Depth-Profiling Studies of Double-Layer PVF2-on-PET Films by Fourier Transform Infrared Photoacoustic Spectroscopy

Abstract

Photoacoustic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (PA/FT-IR) is used to study films of poly(vinylidine fluoride) (PVF₂) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). It is shown that PVF₂ films over PET change the thermal diffusion length such that the sample PVF₂-on-PET becomes optically transparent and thermally thick. By changing the mirror velocity of the Michelson interferometer it is possible to obtain spectra at various sample depths. The intensity of the carbonyl band of the lower PET film changes as a function of the mirror velocity. The log-log plot of these quantities gives a slope of −3/2, which agrees with theoretical predictions for thermally thick and optically transparent samples.