Calcium Fluoride sample cells for probing solid / liquid interfaces with sum frequency generation

Calcium Fluoride sample cells for probing solid/liquid interfaces with broadband sum-frequency-generation spectroscopy - request a quote at [e-mail]
Customer inquiry:
We would like to get the product calcium fluoride (CaF2) hemicylindrical prism with the dimensions: length/diameter 20mm, radius/height 10mm and width 13mm. The prism should be visible and IR transparent. We are just looking for this specification. If its inert towards solvents like water, acetonitrile, toulene, hexane that would be sufficient. There is no need for coating and do not have particular choice for tolerances.
Attached is the article where they used similar prism in Dr. Patrick Koelsch group from the University of Heidelberg (refer page number 6-highlighted point).
Sample cells for probing solid/liquid interfaces with broadband sum-frequency-generation spectroscopy
Dominique Verreault, Volker Kurz, Caitlin Howell, and Patrick Koelscha
Department of Applied Physical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 253, D-69120
Heidelberg, Germany and Institute of Toxicology and Genetics (ITG), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology,
Campus North, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
Two sample cells designed specifically for sum-frequency-generation SFG measurements at the solid/liquid interface were developed: one thin-layer analysis cell allowing measurement of films on reflective metallic surfaces through a micrometer layer of solution and one spectroelectrochemical cell allowing investigation of processes at the indium tin oxide/solution interface. Both sample cells are described in detail and data illustrating the capabilities of each are shown. To further improve measurements at solid/liquid interfaces, the broadband SFG system was modified to include a reference beam which can be measured simultaneously with the sample signal, permitting
background correction of SFG spectra in real time. Sensitivity tests of this system yielded a signal-to-noise ratio of 100 at a surface coverage of 0.2 molecules/nm2. Details on data analysis routines, pulse shaping methods of the visible beam, as well as the design of a purging chamber and sample stage setup are presented. These descriptions will be useful to those planning to set up a SFG spectrometer or seeking to optimize their own SFG systems for measurements of solid/liquid interfaces.
www.dmphotonics...
CaF2 hemicylindrical prism for electrochemical and nanoparticle catalysis research - [e-mail]
Featured research:
Electrochemical Catalysis
The ability to convert sunlight and electricity to chemical energy is at the heart of energy conversion and storage. We are developing new materials capable of selective CO2 reduction as well as efficient water oxidation. Our efforts focus on identifying the relationship between the electronic structure of mixed metal and metal oxide catalysts and their catalytic performance. These efforts rely on in-house ultrafast and non-linear soft x-ray spectroscopy, which allows us to probe the electronic structure of active interfaces and make real-time observations of carrier excitation, thermalization, separation, and injection during an electrocatalytic reaction event.
Through these efforts we have recently developed a mixed transition metal oxide catalyst for photo-electrochemical CO2 reduction. Electrochemical studies show that this catalyst displays selective photocurrent meaning that it is photoactive in CO2 -saturated aqueous electrolyte but produces no photocurrent in argon-purged electrolyte, indicating that charge transfer from the catalyst surface to CO2 is strongly preferred over proton reduction. Reaction studies show that this photo-electrocatalyst is also highly efficient for C-C bond coupling, producing acetate from CO2 with 80% Faradaic efficiency.
To better understand the photo-physics of this material leading to highly selective charge transfer to CO2 and subsequent C-C bond coupling, we are investigating this system using ultrafast soft x-ray transient absorption spectroscopy at the metal M edges of this mixed metal oxide system. This experiment, which utilizes a tabletop high harmonic generation soft x-ray light source with femtosecond time resolution, promises to reveal the element-specific electron dynamics leading to efficient charge separation and injection during the photo-electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to acetate.
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