Infrared spectroscopy at the surface of carbonates

Abstract

IR spectroscopy has been extensively employed to characterize the structural and vibrational properties of carbonates; yet, its application in studying the adsorption capacity of carbonate surfaces remains limited. This short review presents the use of FTIR as a powerful tool for investigating the structure and surface chemistry of carbonates, which is relevant to several environmental and industrial applications (such as CO₂ capture and storage). Several FTIR techniques provide detailed analysis of the structure of carbonate polymorphs (calcite, aragonite, vaterite, and amorphous phases) alongside their phase transformation kinetics. In addition, adsorption studies of various molecules (CO, CO₂, H₂O, acids and several HCs) were performed to identify the adsorption sites, mechanisms and intermediates. These insights highlight the significance of IR spectroscopy for understanding the carbonate structure and surface properties, and guide future research in several environmental and industrial processes where carbonates are involved.