Installation of a Microscopic, Polarizing Fourier-Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) Spectrometer (School of Engineering, Yoshida Group)

Using the 2025 Research Equipment and Infrastructure Acquisition Program, a microscopic polarized Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer was installed in the laboratory of Associate Professor Hiroyuki Yoshida at the School of Engineering, Kwansei Gakuin University. This custom-built system enables both microscopic observation and polarized infrared measurements in localized regions as small as approximately 100 μm. By minimizing the influence of in-plane sample inhomogeneity, the system allows quantitative evaluation of molecular orientation in anisotropic materials. Using this instrument, the Yoshida Laboratory will investigate the alignment states and degradation behavior of organic materials, including polymers and liquid crystals, toward the development of functional optical materials and devices.