Infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) is widely employed for analyzing molecules on surfaces, especially water, with applications in atmospheric chemistry and food science. However, concerns exist about its surface-specificity, particularly when examining soluble surfactants in aqueous solutions.
Alexandra Deal, who currently works at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, explored the surface-specificity of IRRAS in soluble organic acids beneath monolayers of insoluble surfactants while she was a graduate research assistant at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She published her findings in Applied Spectroscopy (1). Spectroscopy spoke with Deal to learn more about her research and IRRAS as a technique.
Alexandra Deal of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | Photo Credit: © Alexandra Deal
In this video interview, Deal responds to the following questions:
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(1) Deal, A. M. Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy (IRRAS) of Water-Soluble Surfactants: Is it Surface-Specific? Appl. Spectrosc. 2023, ASAP. DOI: 10.1177/00037028231200903
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