Recent Advances in 2D IR Spectroscopy Driven by Advances in Ultrafast Technology

Two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy has grown in prominence, since its inception in the 1990s. With it's ability to report on the structure and dynamics of chemical systems with femtosecond time resolution, 2D IR spectroscopy has provided insight into a vast number of chemical systems. 2D IR spectroscopy experiments have provided important insights into water dynamics, protein structure, and kinetics, and more recently 2D IR has been used to address questions in materials chemistry, disease states, and energy sciences. This review will present a brief overview of the principles behind 2D IR spectroscopy. The observables available in 2D IR spectra and methods to extract information regarding chemical structure and dynamics will be discussed. In addition, experimental systems will be discussed to highlight new advances in ultrafast technology that will impact new areas of research to be explored. Finally, this review will briefly discuss future directions for 2-D vibrational spectroscopy and innovations that are moving the field of ultrafast spectroscopy forward.