Effect of electric field to infrared absorption properties of sodium nitrate on silver/diamond powder (Ag/DP) composites

Silver/diamond powder (Ag/DP) composites have been prepared via pyrolysis of silver nitrate (AgNO3) on silicon substrate. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectra shows that the infrared absorption of nitrate (NO3−) is enhanced by the as-grown composites and increased further by the employment of an external electric field, which not only makes the Ag/DP composites improve the NO3− vibration strength considerably, but also induces significant differences in absorption intensity and frequency between the two individual antisymmetric stretching modes of NO3−. These features will expand the reach of infrared spectroscopy to a new class of nitrate salt detections.