Mapping Molecular Orientation with Phase Sensitive Vibrationally Resonant Sum-Frequency Generation Microscopy

We demonstrate a phase sensitive, vibrationally resonant sum-frequency generation (PSVR-SFG) microscope that combines high resolution, fast image acquisition speed, chemical selectivity, and phase sensitivity. Using the PSVR-SFG microscope, we generate amplitude and phase images of the second-order susceptibility of collagen I fibers in rat tail tendon tissue on resonance with the methylene vibrations of the protein. We find that the phase of the second-order susceptibility shows dependence on the effective polarity of the fibril bundles, revealing fibrous collagen domains of opposite orientations within the tissue. The presence of collagen microdomains in tendon tissue may have implications for the interpretation of the mechanical properties of the tissue. [Image: see text

Two-Dimensional Heterodyne-Detected VSFG Spectroscopy of Water Molecules at Charged Interfaces

Two-dimensional heterodyne-detected vibrational sum-frequency generation (2D-HD-VSFG) spectroscopy of water at interfaces has been realized for the first time. In the present study, 2D-HD-VSFG spectra were measured at a charged monolayer / isotopically diluted water interface. In contrast to the 2D-IR spectrum of bulk isotopically diluted water, the 2D-HD- VSFG of the charged interface shows a narrower bleach band in the higher frequency region immediately after the photoexcitation. The results clearly show that the dynamics of the water at the charged interface is different from that in the bulk, reflecting the different environment where water molecules are located

Probing a molecular electronic transition by two-colour sum-frequency generation spectroscopy

We demonstrate that a new emerging technique, two-colour sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy, can be used to probe the molecular electronic properties of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). In the CH spectral range (2800–3200 cm-1), we show that the sum-frequency generation signal of a porphyrin alkanethiol derivative adsorbed on Pt(1 1 1) reaches a maximum intensity at ~435 nm SFG wavelength. This wavelength corresponds to the porphyrin moiety specific p–p*$ molecular electronic transition which is called the Soret or B band. This resonant behaviour is not observed for 1-dodecanethiol SAMs, which are devoid of molecular electronic transition in the investigated visible spectral range