Infrared spectroscopic monitoring of solid-state processes

Infrared spectroscopy, practically ubiquitous in contemporary chemical laboratory, is frequently underutilised exclusively for a basic characterisation of products. However, its unique richness in molecular-level information on matter, together with its simplicity and flexibility in applications, as well as its ability to be combined with a variety of techniques, make it one of the common for deep understanding of microscopic background of chemical and physical phenomena, especially those of relevance for applications of materials. This tutorial review turns the spotlight of material science toward IR spectroscopic investigations by providing a critical insight to state of the art of this technique, and it covers both fundamental aspects and illustrative examples of its utilisation, as well as current challenges and perspectives focused to physical and chemical transformations in solid state