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Title: Development of nanosecond time-resolved infrared detection at the LEAF pulse radiolysis facility

Journal Article · · Review of Scientific Instruments
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4918728· OSTI ID:22392463
; ; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Chemistry Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, P.O. Box 5000, Upton, New York 11973-5000 (United States)
  2. Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Dowling College, 1300 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, New York 11967 (United States)

When coupled with transient absorption spectroscopy, pulse radiolysis, which utilizes high-energy electron pulses from an accelerator, is a powerful tool for investigating the kinetics and thermodynamics of a wide range of radiation-induced redox and electron transfer processes. The majority of these investigations detect transient species in the UV, visible, or near-IR spectral regions. Unfortunately, the often-broad and featureless absorption bands in these regions can make the definitive identification of intermediates difficult. Time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy would offer much improved structural characterization, but has received only limited application in pulse radiolysis. In this paper, we describe in detail the development of a unique nanosecond time-resolved infrared (TRIR) detection capability for condensed-phase pulse radiolysis on a new beam line at the LEAF facility of Brookhaven National Laboratory. The system makes use of a suite of high-power, continuous wave external-cavity quantum cascade lasers as the IR probe source, with coverage from 2330 to 1051 cm{sup −1}. The response time of the TRIR detection setup is ∼40 ns, with a typical sensitivity of ∼100 μOD after 4-8 signal averages using a dual-beam probe/reference normalization detection scheme. This new detection method has enabled mechanistic investigations of a range of radiation-induced chemical processes, some of which are highlighted here.

OSTI ID:
22392463
Journal Information:
Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 86, Issue 4; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Cited By (3)