Temperature-dependent low-frequency vibrational spectra of sodium magnesium chlorophyllin

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy has been used to investigate the vibrational spectra of polycrystalline sodium magnesium chlorophyllin - one of the natural derivatives of chlorophyll - over the temperature range 88 K–298 K. A number of well-resolved absorption peaks were observed in the frequency range 0.2–2.5 THz, which are interpreted as originating from mixed character of intramolecular and intermolecular vibration modes. As the temperature is increased, the observed absorption features resolve into broader peaks. The peak centered at 1.83 THz shifts towards higher frequencies, indicating that for this feature, significant intermolecular anharmonicity exist.