High-Temperature Vacuum Cell for Infrared Studies of Adsorbed Molecules

Abstract

A high-temperature all-metal cell suitable for infrared adsorption studies has been described in the literature.¹ Our applications, however, require a higher operating temperature (>700°C), better vacuum (∼ 10⁻⁶ Torr), and a larger aperture. The higher operating temperature requires a higher temperature gradient between the inside and outside, so that the surface of the furnace section does not become unreasonably warm. This temperature gradient results from a more efficient furnace design which utilizes reflection principles for confining the heat inside the furnace section. We have also found our method of construction and method of introducing the thermocouple into the system more convenient for this type of study.