Shimadzu FTIR Talk letter - Vol. 35

Importance of the topic

Advanced spectroscopic methods such as FTIR, UV-VIS, GC-MS and LC-MS play critical roles in energy storage research, rapid reaction kinetics, environmental microplastic monitoring and pharmaceutical quality control. Their ability to deliver accurate, rapid and in-situ analysis drives innovation and ensures compliance with regulatory standards.

Objectives and overview of the study/article

The text comprises four application studies covering:

• In-glovebox FTIR analysis of moisture- and oxygen-sensitive lithium-ion battery electrolytes.
• High-speed rapid-scan FTIR for real-time monitoring of UV-curing polymerization.
• FTIR and FTIR microscopy methods for identification and mapping of microplastics in environmental and biological samples.
• Pharmacopoeial confirmation and purity testing of disinfectant-grade ethanol using UV-VIS, FTIR and GC methods.

Methods and instrumentation used

• Compact FTIR spectrometer inside an argon glovebox (dew point −70 °C, O₂ < 0.3 ppm) with ATR and transmission cells.
• IRTracer-100 with rapid scan (20 spectra/s), MCT detector, specular and ATR reflectance attachments with UV irradiation accessories.
• FTIR microscope system (AIM-9000) for ATR and transmission mapping of particles 10–100 µm; UV-VIS spectrophotometer (UV-1900i); particle imaging analyzers; GC-MS and LC-MS for trace adsorbates.
• UV-VIS, FTIR (IRSpirit™) and Nexis™ GC-2030 methods meeting JP/USP/EP pharmacopeial standards.

Main results and discussion

• Battery electrolytes measured in an argon glovebox show spectra comparable to atmospheric measurements but without water-related absorption at 3400–3700 cm⁻¹; careful handling prevents solvent vapor interference.
• Rapid scan FTIR achieved 50 ms temporal resolution, capturing acrylate resin conversion kinetics under UV irradiation synchronized via external triggers.
• Microplastic ATR-FTIR identified polymers (PE, PP, PA, PMMA) and fillers in marine debris; IR microscopy mapped polymer and additive distribution in particles from arctic cod and deep-sea shrimp.
• Pharmacopeial tests on disinfectant ethanol confirmed identity, titre, water and impurity levels in compliance with JP, USP and EP protocols.

Benefits and practical applications of the method

• Allows precise characterization of air-sensitive battery materials for R&D and QA/QC without exposure artifacts.
• Delivers millisecond-resolution monitoring of fast chemical transformations in polymer science and reaction engineering.
• Enables reliable identification, quantification and spatial mapping of microplastics to support environmental monitoring and regulatory enforcement.
• Ensures pharmaceutical ethanol safety and efficacy by meeting stringent pharmacopeial quality standards.

Future trends and potential applications

Advances in portable glovebox-compatible spectroscopy, AI-driven spectral interpretation, faster detectors, automated microplastic sorting, in-field water and air quality monitors, and integrated multimodal platforms combining FTIR, Raman and MS will expand the reach and efficiency of analytical workflows.

Conclusion

The collection of studies demonstrates FTIR and complementary techniques’ versatility across energy, environmental, polymer and pharmaceutical sectors. From inert-atmosphere electrolyte analysis to high-speed reaction tracking and microplastic mapping, these methods deliver robust, reproducible data. Continued instrumentation innovation and methodological refinement will broaden applications, enhance sensitivity, and streamline R&D, monitoring and quality assurance processes.

References

1. N. B. Colthup, L. H. Daly and S. E. Wiberley, Introduction to Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy, 3rd ed., Academic Press, 1990.
2. P. R. Griffiths and J. A. de Haseth, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Wiley, 2007.
3. T. Itoh, “In Situ Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Electrochemical Reactions,” Electrochemistry, 87(Spring), 2019, pp. 43–56.
4. M. Morita, “Research of Solvation Structures by Raman Spectroscopy,” Electrochemistry, 81(12), 2013, pp. 991–994.
5. Shimadzu Application News Nos. A586, A589, A605.