Molecular order at polymer interfaces measured by broad-bandwidth vibrationally-resolved sum frequency generation spectroscopy

Summary form only given. Measurement of the structure of polymer/dielectric interfaces is crucial to an understanding of adhesion between such materials. Vibrationally-resolved sum frequency generation (VR-SFG) spectroscopy is a non-invasive, interface specific and chemically sensitive probe of the buried interfaces of transparent media. The use of broad bandwidth femtosecond pulses enables the parallel acquisition of spectra across an entire resonant spectral range without laborious laser tuning. The coherence of SFG allows the measurement of the phase of the VR-SFG signal relative to a nonresonant reference, which reveals the absolute orientation of the resonant molecular species.