Fundamentals and Applications of Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform (DRIFT) Spectroscopy

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is a powerful tool for the study of materials such as polymers and catalysts. The bulk or surface morphology of these materials is many times an important experimental parameter that can be altered by sample preparation methods used in the more common spectroscopic techniques. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy has been shown to be more sensitive to surface species than transmission measurements and to be an excellent in situ technique. The applications of DRIFT spectroscopy to the investigation of polymer surfaces and surface structures of both fibers and films are particularly germane to this symposium and are covered in this review. The foundations of the diffuse reflectance technique in the mid-infrared range are presented, and methods that have been used to obtain spectra for polymer powders, films, and fibers are outlined, as is the use of DRIFT spectroscopy for depth-profiling studies. The use of DRIFT spectroscopy for the investigation of catalytic processes is also reviewed.