Observation of Solid–Liquid Phase Transitions of Brine Using the Far-Ultraviolet Charge-Transfer-to-Solvent Band

Although determining the chemical states of salts and ions is critical in numerous fields, such as elucidating biological functions and maintaining food quality, the current direct observation methods are insufficient. We propose a spectral analysis method of directly observing the phase transitions of NaCl solutions using the changes in the charge-transfer-to-solvent band and the absorption band representing the first electron transition (Ã ← X̃) of H2O. The intensities of these bands may be observed using attenuated total reflection far-ultraviolet spectroscopy. According to the well-known phase diagram of aqueous NaCl, we observe spectral changes during freezing–thawing and may spectroscopically detect the phase transitions from liquid to mixed liquid–solid and solid phases, including eutectic crystals, in addition to their coexistence curves

Observation of Solid–Liquid Phase Transitions of Brine Using the Far-Ultraviolet Charge-Transfer-to-Solvent Band

Although determining the chemical states of salts and ions is critical in numerous fields, such as elucidating biological functions and maintaining food quality, the current direct observation methods are insufficient. We propose a spectral analysis method of directly observing the phase transitions of NaCl solutions using the changes in the charge-transfer-to-solvent band and the absorption band representing the first electron transition (Ã ← X̃) of H2O. The intensities of these bands may be observed using attenuated total reflection far-ultraviolet spectroscopy. According to the well-known phase diagram of aqueous NaCl, we observe spectral changes during freezing–thawing and may spectroscopically detect the phase transitions from liquid to mixed liquid–solid and solid phases, including eutectic crystals, in addition to their coexistence curves

Observation of Solid–Liquid Phase Transitions of Brine Using the Far-Ultraviolet Charge-Transfer-to-Solvent Band

Although determining the chemical states of salts and ions is critical in numerous fields, such as elucidating biological functions and maintaining food quality, the current direct observation methods are insufficient. We propose a spectral analysis method of directly observing the phase transitions of NaCl solutions using the changes in the charge-transfer-to-solvent band and the absorption band representing the first electron transition (Ã ← X̃) of H2O. The intensities of these bands may be observed using attenuated total reflection far-ultraviolet spectroscopy. According to the well-known phase diagram of aqueous NaCl, we observe spectral changes during freezing–thawing and may spectroscopically detect the phase transitions from liquid to mixed liquid–solid and solid phases, including eutectic crystals, in addition to their coexistence curves

Observation of Solid–Liquid Phase Transitions of Brine Using the Far-Ultraviolet Charge-Transfer-to-Solvent Band

Although determining the chemical states of salts and ions is critical in numerous fields, such as elucidating biological functions and maintaining food quality, the current direct observation methods are insufficient. We propose a spectral analysis method of directly observing the phase transitions of NaCl solutions using the changes in the charge-transfer-to-solvent band and the absorption band representing the first electron transition (Ã ← X̃) of H2O. The intensities of these bands may be observed using attenuated total reflection far-ultraviolet spectroscopy. According to the well-known phase diagram of aqueous NaCl, we observe spectral changes during freezing–thawing and may spectroscopically detect the phase transitions from liquid to mixed liquid–solid and solid phases, including eutectic crystals, in addition to their coexistence curves

Observation of Solid–Liquid Phase Transitions of Brine Using the Far-Ultraviolet Charge-Transfer-to-Solvent Band

Although determining the chemical states of salts and ions is critical in numerous fields, such as elucidating biological functions and maintaining food quality, the current direct observation methods are insufficient. We propose a spectral analysis method of directly observing the phase transitions of NaCl solutions using the changes in the charge-transfer-to-solvent band and the absorption band representing the first electron transition (Ã ← X̃) of H2O. The intensities of these bands may be observed using attenuated total reflection far-ultraviolet spectroscopy. According to the well-known phase diagram of aqueous NaCl, we observe spectral changes during freezing–thawing and may spectroscopically detect the phase transitions from liquid to mixed liquid–solid and solid phases, including eutectic crystals, in addition to their coexistence curves

Observation of Solid–Liquid Phase Transitions of Brine Using the Far-Ultraviolet Charge-Transfer-to-Solvent Band

Although determining the chemical states of salts and ions is critical in numerous fields, such as elucidating biological functions and maintaining food quality, the current direct observation methods are insufficient. We propose a spectral analysis method of directly observing the phase transitions of NaCl solutions using the changes in the charge-transfer-to-solvent band and the absorption band representing the first electron transition (Ã ← X̃) of H2O. The intensities of these bands may be observed using attenuated total reflection far-ultraviolet spectroscopy. According to the well-known phase diagram of aqueous NaCl, we observe spectral changes during freezing–thawing and may spectroscopically detect the phase transitions from liquid to mixed liquid–solid and solid phases, including eutectic crystals, in addition to their coexistence curves

Surface Plasmon Resonance Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is ill-suited to microanalysis because of its low absorptivity. We have developed a highly sensitive detection method for NIR spectroscopy based on absorption-sensitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The newly named SPR−NIR spectroscopy, which may open the way for NIR spectroscopy in microanalysis and surface science, is realized by an attachment of the Kretschmann configuration equipped with a mechanism for fine angular adjustment of incident light. The angular sweep of incident light enables us to make a tuning of a SPR peak for an absorption band of sample medium. From the dependences of wavelength, incident angle, and thickness of a gold film on the intensity of the SPR peak, it has been found that the absorbance can be enhanced by ∼100 times compared with the absorbance obtained without the gold film under optimum conditions. This article reports the details of the experimental setup and the characteristics of absorption-sensitive SPR in the NIR region, together with some experimental results obtained by using it

Electronic Transitions of Protonated and Deprotonated Amino Acids in Aqueous Solution in the Region 145–300 nm Studied by Attenuated Total Reflection Far-Ultraviolet Spectroscopy

The electronic transitions of 20 naturally occurring amino acids in aqueous solution were studied with attenuated total reflection far-ultraviolet (ATR-FUV) spectroscopy in the region from 145 to 300 nm. From the measured ATR spectra of sample solutions, the FUV absorption spectra attributed to the amino acids were separated from the intense solvent absorption by using a modified Kramers–Kronig transformation method. The FUV absorption spectra of the amino acids reflect the protonation states of the backbone and side-chain structures. The contributions of the side chains to the spectra were also examined from the difference spectra subtracting the corresponding Gly spectrum from each spectrum. The observed spectra were compared mostly with the electronic transition studies of the molecular fragments of the amino acids in gas phase. The FUV spectra of the amino acids exhibited the intra- and intermolecular electronic interactions of the solute–solute as well as the solute–solvent, and those are essential factors to elucidate UV photochemical processes of the amino acids in aqueous solution

Surface Effect of Alumina on the First Electronic Transition of Liquid Water Studied by Far-Ultraviolet Spectroscopy

The first electronic transition (<i>Ã</i> ← <i>X̃</i>) of liquid water (H₂O and D₂O) on an α-alumina substrate was studied using variable angle attenuated total reflection far-ultraviolet (VA-ATR-FUV) spectroscopy in the wavelength region 140–180 nm (8.86–6.89 eV). A variation in the penetration depth of the evanescent wave of a probe light (25–19 nm) directly determined individual FUV spectra associated with bulk water (distance from the alumina surface >2 nm) and interfacial water (<2 nm). We found that the <i>Ã</i> ← <i>X̃</i> band of the interfacial water was markedly blue-shifted and red-tailed relative to the bulk water. The electronic state difference of the interfacial water from the bulk water mainly arose from the hydrogen-bond structure and energy affected by the alumina surface

Effect of Cations on Absorption Bands of First Electronic Transition of Liquid Water

The effect of cations (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+) on the first electronic transition (à ← X̃) of liquid water was investigated by attenuated total reflection far ultraviolet spectroscopy. To negate the effect of anions, aqueous solutions of 1 M alkali metal nitrates and bromides were compared at a temperature of 25 °C. It is found that the peak energy of the à ← X̃ band of water, which shows a marked red shift with decreasing hydrogen-bond strength, decreases with increasing cation size. The peak energies of the à ← X̃ band can be approximated by a linear function of the inverse of the ionic radii of the alkali metal cations, which indicates (according to the Born equation) that the first electronic transition of water is characterized by the solvation energy of the cations