Light-induced reactions

Photo-induced and -catalyzed reactions play a key role in a wide range of applications from clean energy (CO2 reduction) to physiology (protein dynamics, Vitamin D synthesis).

Mid-infrared spectroscopy is well suited for studying these processes due to the high sensitivity and specificity without labeling. When the starting time of the reaction is well defined, e.g. by a short light pulse, the reactions can be well resolved by difference spectroscopy.

Achieving high signal-to-noise ratios at short time scales from microseconds to sub-second is key. Yet this is not achieved with regular FTIR spectroscopy, due to the limited brightness of the globar light source as well as the time required for mechanical movement of the interferometer mirror.

The IRis-F1 spectrometer allows the observation of a chemical band with microsecond time resolution with high signal quality due to the high brightness of the broadband laser source and the simultaneous detection of all laser modes.

The underlying technique of dual-comb spectroscopy is increasingly successful in a range of applications. For the first time, it is made available as an integrated turn-key system by IRsweep.