Refined Infrared Spectroscopy to Study Molecular Orientation and Order in Heterogeneous Polymer Systems (B08)

• Subject Area: Experimental and Theoretical Physics of Polymers
• Term: from 2011 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 189853844

We will employ advanced techniques of IR microscopy and spectroscopy to study the effect of constraints on the ordering of macromolecules. In particular we will (i) use an IR-microscope to combine IR-spectroscopy with Fast Scanning Chip-Calorimetry. The setup will allow simultaneous measurements of heat capacity with IR-absorption after fast temperature quenches on the identical sample. These features make the combined methods ideally suited to explore the molecular precursors of homogeneous nucleation; (ii) The newly developed method of Infrared transition moment orientational analysis allows to determine the orientation of specific structural moieties and to study e.g. surface induced crystallization on epitaxial substrates. (iii) Due to the high sensitivity grazing angle IR-reflection experiments allow to investigate prefreezing at buried interfaces in films of intermediate thickness.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 102: Polymers under Multiple Constraints: Restricted and Controlled Molecular Order and Mobility
• Applicant Institution: Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Friedrich Kremer