Light-Induced Mid-Infrared Emission of Liquid Carbon Tetrachloride and Benzene

Abstract

Light-induced infrared emission spectroscopy (LIRES) is a novel technique that permits to receive high-quality spectra in the mid-infrared region. Low-intensity visible light connected to a highly sensitive FTIR spectrometer is more advantageous for studying any samples, including biological samples without any damage. This technique permits obtaining unique information on the molecule structure via vibrational excitation fundamental frequencies, overtones, and combination modes. It also enables a direct observation of vibrational radiation transitions in vibrationally excited molecules as well as the channels of vibration energy redistribution, which is not allowed with any other method. In this work, the LIRES is being tested as a technique for studying of vibrationally-excited molecules of carbon tetrachloride and benzene in the liquid phase. On the other hand, using transparent liquids, we had tried to understand some of the physical phenomena that can drive emission in mid-IR. The characteristics of the infrared emission of both liquid species produced by different wavelength radiation from various types of light systems (100 - watt Xe-lamp and Nd:YAG laser; lambda = 1064 nm (8 mW) and lambda = 532 nm (4 mW)) are presented. We demonstrated that the IR-signal, as well as spectral properties of carbon tetrachloride and benzene, was dependent on the wavelength and power of excitation beam. Results obtained with different light sources show that the visible light produces a nonlinear IR-emission signal in transparent liquids. We believe that the visible light is the source of the nonlinear response and is producing the vibration excitation as well as photostimulated transformations of the molecules possessing the high activity for the nonlinear response.