Abstract
This thesis covers several spectroscopic techniques and reports on the development of instrumentation for spectroscopic applications. A discrete frequency mid-infrared spectrometer is developed for the analysis of transient processes at a single wavelength at a time. The spectrometer is based on a commercially available quantum cascade laser and is tuneable over a broad wavenumber range. Different data acquisition approaches are compared and the spectrometer is used to study the cis-trans switching dynamics of stilbene in ethanol.
Subsequently, the spectrometer is reconfigured to study the swelling dynamics of a polymer brush in switching humidities. By sequentially analysing the transient swelling process at different wavelengths, an absorbance spectrum in time is built. The swelling dynamics are compared to a measurement of the same brush using spectroscopic ellipsometry.
A thin-layer electrochemical flow cell capable of working at high pressures is designed and built. The cell has a titanium counter electrode and a boron-doped diamond working electrode. The manufactured cell is characterized to see if it matches design criteria. The cell is used in a EC-HPLC-MS study of a red pigment, identifying its redox products. Chromatograms of several products are presented.
Finally, a flow cell with an integrated visible light waveguide sensor is developed. The waveguide sensor is supplied in chip form and several approaches to bonding the sensor to an electrode are presented. The final assembly of the flow cell from an electrode and a sensor chip works using patterned tape bonding, but has a relatively low success rate of assembly.
Subsequently, the spectrometer is reconfigured to study the swelling dynamics of a polymer brush in switching humidities. By sequentially analysing the transient swelling process at different wavelengths, an absorbance spectrum in time is built. The swelling dynamics are compared to a measurement of the same brush using spectroscopic ellipsometry.
A thin-layer electrochemical flow cell capable of working at high pressures is designed and built. The cell has a titanium counter electrode and a boron-doped diamond working electrode. The manufactured cell is characterized to see if it matches design criteria. The cell is used in a EC-HPLC-MS study of a red pigment, identifying its redox products. Chromatograms of several products are presented.
Finally, a flow cell with an integrated visible light waveguide sensor is developed. The waveguide sensor is supplied in chip form and several approaches to bonding the sensor to an electrode are presented. The final assembly of the flow cell from an electrode and a sensor chip works using patterned tape bonding, but has a relatively low success rate of assembly.
Original language | English |
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Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy |
Awarding Institution |
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Supervisors/Advisors |
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Award date | 19 Jul 2024 |
Place of Publication | Enschede |
Publisher | |
Print ISBNs | 978-90-365-6190-7 |
Electronic ISBNs | 978-90-365-6191-4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2024 |