures, and electronic properties. While exsolution–dissolution of metal species in crystalline HEOs has emerged as a promising strategy for reversible active sites regeneration, the dynamic behaviour of HEOs possessing amorphous nature remains under-explored, particularly the difference with crystalline counterparts. In this work, we systematically investigate the architecture-dependent exsolution–dissolution behavior of HEOs by comparing a crystalline-phase HEO (c-HEO) and an amorphous-phase HEO (a-HEO), both comprising Ni, Mg, Cu, Zn, and Co as principal metal elements. Using a combination of in situ variable-temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron microscopy, and in situ CO diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (CO-DRIFTS), the structural evolution of the two HEO phases under redox conditions was elucidated. Both materials exhibit reversible exsolution of metallic species or alloys in reducing environments, followed by re-incorporation into the host lattice upon oxidation. Remarkably, the a-HEO demonstrates more facile and dynamic self-healing behavior, with alloy exsolution and dissolution occurring under milder conditions because of its enhanced reducibility and structural disorder. This study provides critical insights into the design of next-generation regenerable catalysts based on amorphous HEOs, highlighting the role of phase structure in governing reversible metal-site formation dynamics and catalytic performance.
Paleosols form when soils are buried through deposition by aeolian, colluvial, alluvial or other processes. Burial of former topsoil isolates soil organic matter (SOM) from surface conditions, allowing carbon to accumulate and potentially remain stable for millennia. In this study, SOM composition, distribution, and persistence were analyzed in the Brady Soil of Nebraska, USA to compare SOM spatial variability in modern and buried soils, as well as the impact of erosional exposure on SOM stability. The Brady Soil, formed as a surface soil during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition and now a paleosol buried up to 6 m deep (or more) by loess deposition during the Holocene, was sampled along burial (up to 5.8 m depth) and erosional (up to 1.8 m depth) transects to compare SOM dynamics in different geomorphic settings. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Fourier Transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) were used to analyze SOM composition, while δ 13 C isotope analyses identified SOM sources and radiocarbon values were used to estimate turnover rates. Results confirmed a vegetation shift from C3 to C4 plants after Brady Soil formation, reflecting warming climatic conditions. Increasing SOM age and decreasing δ 13 C and δ 15 N values with depth indicated slowing of decomposition rate in buried soils. Higher pH in the Brady Soil suggested greater base cation content, supporting SOM stabilization through organo-mineral associations and aggregate formation. However, exposure of the Brady Soil due to surface erosion caused faster SOM turnover. This result suggested susceptibility of buried SOM to losses via decomposition upon erosional exposure, possibly accelerated by priming in response to modern SOM inputs. These findings highlight the potential loss of carbon stocks in buried soils under future climate change, as shifts in soil physicochemical properties may destabilize long-preserved SOM.
The performance of Ru/CeO 2 catalysts under CO 2 hydrogenation conditions was studied using in situ X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) to understand the structural evolution and chemical nature of each component under reaction conditions. The catalysts were prepared using a reverse microemulsion method that maximized the dispersion of RuOx particles on ceria. A RuO x → Ru transformation was observed upon exposure of the RuO x /CeO 2 systems to H 2 at 250 °C. For a sample with 5% molar Ru, two-dimensional clusters (2-4 atoms) of Ru formed on top of the ceria support. An increase in the loading of ruthenium to 20% molar led to the formation of nanoplates of the metal 2-3 atomic layers thick. Both Ru structures were highly dispersed on ceria. They were oxidized after exposure to CO 2 at 250 °C. However, under CO 2 /H 2 mixture, they remained in a metallic state as two-dimensional clusters and nanoplates. In situ DRIFTS studies, the 5% and 20% Ru/CeO 2 catalysts showed distinct reaction intermediates when exposed to CO 2 or CO 2 /H 2 (1/4) reaction mixtures. Normalized to the Ru molar percentage, the 5% Ru/CeO 2 system was the most active catalyst exhibiting a selectivity of ~ 60% CH 4 and 40% CO at 250 °C. On the other hand, under the same reaction conditions, the 20% Ru/CeO 2 system was less active but had a CH 4 selectivity close to 80%. In conclusion, these results highlight the importance of the structure of the metallic Ru particles as a factor that determines the catalytic performance.
Fuel retention in dust accumulated in fusion devices is a potential operational hazard. Boronization is one of the leading wall-conditioning candidates for future fusion devices. Fuel retention characteristics of boron dust must be studied to accurately understand the potential hazards of boron dust in fusion devices. We evaluated the retention of deuterium (D) in commercially available boron powder as a proxy for tritium retention in boron dust. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy revealed that boron powder between 300 and 500 K exposed to neutral hydrogen (H 2 ) gas retains H via B-H bonding. We utilized D 2 exposures of 17,400 L on the boron powder, which led to retention on the order of 0.5 g D per 100 kg B or 1.2 g D per m 2 B, as estimated from temperature programmed desorption measurements. We evaluated how powder bakeouts under ultra-high vacuum (UHV), or in an oxygen (O 2 ) or H 2 gas backfilled environment can remove the retained fuel. Bakeouts below 523 K under UHV exhibited poor D removal, promoting recapture of D 2 present as background gas in the chamber. Higher temperature bakeouts led to the removal of over 80% of the retained D within 3 days (623 K) or 1 h (723 K). Bakeouts at 423 K under an O 2 gas environment removed ∼150% more retained D from the boron powder, when compared to bakeouts conducted under UHV. These results suggest that efficient fuel removal from boron dust can be achieved by high-temperature bakeout (>623 K) or by bakeouts at lower temperature (423 K) under an O 2 environment.
This study investigates the solvation structures and dynamics of bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI – )-based aqueous electrolytes, focusing on Fe(TFSI) 2 and Fe(TFSI) 3 . Using advanced characterization techniques, including small-angle X-ray scattering, molecular dynamics simulations, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance, we elucidate how the electrolyte concentration influences ion association, solvation structures, and transport properties. Furthermore, our findings show that higher electrolyte concentrations promote the formation of contact ion pairs and anion networks, leading to reduced ion mobility and altered hydrogen-bonding dynamics. These insights provide a deeper understanding of solvation phenomena in TFSI-based electrolytes and contribute to the development of efficient and environmentally friendly iron electrodeposition processes.
Promoters play a critical role in tuning the activity and selectivity of Fe catalysts in CO 2 hydrogenation to produce light olefins, which are key building blocks in the petrochemical industry. Herein, by a combined experimental and theoretical approach, we show that high and stable performance of Fe catalysts could be achieved by taking advantage of the promotional effect of both Zn and Zr. Structural characterization indicates that ZnO could improve the dispersion and reducibility of Fe oxides and facilitate the formation of active Fe carbide species, whereas ZrO 2 could stabilize the structure and catalytic performance, especially the selectivity of hydrocarbon products. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) experiments suggest that carbonate, bicarbonate, formate, and methoxy are essential intermediates in the CO 2 hydrogenation to hydrocarbon products, including paraffins and olefins. The conversion kinetics of each intermediate species are dependent on the type of promoters as well as the phase structure of the active Fe species. DFT calculations revealed a strong correlation between the formation energy of surface oxygen vacancies and that of Fe carbide species in promoted Fe oxides, in accordance with experimental results. Moreover, the calculated energy profiles of CO 2 hydrogenation over different catalysts indicate that Zn could promote the activation of CO 2 and its transformation to the oxygenate intermediates, while Zr could facilitate the conversion of oxygenates to hydrocarbon precursors. Finally, the discrepancies in the evolution trend of various intermediate species on promoted Fe catalysts in the transient DRIFTS experiments can be rationalized by the differences in energy barriers of elementary or rate limiting steps.