Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging

Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging is a spectroscopic technique used to analyze sample down to approximately 5 microns in size. It is used to analyze both organic and inorganic materials for both qualitative and quantitative analysis and is complementary to EDS, ESCA and Auger analysis.

Introduction

Common laboratory FTIR spectrometers, equipped with an infrared microsampling accessory or ‘FTIR Microscope’, can collect the infrared spectrum of materials down to about 5 microns (um) across through using a single-point detector with high sensitivity. This generates a single infrared spectrum for interpretation and identification. FTIR imaging replaces the single point detector with an infrared detector matrix of 4,096 discrete elements. This enables collection of a set of 4,096 infrared spectra from a ~300 x ~300 um microscope viewing area. The resulting FTIR ‘hypercube’ of position/wavenumber/absorbance data can then be refined to better understand distribution of individual compounds in a heterogeneous matrix.