SBIR Phase II: Development of a Commercial Two-Dimensional Infrared (2D IR) Spectrometer for Characterization of Chemical Systems

该小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目旨在开发商用二维红外(2D IR)光谱仪及其相关中红外激光系统的原型。在过去的十年中，超快光谱学领域最令人兴奋的发展之一是二维红外光谱学的发明。它现在被用于研究材料科学、化学动力学、电子转移、生物物理学、聚合物结构、太阳能、分析诊断学等领域的问题。但是，尽管它现在被认为是一种有价值的研究工具，但它很难实施，因为它只被相对较少的专门研究红外光谱的超快光谱学家使用。本项目的研究目标是设计和开发一台二维红外光谱仪，其中包括一个不需要技术技能即可操作的高效中红外激光光源。它将利用中红外脉冲整形，一个新设计的光学参数放大器，和一个中红外泵浦激光器。该系统将在机械上坚固耐用，计算机自动化，因此它将被2D IR专家和非专家使用。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种商业2D IR光谱仪，将用于世界各地的学术、政府和工业研究实验室，应用范围涵盖生物、化学和物理科学。2D IR光谱提供了用其他技术难以获得的结构和动力学信息，例如在太阳能电池研究中重要的无机/有机界面或与药物靶标相关的膜蛋白。全世界有15,000多个研究实验室使用某种类型的红外光谱，2000个实验室使用超快光谱。因此，商业潜力是巨大的。这项激光技术的发展具有重要的社会意义，因为这项技术可以应用于广泛的科学和工业课题。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to develop a prototype for a commercial two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectrometer and its associated mid-infrared laser system. One of the most exciting developments in the field of ultrafast spectroscopy in the last decade has been the invention of 2D IR spectroscopy. It is now being used to study problems in material science, chemical dynamics, electron transfer, biophysics, polymer structure, solar energy, analytical diagnostics and others. But while it is now recognized as a valuable research tool, it is difficult to implement since it is only being utilized by a relatively small group of ultrafast spectroscopists that specialize in infrared spectroscopy. The research objectives of this project are to design and develop a 2D IR spectrometer, including an efficient mid-infrared laser source, which requires no technical skills to operate. It will utilize mid-infrared pulse shaping, a newly designed optical parametric amplifier, and a mid-IR pump laser. The system will be mechanically robust and computer automated so that it will be used by 2D IR experts and non-experts alike.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is the development of a commercial 2D IR spectrometer that will be used in academic, government, and industrial research laboratories worldwide with applications spanning the biological, chemical and physical sciences. 2D IR spectroscopy provides structural and dynamical information that is difficult to obtain with other techniques, such as at inorganic/organic interfaces that are important in solar cell research or membrane proteins associated with pharmaceutical targets. There are more than 15,000 research laboratories worldwide that utilize infrared spectroscopy of some type, and 2000 labs that utilize ultrafast spectroscopy. Thus, the commercial potential is substantial. The development of this laser technology has important societal implications due to the wide range of scientific and industrial topics that this technology can be applied.