SNOM: a new photophysical tool

Scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) is used as a new photophysical tool for the elucidation of the surface hydration processes of crystalline phthalimide (1) by determination of the chemical contrast. Surface hydration and hydrolytic ring opening to give phthalamic acid (2) are distinguished at the nanoscale. The long-range molecular movements are interpreted in terms of the crystal packing. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.