Laboratory for Vibrational Spectroscopy and Chemical Imaging

The development, adaptation, and application of vibrational spectroscopy and chemical imaging methods based on matrix isolation Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in various modes (transmission, frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) in the macro- or the micro-variation) allowed to obtain a significant number of completely original scientific results in the following areas:

• The in situ investigation of the processes of the formation of catalysts, adsorbents, and other functional materials as well as the change of their structure and properties in practically important catalytic processes;

• The in situ/operando study of catalytic reactions;

• The research of physico-chemical processes (dissolution, adsorption, aggregation, solvation etc.) and chemical (catalytic) transformations in multi-component systems in the setting of inter-phase transport, including in flow-through conditions;

In particular, by means of in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, we have studied the mechanism of ethanol oxidation in the presence of high-dispersion vanadium−cerium oxide catalysts in various modes of implementation of the process, including the presence of of oxygen in the gas phase; using Raman scattering spectroscopy, we have studied the state of the active component of Cr-Al catalysts used for C₃-C₄ olefin dehydration; using in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, we have studied features of the interaction of catalyst poisons with the surfaces of Ni-containing catalysts to develop a method for sensitive detection of the number of catalytically active centres; IR spectroscopy has been used for the on-line quantitative express analysis of the heterogeneously catalysed reaction of hydrogen-free hydrogenation of sulfate turpentine with isopropanol in a flow reactor; using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, we have studied the process of selective absorption of light hydrocarbons (ethane, ethylene, acetylene etc.) in ionic liquids and their transport in the context of the inter-phase boundary; a chemical imaging of the processes of the interaction of super-critical CO₂ with various ionic liquids with a temporal resolution; using methods of polarisation modulation infrared vibrational spectroscopy, we have conducted a research of the processes of adsorption of methanol, ethanol, and acetonitrile on the surfaces of platinum catalysts; our researchers have developed a methodology for the joint use of photoluminescence spectroscopy and diffusion reflection infrared spectroscopy for the research of industrially important polymerisation catalysts.

Five postgraduates and two undergraduates are working at the Laboratory, two Candidates of Science have been trained.