Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry

TLDR

Fourier transform infrared spectrometers provide high‑quality spectra in roughly a thousandth of the time of grating spectrometers, enabling applications in atmospheric monitoring, surface chemistry, chromatographic identification, and emerging biochemical and biomedical studies such as lipid phase transitions and implant polymer biocompatibility. The paper discusses the theory and instrumentation underlying Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Fourier transform infrared spectrometers achieve 10–100× higher sensitivity in equal measurement times, and commercial units are now offered by nine North American vendors.

Abstract

The theory and instrumentation for Fourier transform infrared spectrometry are discussed. These instruments measure infrared spectra of the same quality as spectra measured on grating spectrometers in about one thousandth of the time. Their sensitivity advantage for spectra measured in equal times is between a factor of 10 and 100. Commercial spectrometers are now available from nine vendors in North America. Important areas of chemistry include atmospheric monitoring, surface chemistry, and on-line identification of chromatographically separated materials. Many new biochemical and biomedical applications are also becoming apparent, including investigations of phase transitions in lipids and studies of the biocompatibility of implant polymers.