Infrared microspectroscopy and imaging

Infrared (IR) microspectroscopy allows chemical information to be obtained, with high spatial resolution, from a wide range of materials. With synchrotron radiation as the source of infrared light, experiments can be run at higher spatial resolution and in a shorter time than is otherwise practical.

Beamline 11.1 has recently been commissioned as a facility dedicated to synchrotron infrared microscopectroscopy. The high degree of collimation of the synchrotron IR results in an un-apertured focus at the sample stage of 7 microns x 7 microns. By stepping the sample through this focus, 2D chemical "maps" of the sample are generated, allowing features such as subcellular organelles to be resolved.

This beamline has applications in clinical studies, biomaterials, solid-state chemistry, environmental science and archaeology.

Future developments planned for this facility include increasing the data collection speed and the use of near-field sensing techniques to push the spatial resolution beyond the diffraction limit.

station 11.1