Modifications to water-zirconia nanoparticle interfaces induced by gamma irradiation have been examined using diffuse reflection infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT), Raman scattering, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques. Spectroscopy with in situ heating was used to probe variations in the dissociatively bound chemisorbed water on the zirconia nanoparticles following evaporation of the physisorbed water. DRIFT spectra show that the bridged Zr-OH-Zr species decreases relative to the terminal Zr-OH species upon irradiation. No variation is observed with Raman scattering, indicating that the zirconia morphology is unchanged. EPR measurements suggest the possible formation of the superoxide ion, presumably by modification of the surface OH groups. Trapped electrons and interstitial H atoms are also observed by EPR.

The present report on the vibrational spectra of 1-nitropyrene (1NP) describes the infrared and Raman spectra; their interpretation is aided by local density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-311G(d, p) level of theory and by the surface-enhanced vibrational spectra (SEVS) with the final objective of trace organic analytical applications. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on silver island films and mixed silver/gold island films was investigated with several laser lines in the visible region. Surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) was attempted on silver and gold island films. The interface of the organic 1-NP with smooth metal surfaces of silver and copper was also probed using reflection-absorption infrared (RAIRS) spectra that, in conjunction with the transmission spectra, allow one to extract the molecular orientation in vacuum evaporated thin solid films. Chemical adsorption of 1-NP on silver and further photochemical decomposition of the 1-NP-metal adsorbates was detected with all visible laser lines. Resonance Raman scattering (RRS) using UV-laser excitation at 325 nm was also recorded.

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