What absorbs at 1481 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1481 cm⁻¹ can point to several functional groups. Below are the most likely assignments, ranked by how much published evidence supports each — every one traceable to literature (DOI) and cross-validated against our 130,000+ reference spectra and knowledge graph.
Backed by 8 cited sources
Quick answer
A band near 1481 cm⁻¹ is usually interpreted by checking which functional groups repeatedly co-occur there in the literature, then confirming at least one or two additional peaks in the same sample. This page ranks those assignments by accumulated evidence rather than by a single fixed textbook rule.
Possible functional-group assignments
| Functional group | Supporting facts | Cited sources | Top confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aromatic ring | 6 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Phosphorus | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Sulfonyl | 1 | 1 | 0.9 |
Ranking reflects accumulated literature evidence, not a single fixed rule. Always confirm against your sample context.
Possible materials
| Material | Supporting peaks | Overlapping groups | Cited sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| polyaniline | 1481, 1565, 1570 | Aromatic ring, Amide, Ring structure | 2 |
| graphene | 1481, 1720, 2097 | Amide | 1 |
Materials are shown only when the same literature pool supports this band and at least one additional characteristic peak.
Spectrum logic
This band becomes meaningful only when read with its neighboring peaks. In practice, analysts first look at the assignments above, then check whether the same sample also shows other peaks expected for the same structural motif. A lone band near 1481 cm⁻¹ is usually not enough for material identification by itself.
Real-world usage
This type of query is common in polymer identification, unknown plastic screening, QC troubleshooting, recycled-material verification, and literature-backed peak assignment review.
Common mistakes
- Treating one isolated band as proof of a material without checking at least one or two supporting peaks.
- Ignoring overlap: multiple functional groups can contribute near the same wavenumber.
- Skipping validation when additives, blends, oxidation, or contamination may distort the spectrum.
Verification advice
When ambiguity remains, validate the hypothesis with DSC, GC-MS, or TGA, especially for blends, degraded samples, and filled polymers.
Literature behind these assignments
-
Aromatic ring confidence 1.0
“cm(cid:1)1 C¼¼C stretching vibration of quinoid ring, 1481 Scanning electron microscopy”
Studies on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and direct current conductivity of polyaniline doped zinc ferrite DOI: 10.1002/app.33600 -
C c single bond confidence 1.0
“The Figure (1c) shows the FTIR spectra of polyaniline/NiZnO 3 cm-1 is due to the N H stretching, characteristic absorption peaks are found to be at3431 04 cm-1 cm-1 is corresponds to C C stretching vibration of quiniod ring, 1481 is 1564 14”
Patil 等 - 2011 - Electrical Conductivity of PolyanilineNiZnO3 Comp DOI: 10.1080/00150193.2011.620836 -
Phosphate (PO4) confidence 1.0
“cm-1) the PR13 hybrid (1606 indicating that the hump is caused by theexcessRNA.Thein-planevibrationofcytosineat1481cm-1[25(a)] cm-1 cm-1 is shifted to lower frequency at 1462 at 810 and 862 corresponding to the ribose-phosphate vibrations f”
Routh 等 - 2009 - Self assembly of poly(o-methoxy aniline) with RNA DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2009.05.004 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“sharp peaks at and 601 to the triply bending vibrations of PO in 926cm-1 32The characteristic bands of CO identified at correspond to the C-O bending, and the bands at 1419, 1481cm-1 32-17,24-25.”
Asmi 等 - 2016 - Synthesis and Characterisation of Composite based DOI: 10.1063/1.4945463 -
Ring structure confidence 1.0
“1a) showed two peaks assign to specific vibration of quinoid (N=Q=N, 1558 and 1566 cm-1) and benzenoid (N-B-N, 1474 and 1481 cm-1) ring stretching in the PANI backbone.”
Hidayat 等 - 2016 - Effect of Polyaniline Polymerization Methods on Th DOI: 10.1063/1.4958588 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040708.g002 cm21 carbonyl amide I bonds whereas bands at 1481 and 1567 immobilized enzyme could be kept at 60uC for 10 min without represents amide II bonds.”
Kishore 等 - 2012 - Immobilization of beta-Galactosidase onto Function DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040708 -
Ring structure confidence 1.0
“cm-1, cm-1 cm-1 region of 1500-1250 The prominent absorption bands at 1481 1436 and 1320 were due to the adenine ring vibrations, adenine in the Z-form helices and guanine vibration in S-type sugar formation, respectively24.”
FTIR differentiation based on genomic DNA for species identification of Shigella isolates from stool samples DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06746-y -
Amide confidence 1.0
“cm21, and 1296 representing carbonyl amide I bond whereas Another important parameter for industrial application is cm21 bands at 1481 and 1567 were observed due to amide II reusability.”
Srivastava 等 - 2014 - Functionalized Graphene Sheets As Immobilization M DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113408
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