Broadband coherent anti-strokes Raman spectroscopy characterization of polymer thin films

Published

August 2, 2006

Author(s)

Lee J. Richter, M C. Gurau, Zachary Schultz

Abstract

Broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) is demonstrated as an effective probe of the polymer thin film materials. A simple modification to a commercially available 1 kHz SFG spectrometer permits acquisition of CARS spectra for polymer thin films with an aspect ratio relevant to device applications. CARS spectra are compared to the conventional Raman spectra of polystyrene and the resonance enhanced Raman spectra of poly(3-hexylthiophene). The CARS spectra obtained consistently demonstrate a 1-2 orders of magnitude signal enhancement compared to spontaneous Raman scattering. The sensitivity of the CARS measurement is limited by the damage threshold of the samples. The Fresnel coefficients associated semiconducting (Si), conducting (Au), and insulating (Quartz) substrates has a dramatic effect on the detected signal intensity. The strongest signals are obtained from Quartz surfaces. Similar to surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), Au also gives a large signal, but contrary to SERS no surface roughening is necessary. The CARS measurements present here demonstrate methodology for the rapid acquisition of high sensitivity spectra for polymer thin film samples.

Citation

Applied Spectroscopy

Volume

60

Issue

10

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

"nonlinear spectroscopy", "Raman", "thin films", "broadband CARS"

Citation

Richter, L. , Gurau, M. and Schultz, Z. (2006), Broadband coherent anti-strokes Raman spectroscopy characterization of polymer thin films, Applied Spectroscopy (Accessed July 14, 2025)