title: Shining new light on old principles: localization of evanescent field interactions at infrared-attenuated total reflection sensing interfaces.
abstract: A combined experimental and spectral ray tracing approach for identifying and evaluating evanescent field interactions with discrete surface deposits along a horizontal attenuated total reflection (HATR) element is presented. By experimentally depositing poly(styrene-co-butadiene) (PSCB) residues at fixed intervals along the measurement surface of a HATR crystal, distinct regions of evanescent field interaction with the surface deposits along the multi-reflection waveguide are visualized via infrared absorption features of PSCB. The infrared-attenuated total reflection (IR-ATR) measurements were confirmed by spectral ray tracing analysis simulating transmission-absorption spectra after modeling the polymeric surface deposits as thin-film IR absorbing cylinders. The presented analytical procedures and simulations provide a generic strategy for identifying and evaluating "active" sensing regions along ATR elements. Additionally, the simulated ATR setup along with the presented spectral ray tracing procedures provide a virtual platform aiding the development, optimization, and integration of deep-sea IR-ATR sensor probes with submersible mid-infrared spectrometers for in situ marine monitoring applications, which was the initial motivation for these studies.
authors.affiliation: Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Applied Sensors Laboratory, Boggs Chemistry Building, 770 State Street, Atlanta, GA 30332-0400, USA.
authors.forename: Gary T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Dobbs
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mizaikoff
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000379:methods*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D011137:Polystyrenes