Infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory investigation of calcite, chalk, and coccoliths-do we observe the mineral surface?

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Martin Peter Andersson
  • Caroline Piper Hem
  • Logan Nicholas Schultz
  • Jonas Willum Nielsen
  • Christian Schack Pedersen
  • Sand, Karina Krarup
  • Denis Okhrimenko
  • Anna Margit Susanne Johnsson
  • Susan Louise Svane Stipp

We have measured infrared spectra from several types of calcite: chalk, freshly cultured coccoliths produced by three species of algae, natural calcite (Iceland Spar), and two types of synthetic calcite. The most intense infrared band, the asymmetric carbonate stretch vibration, is clearly asymmetric for the coccoliths and the synthetic calcite prepared using the carbonation method. It can be very well fitted by two peaks: a narrow Lorenzian at lower frequency and a broader Gaussian at higher frequency. These two samples both have a high specific surface area. Density functional theory for bulk calcite and several calcite surface systems allows for assignment of the infrared bands. The two peaks that make up the asymmetric carbonate stretch band come from the bulk (narrow Lorenzian) and from a combination of two effects (broad Gaussian): the surface or near surface of calcite and line broadening from macroscopic dielectric effects. We detect water adsorbed on the high surface area synthetic calcite, which permits observation of the chemistry of thin liquid films on calcite using transmission infrared spectroscopy. The combination of infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory also allowed us to quantify the amount of polysaccharides associated with the coccoliths. The amount of polysaccharides left in chalk, demonstrated to be present in other work, is below the IR detection limit, which is 0.5% by mass.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry Part A: Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment and General Theory
Volume118
Issue number45
Pages (from-to)10720-10729
Number of pages10
ISSN1089-5639
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

ID: 128611291