Types of detectors:

Within FT-IR spectrometers two kinds of detectors are generally used. These are deuterated triglycine sulfate (DTGS) and mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) detectors. Although, the DTGS detector is a pyroelectric detector which measures the changes within temperature, MCT detector is a photon detector which depends on the quantum of radiation generating electricity. Both of these detectors deliver rapid responses. Additionally while the DTGS detectors operate at room temperature, MCT detectors requires to be managed at liquid nitrogen temperature (77 °K) to be effectual.

A significant aspect of FT-IR is which most bench top FT-IR spectrometers are single- beam instruments and does not acquired transmittance or absorbance IR spectra in real time.