Development of diamond micro-ATR sensor

Abstract

In this work diamond micro-ATR sensor employed a commercially available gems quality diamond as an IRE for spectral acquisition in the infrared region. By employing the homemade accessory, the ATR spectrum under total internal reflection within the diamond can be collected. Since diamond is the hardest material and having a small sampling area, it can be used for characterization of any hard and rigid samples, rough surface samples, this film coated on metal, and thin film coated on polymer. Moreover, the small sampling area of diamond micro-ATR sensor can be used to analyze small sample. According to the transparency of diamond, the image of the sample can be visualized while the spectrum of the sample at a specific area can be selectively measured. The observed spectra measured by diamond micro-ATR sensor are similar to those measured by the conventional ATR accessory (i.e., with zinc selenide prism). The spectral acquisition by diamond micro-ATR is fast. It can be easily cleaned. The expenditure for the construction of the diamond micro-ATR sensor is less than that of conventional ATR accessory.