Identification, Assignment, and Characterization of Low-Frequency Dynamics in Microplastic Pollutants

As single-use plastics have become more widely used, the proper disposal of such products becomes increasingly critical. Unfortunately, these materials have not traditionally been properly disposed of, and have polluted the environment from rivers to oceans. In order to study and combat the tolls this has taken on the environment, the broken-down plastics, known as microplastics, must be identified and characterized, which can be done through vibrational spectroscopy. Low-frequency vibrational spectra provide insights into the bulk and molecular structures, and is a promising tool for microplastic characterization.