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Optical Spectroscopy

Optical spectroscopy can be defined as the interaction of electromagnetic energy with matter. The nature of this interaction is dependent upon the energy of the incident radiation. The MCL owns instrumentation capable of analyses in both the infrared and the ultraviolet/visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

 

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR)

The infrared region includes radiation with wavelengths from about 0.8 to 1000 µm or wavenumbers from 12,500 cm-1 to 10 cm-1. The absorption of infrared radiation by individual chemical bonds and groups of bonds yields a spectrum useful for the discernment of molecular structure. Through the use of interchangeable optical components the MCL infrared spectrometers are capable of acquiring data from about 100 cm-1 to 12,000 cm-1.

 

See the FT-IR page for a complete description of instrumentation/capabilities

 

Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis)

Measurements in the ultraviolet/visible region cover wavelengths from about 190 nm to 780 nm. The absorption of ultraviolet or visible radiation by a molecule leads to transitions among the electronic energy levels of the molecule. The strength of UV-Vis lies in its ability to measure the extent of multiple bond or aromatic conjugation within molecules. The MCL UV-Vis spectrometer has a spectral range of 200 nm to 800 nm.

 

See the UV-Vis page for a complete description of instrumentation/capabilities