Shimadzu FTIR talk letter Vol. 37

Significance of the Topic

Mixed oxide catalysts combining acid–base and redox functions present opportunities for greener chemical processes using molecular oxygen. Infrared microscopy advances enable high-resolution material analysis down to micrometer scales, essential for contaminant identification and quality control. A dedicated IR spectral library of UV-damaged plastics improves the accuracy of identifying weathered polymer debris and microplastics. Ensuring FTIR instrument longevity and performance through spare-parts planning is vital for uninterrupted analytical workflows.

Objectives and Overview

Four studies address key challenges in analytical chemistry and spectroscopy:

• Design of high-performance heterogeneous catalysts based on crystalline mixed oxides and mechanistic studies using FTIR spectroscopy.
• Description of the optical and mechanical architecture of a high-sensitivity IR microscope (Shimadzu AIM-9000).
• Development and utility of a UV-damaged plastics IR spectral library to improve polymer identification under weathered conditions.
• Notification of the discontinuation of spare-parts supply for legacy Shimadzu FTIR-8000/IRPrestige-21 models and recommendations for upgrading.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Catalyst development: polymerized-complex and amino-acid–mediated synthesis of perovskite oxides (SrMnO3, BaFeO3-δ, BaRuO3) and CePO4 phosphate catalysts; FTIR monitoring of surface-adsorbed species (16O2/18O2, probe molecules).
• Infrared microscope: transmission/reflection light-path switching, reflective objective mirrors, ellipsoidal condenser mirrors, 1-μm-resolution XYZ stage, automatic aperture recognition, MCT detector cooled by liquid nitrogen, wide-field and microscope cameras.
• UV-damaged plastics library: accelerated weathering of 14 common polymers using super-accelerated UV testers (150 mW/cm2, up to 550 h), ATR-FTIR spectra collection of surface oxidation products (C=O, C–O, O–H bands).
• Maintenance planning: evaluation of spare-parts availability and risk mitigation through instrument upgrade to current FTIR models (IRTracer-100, IRAffinity-1S, IRSpirit).

Main Results and Discussion

• SrMnO3 catalyzes selective oxidation of benzylic and allylic alcohols by reversibly generating Mn-superoxo species; amino-acid–derived nanoparticles exhibit high surface areas and activity.
• Perovskite BaFeO3-δ and BaRuO3 enable O2-only oxidation of alkanes, aromatics, and sulfides under mild conditions.
• CePO4 acts as a uniform Lewis acid/weak base bifunctional catalyst for chemoselective acetalization of HMF and other carbonyls, as shown by pyridine, chloroform, acetone, and methanol FTIR probes.
• AIM-9000 IR microscope combines automated optical alignment, high-sensitivity MCT detection, and wide-field imaging to detect and analyze contaminants down to 10 μm.
• UV-damaged plastics display progressive IR spectral changes (development of C=O bands near 1,720 cm–1, C–O bands 1,300–1,000 cm–1, O–H bands ~3,400 cm–1), enabling identification of degraded PE, PP, PET, and microplastics.
• Discontinuation of spare parts for FTIR-8000/IRPrestige-21 models may interrupt critical analyses; upgrading ensures continued support and advanced features.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Rational design of mixed-oxide catalysts advances green chemistry by replacing harsh oxidants with molecular oxygen.
• Mechanistic insights from in situ FTIR guide catalyst optimization and structure–activity correlation.
• Enhanced IR microscope performance supports QA/QC in pharmaceuticals, food safety, materials research, and environmental monitoring.
• A specialized UV-damaged plastics library improves forensic analysis of foreign particles, microplastics research, and polymer weathering studies.
• Clear upgrade pathways safeguard laboratory throughput and instrument reliability.

Future Trends and Applications

Integration of computational materials design and nanostructuring to create tailored mixed-oxide catalysts for “dream reactions.”
Advances in IR microscopy automation, AI-driven spectral interpretation, and correlative imaging methods.
Expansion of degraded-plastic spectral libraries to cover chemical, thermal, and biological weathering for comprehensive polymer forensic tools.
Development of modular, remote-monitoring FTIR platforms with predictive maintenance and cloud-based data management.

Conclusion

This collection of studies underscores the synergy between advanced catalyst design, high-performance IR microscopy, and targeted spectral libraries in driving innovations across analytical chemistry. Together, they contribute to more sustainable catalysis, precise materials characterization, robust polymer identification under weathering, and strategic instrument lifecycle management.

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