A versatile and modular quasi optics-based 200GHz dual dynamic nuclear polarization and electron paramagnetic resonance instrument

High-frequency high-power DNP/EPR spectrometer operating at 7 T magnetic field

One of the most essential prerequisites for the development of pulse Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) is the ability to generate high-power coherent mm-wave pulses at the electron precession frequencies corresponding to the magnetic fields of modern high-resolution NMR spectrometers. As a major step towards achieving this goal, an Extended Interaction Klystron (EIK) pulse amplifier custom-built by the Communications and Power Industries, Inc. and producing up to 140 W at 197.8 GHz, was integrated with in-house built NMR/DNP/EPR spectrometer operating at 7 T magnetic field. The spectrometer employs a Thomas Keating, Ltd. quasioptical bridge to direct mm-waves into a homebuilt DNP probe incorporating photonic bandgap (PBG) resonators to further boost electronic B1e fields. Three-pulse electron spin echo nutation experiments were employed to characterize the B1e fields at the sample by operating the homodyne 198 GHz bridge in an induction mode. Room-temperature experiments with a single-crystal high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) diamond and a polystyrene film doped with BDPA radical yielded < 9 ns π/2 pulses at ca. 50 W specified EIK output at the corresponding resonance frequencies and the PBG resonator quality factor of Q≈300. DNP experiments carried out in a "gated" mode by supplying 20 μs mm-wave pulses every 1 ms yielded 13C solid-effect DNP with gains up to 20 for the polystyrene-BDPA sample at natural 13C abundance. For a single-crystal HPHT diamond, the gated DNP mode yielded almost the same 13C enhancement as a low-power continuous wave (CW) mode at 0.4 W, whereas no DNP effect was observed for the BDPA/polystyrene sample in the latter case. To illustrate the versatility of our upgraded DNP spectrometer, room-temperature Overhauser DNP enhancements of 7-14 for 31P NMR signal were demonstrated using a liquid droplet of 1 M tri-phenyl phosphine co-dissolved with 100 mM of BDPA in toluene‑d8.

The CW-EPR Capabilities of a Dual DNP/EPR Spectrometer Operating at 14 and 7 T

High-field electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements are indispensable for a better understanding of dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), which relies on polarization transfer between electron and nuclear spins. DNP experiments are typically performed at high > 7 T magnetic fields and low ≤ 100 K temperatures, while EPR instrumentation capable of EPR measurements under these conditions is scarce. In this paper, we describe the CW EPR capabilities of a dual DNP/EPR spectrometer that is designed to carry out EPR experiments under "DNP conditions" at 14 and 7 T. In the first part, we present the design of this instrument, highlighting the choices made to allow for both DNP and EPR operations. The spectrometer uses a sweepable cryogen-free magnet with NMR-grade homogeneity, a closed-cycle cooling system, a quasi-optical induction mode bridge, and a superheterodyne receiver system. The probe design is optimized for low heat load and fast sample exchange under cryogenic conditions. The spectrometer can operate in frequency and field sweep modes, including wide field sweeps using the main coil of the magnet. In the second part, we present EPR spectra acquired over a wide range of samples and operating conditions, illustrating the CW EPR capabilities of the instrument.

Multi Electron Spin Cluster Enabled Dynamic Nuclear Polarization with Sulfonated BDPA

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) can amplify the solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal by several orders of magnitude. The mechanism of DNP utilizing α,γ-bisdiphenylene-β-phenylallyl (BDPA) variants as Polarizing Agents (PA) has been the subject of lively discussions on account of their remarkable DNP efficiency with low demand for microwave power. We propose that electron spin clustering of sulfonated BDPA is responsible for its DNP performance, as revealed by the temperature-dependent shape of the central DNP profile and strong electron-electron (e-e) crosstalk seen by Electron Double Resonance. We demonstrate that a multielectron spin cluster can be modeled with three coupled spins, where electron J (exchange) coupling between one of the e-e pairs matching the NMR Larmor frequency induces the experimentally observed absorptive central DNP profile, and the electron T1e modulated by temperature and magic-angle spinning alters the shape between an absorptive and dispersive feature. Understanding the microscopic origin is key to designing new PAs to harness the microwave-power-efficient DNP effect observed with BDPA variants.

A 220 GHz-1.1 THz continuous frequency and polarization tunable quasi-optical electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic system

Here, we describe a custom-designed quasi-optical system continuously operating in the frequency range 220 GHz to 1.1 THz with a temperature range of 5-300 K and magnetic fields up to 9 T capable of polarization rotation in both transmitter and receiver arms at any given frequency within the range through a unique double Martin-Puplett interferometry approach. The system employs focusing lenses to amplify the microwave power at the sample position and recollimate the beam to the transmission branch. The cryostat and split coil magnets are furnished with five optical access ports from all three major directions to the sample sitting on a two-axes rotatable sample holder capable of performing arbitrary rotations with respect to the field direction, enabling broad accessibility to experimental geometries. Initial results from test measurements on antiferromagnetic MnF₂ single crystals are included to verify the operation of the system.

Design of a cryogen-free high field dual EPR and DNP probe

We present the design and construction of a cryogen free, dual electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probe for novel dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) experiments and concurrent "in situ" analysis of DNP mechanisms. We focus on the probe design that meets the balance between EPR, NMR, and low temperature performance, while maintaining a high degree of versatility: allowing multi-nuclear NMR detection as well as broadband DNP/EPR excitation/detection. To accomplish high NMR/EPR performance, we implement a novel inductively coupled double resonance NMR circuit (¹H-¹³C) in a solid state probe operating at cryogenic temperatures. The components of the circuit were custom built to provide maximum NMR performance, and the physical layout of this circuit was numerically optimized via magnetic field simulations to allow maximum microwave transmission to the sample for optimal EPR performance. Furthermore this probe is based around a cryogen free gas exchange cryostat and has been designed to allow unlimited experiment times down to 8.5 Kelvin with minimal cost. The affordability of EPR/DNP experiment is an extremely important aspect for broader impact with magnetic resonance measurements. The purpose of this article is to provide as complete information as we have available for others with interest in building a dual DNP/EPR instrument based around a cryogen-free cryostat.

Electroplated waveguides to enhance DNP and EPR spectra of silicon and diamond particles

Electroplating the waveguide of a 7 T polarizer in a simple innovative way increased microwave power delivered to the sample by 3.1 dB. Silicon particles, while interesting for hyperpolarized MRI applications, are challenging to polarize due to inefficient microwave multipliers at the electron Larmor frequency at high magnetic fields and fast electronic relaxation times. Improving microwave transmission directly translates to more efficient EPR excitation at high-field, low-temperature conditions and promises faster and higher 29 Si polarization buildup through dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP).

A transition from solid effect to indirect cross effect with broadband microwave irradiation

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) at high magnetic fields has become a prominent technique for signal enhancement in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In static samples, the highest DNP enhancement is usually observed for high radical concentrations in the range of 15-40 mM. Under these conditions, the dominant DNP mechanism for broad-line radicals is the electron-electron spectral-diffusion-based indirect cross effect (iCE). To further increase the DNP performance, broadband microwave irradiation is often applied. Until now, the theory of iCE was not rigorously combined with broadband microwave irradiation. This paper fills this gap by extending the iCE theory to explicitly include broadband irradiation. We demonstrate that our theory allows for quantitative fitting of the DNP spectra lineshapes using four different datasets acquired at 3.4 T and 7 T. We find that the DNP mechanism changes with an increase in the excitation bandwidth. While with narrowband continuous-wave irradiation the DNP mechanism is a combination of the solid effect (SE) and iCE, it shifts toward iCE with increasing excitation bandwidth until, at high bandwidth, the iCE completely dominates the DNP spectrum - this effect was not accounted for previously.

Dynamic Nuclear Polarization for Sensitivity Enhancement in Biomolecular Solid-State NMR

Solid-state NMR with magic-angle spinning (MAS) is an important method in structural biology. While NMR can provide invaluable information about local geometry on an atomic scale even for large biomolecular assemblies lacking long-range order, it is often limited by low sensitivity due to small nuclear spin polarization in thermal equilibrium. Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) has evolved during the last decades to become a powerful method capable of increasing this sensitivity by two to three orders of magnitude, thereby reducing the valuable experimental time from weeks or months to just hours or days; in many cases, this allows experiments that would be otherwise completely unfeasible. In this review, we give an overview of the developments that have opened the field for DNP-enhanced biomolecular solid-state NMR including state-of-the-art applications at fast MAS and high magnetic field. We present DNP mechanisms, polarizing agents, and sample constitution methods suitable for biomolecules. A wide field of biomolecular NMR applications is covered including membrane proteins, amyloid fibrils, large biomolecular assemblies, and biomaterials. Finally, we present perspectives and recent developments that may shape the field of biomolecular DNP in the future.

Overhauser Dynamic Nuclear Polarization with Selectively Deuterated BDPA Radicals

The Overhauser effect (OE), commonly observed in NMR spectra of liquids and conducting solids, was recently discovered in insulating solids doped with the radical 1,3-bisdiphenylene-2-phenylallyl (BDPA). However, the mechanism of polarization transfer in OE-DNP in insulators is yet to be established, but hyperfine coupling of the radical to protons in BDPA has been proposed. In this paper we present a study that addresses the role of hyperfine couplings via the EPR and DNP measurements on some selectively deuterated BDPA radicals synthesized for this purpose. Newly developed synthetic routes enable selective deuteration at orthogonal positions or perdeuteration of the fluorene moieties with ²H incorporation of >93%. The fluorene moieties were subsequently used to synthesize two octadeuterated BDPA radicals, 1,3-[α,γ-d₈]-BDPA and 1,3-[β,δ-d₈]-BDPA, and a BDPA radical with perdeuterated fluorene moieties, 1,3-[α,β,γ,δ-d₁₆]-BDPA. In contrast to the strong positive OE enhancement observed in degassed samples of fully protonated h₂₁-BDPA (ε ∼ +70), perdeuteration of the fluorenes results in a negative enhancement (ε ∼ -13), while selective deuteration of α- and γ-positions (a_iso ∼ 5.4 MHz) in BDPA results in a weak negative OE enhancement (ε ∼ -1). Furthermore, deuteration of β- and δ-positions (a_iso ∼ 1.2 MHz) results in a positive OE enhancement (ε ∼ +36), albeit with a reduced magnitude relative to that observed in fully protonated BDPA. Our results clearly show the role of the hyperfine coupled α and γ ¹H spins in the BDPA radical in determining the dominance of the zero and double-quantum cross-relaxation pathways and the polarization-transfer mechanism to the bulk matrix.

1H Thermal Mixing Dynamic Nuclear Polarization with BDPA as Polarizing Agents

Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) is a sensitivity enhancing technique for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. A recent discovery of Overhauser Effect (OE) DNP in insulating systems under cryogenic conditions using 1,3-bisdiphenylene-2-phenylallyl (BDPA) as the polarizing agent (PA) has caught attention due to its promising DNP performance at a high magnetic field and under fast magic angle spinning conditions. However, the mechanism of OE in insulating-solids/BDPA is unclear. We present an alternative explanation that the dominant underlying DNP mechanism of BDPA is Thermal Mixing (TM). This is ascertained with the discovery that TM effect is enhanced by multi-electron spin coupling, which is corroborated by an asymmetric electron paramagnetic resonance line shape signifying the coexistence of clustered and isolated BDPA species, and by hyperpolarized electron spin populations giving rise to an electron spin polarization gradient which are characteristic signatures of TM DNP. Finally, quantum mechanical simulations using spatially asymmetrically coupled three electron spins and a nuclear spin demonstrate that triple-flip DNP, with hyperfine fluctuations turned off, can yield the ¹H DNP profile as observed with BDPA. Clarifying the DNP mechanism is critical to develop design principles for optimizing the PA for achieving optimal DNP efficiency.

Crossover from a Solid Effect to Thermal Mixing 1H Dynamic Nuclear Polarization with Trityl-OX063

Trityl-OX063 is a narrow-line, water-soluble, and biocompatible polarizing agent, widely used for dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) amplified NMR of ¹³C, but not of the abundant ¹H nuclear spin, for which the ineffective solid effect (SE) is expected to be operational. Surprisingly, we observed a crossover from SE to thermal mixing (TM) DNP of ¹H with increasing Trityl-OX063 concentration at 7 T. We experimentally ascertained diagnostic signatures of TM-DNP that have only been theoretically predicted: (i) an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum that maintains an asymmetrically broadened EPR line from strong e-e couplings and (ii) hyperpolarization, i.e., cooling of select electron-spin populations, manifested in a characteristic pump-probe electron double-resonance spectrum under DNP conditions. Low microwave power requirements, high polarization transfer rates, and efficient DNP at high magnetic fields are the key benefits of TM-DNP.

Pulse-Shaped Dynamic Nuclear Polarization under Magic-Angle Spinning

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) under magic-angle spinning (MAS) is transforming the scope of solid-state NMR by enormous signal amplification through transfer of polarization from electron spins to nuclear spins. Contemporary MAS-DNP exclusively relies on monochromatic continuous-wave (CW) irradiation of the electron spin resonance. This limits control on electron spin dynamics, which renders the DNP process inefficient, especially at higher magnetic fields and non cryogenic temperatures. Pulse-shaped microwave irradiation of the electron spins is predicted to overcome these challenges but hitherto has never been implemented under MAS. Here, we debut pulse-shaped microwave irradiation using arbitrary-waveform generation (AWG) which allows controlled recruitment of a greater number of electron spins per unit time, favorable for MAS-DNP. Experiments and quantum mechanical simulations demonstrate that pulse-shaped DNP is superior to CW-DNP for mixed radical system, especially when the electron spin resonance is heterogeneously broadened and/or when its spin-lattice relaxation is fast compared to the MAS rotor period, opening new prospects for MAS-DNP.

Sensitivity analysis of magic angle spinning dynamic nuclear polarization below 6 K

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) improves signal-to-noise in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Signal-to-noise in NMR can be further improved with cryogenic sample cooling. Whereas MAS DNP is commonly performed between 25 and 110 K, sample temperatures below 6 K lead to further improvements in sensitivity. Here, we demonstrate that solid effect MAS DNP experiments at 6 K, using trityl, yield 3.2× more sensitivity compared to 90 K. Trityl with solid effect DNP at 6 K yields substantially more signal to noise than biradicals and cross effect DNP. We also characterize cross effect DNP with AMUPol and TEMTriPol-1 biradicals for DNP magic angle spinning at temperatures below 6 K and 7 Tesla. DNP enhancements determined from microwave on/off intensities are 253 from AMUPol and 49 from TEMTriPol-1. The higher thermal Boltzmann polarization at 6 K compared to 298 K, combined with these enhancements, should result in 10,000× signal gain for AMUPol and 2000× gain for TEMTriPol-1. However, we show that AMUPol reduces signal in the absence of microwaves by 90% compared to 41% by TEMTriPol-1 at 7 Tesla as the result of depolarization and other detrimental paramagnetic effects. AMUPol still yields the highest signal-to-noise improvement per unit time between the cross effect radicals due to faster polarization buildup (T_1DNP = 4.3 s and 36 s for AMUPol and TEMTriPol-1, respectively). Overall, AMUPol results in 2.5× better sensitivity compared to TEMTriPol-1 in MAS DNP experiments performed below 6 K at 7 T. Trityl provides 6.0× more sensitivity than TEMTriPol-1 and 1.9× more than AMUPol at 6 K, thus yielding the greatest signal-to-noise per unit time among all three radicals. A DNP enhancement profile of TEMTriPol-1 recorded with a frequency-tunable custom-built gyrotron oscillator operating at 198 GHz is also included. It is determined that at 7 T below 6 K a microwave power level of 0.6 W incident on the sample is sufficient to saturate the cross effect mechanism using TEMTriPol-1, yet increasing the power level up to 5 W results in higher improvements in DNP sensitivity with AMUPol. These results indicate MAS DNP below 6 K will play a prominent role in ultra-sensitive NMR spectroscopy in the future.

Electron spin density matching for cross-effect dynamic nuclear polarization

A new design principle for a mixed broad (TEMPO) and narrow (Trityl) line radical to boost the dynamic nuclear polarization efficiency is electron spin density matching, suggesting a polarizing agent of one Trityl tethered to at least two TEMPO moieties.

A spin-thermodynamic approach to characterize spin dynamics in TEMPO-based samples for dissolution DNP at 7 T field

The spin dynamics of dissolution DNP samples consisting of 4.5 M [¹³C]urea in a mixture of (1/1)_Vol glycerol/water using 4-Oxo-TEMPO as a radical was investigated. We analyzed the DNP dynamics as function of radical concentration at 7 T and 3.4 T static magnetic field as well as function of deuteration of the solvent matrix at the high field. The spin dynamics could be reproduced in all cases, at least qualitatively, by a thermodynamic model based on spin temperatures of the nuclear Zeeman baths and an electron non-Zeeman (dipolar) bath. We find, however, that at high field (7 T) and low radical concentrations (25 mM) the nuclear spins do not reach the same spin temperature indicating a weak coupling of the two baths. At higher radical concentrations, as well as for all radical concentrations at low field (3.4 T), the two nuclear Zeeman baths reach the same spin temperature within experimental errors. Additionally, the spin system was prepared with different initial conditions. For these cases, the thermodynamic model was able to predict the time evolution of the system well. While the DNP profiles do not give clear indications to a specific polarization transfer mechanism, at high field (7 T) increased coupling is seen. The EPR line shapes cannot clarify this in absence of ELDOR type experiments, nevertheless DNP profiles and dynamics under frequency-modulated microwave irradiation illustrate the expected increase in coupling between electrons with increasing radical concentration.

Cross-Effect Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Explained: Polarization, Depolarization, and Oversaturation

The scope of this Perspective is to analytically describe NMR hyperpolarization by the three-spin cross effect (CE) dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) using an effective Hamiltonian concept. We apply, for the first time, the bimodal operator-based Floquet theory in the Zeeman-interaction frame for two and three coupled spins to derive the known interaction Hamiltonian for CE-DNP. With a unified understanding of CE-DNP, and supported by empirical observation of the state of electron spin polarization under the given experimental conditions, we explain diverse manifestations of CE from oversaturation, enhanced hyperpolarization by broad-band saturation, to nuclear spin depolarization under magic-angle spinning.

Maximizing NMR signal per unit time by facilitating the e-e-n cross effect DNP rate

The dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) efficiency is critically dependent on the properties of the radical, solvent, and solute constituting the sample system. In this study, we focused on the three spin e-e-n cross effect (CE)'s influence on the nuclear longitudinal relaxation time constant T1n, the build-up time constants of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal, TDNP and DNP-enhancement of NMR signal. The dipolar interaction strength between the electron spins driving the e-e-n process was systematically modulated using mono-, di-, tri-, and dendritic-nitroxide radicals, while maintaining a constant global electron spin concentration of 10 mM. Experimental results showed that an increase in electron spin clustering led to an increased electron spin depolarization, as mapped by electron double resonance (ELDOR), and a dramatically shortened T1n and TDNP time constants under static and magic angle spinning (MAS) conditions. A theoretical analysis reveals that strong e-e interactions, caused by electron spin clustering, increase the CE rate. The three spin e-e-n CE is a hitherto little recognized mechanism for shortening T1n and TDNP in solid-state NMR experiments at cryogenic temperatures, and offers a design principle to enhance the effective CE DNP enhancement per unit time. Fast CE rates will benefit DNP at liquid helium temperatures, or at higher magnetic fields and pulsed DNP, where slow e-e-n polarization transfer rate is a key bottleneck to achieving maximal DNP performance.

Tuning nuclear depolarization under MAS by electron T1e

The Cross-Effect (CE) Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) mechanism under Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) induces depletion or "depolarization" of the NMR signal, in the absence of microwave irradiation. In this study, the role of T_1e on nuclear depolarization under MAS was tested experimentally by systematically varying the local and global electron spin concentration using mono-, bi- and tri-radicals. These spin systems show different depolarization effects that systematically tracked with their different T_1e rates, consistent with theoretical predictions. In order to test whether the effect of T_1e is directly or indirectly convoluted with other spin parameters, the tri-radical system was doped with different concentrations of GdCl₃, only tuning the T_1e rates, while keeping other parameters unchanged. Gratifyingly, the changes in the depolarization factor tracked the changes in the T_1e rates. The experimental results are corroborated by quantum mechanics based numerical simulations which recapitulated the critical role of T_1e. Simulations showed that the relative orientation of the two g-tensors and e-e dipolar interaction tensors of the CE fulfilling spin pair also plays a major role in determining the extent of depolarization, besides the enhancement. This is expected as orientations influence the efficiency of the various level anti-crossings or the "rotor events" under MAS. However, experimental evaluation of the empirical spectral diffusion parameter at static condition showed that the local vs. global e-e dipolar interaction network is not a significant variable in the commonly used nitroxide radical system studied here, leaving T_1e rates as the major modulator of depolarization.

Magic angle spinning NMR with metallized rotors as cylindrical microwave resonators

We introduce a novel design for millimeter wave electromagnetic structures within magic angle spinning (MAS) rotors. In this demonstration, a copper coating is vacuum deposited onto the outside surface of a sapphire rotor at a thickness of 50 nm. This thickness is sufficient to reflect 197-GHz microwaves, yet not too thick as to interfere with radiofrequency fields at 300 MHz or prevent sample spinning due to eddy currents. Electromagnetic simulations of an idealized rotor geometry show a microwave quality factor of 148. MAS experiments with sample rotation frequencies of ω_r /2π = 5.4 kHz demonstrate that the drag force due to eddy currents within the copper does not prevent sample spinning. Spectra of sodium acetate show resolved ¹³ C J-couplings of 60 Hz and no appreciable broadening between coated and uncoated sapphire rotors, demonstrating that the copper coating does not prevent shimming and high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Additionally, ¹³ C Rabi nutation curves of ω₁ /2π = 103 kHz for both coated and uncoated rotors indicate no detrimental impact of the copper coating on radio frequency coupling of the nuclear spins to the sample coil. We present this metal coated rotor as a first step towards an MAS resonator. MAS resonators are expected to have a significant impact on developments in electron decoupling, pulsed dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), room temperature DNP, DNP with low-power microwave sources, and electron paramagnetic resonance detection.

Amplification of Dynamic Nuclear Polarization at 200 GHz by Arbitrary Pulse Shaping of the Electron Spin Saturation Profile

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) takes center stage in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as a tool to amplify its signal by orders of magnitude through the transfer of polarization from electron to nuclear spins. In contrast to modern NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) that extensively rely on pulses for spin manipulation in the time domain, the current mainstream DNP technology exclusively relies on monochromatic continuous wave (CW) irradiation. This study introduces arbitrary phase shaped pulses that constitute a train of coherent chirp pulses in the time domain at 200 GHz (7 T) to dramatically enhance the saturation bandwidth and DNP performance compared to CW DNP, yielding up to 500-fold in NMR signal enhancements. The observed improvement is attributed to the recruitment of additional electron spins contributing to DNP via the cross-effect mechanism, as experimentally confirmed by two-frequency pump-probe electron-electron double resonance (ELDOR).

X-band EPR setup with THz light excitation of Novosibirsk Free Electron Laser: Goals, means, useful extras

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) station at the Novosibirsk Free Electron Laser (NovoFEL) user facility is described. It is based on X-band (∼9 GHz) EPR spectrometer and operates in both Continuous Wave (CW) and Time-Resolved (TR) modes, each allowing detection of either direct or indirect influence of high-power NovoFEL light (THz and mid-IR) on the spin system under study. The optics components including two parabolic mirrors, shutters, optical chopper and multimodal waveguide allow the light of NovoFEL to be directly fed into the EPR resonator. Characteristics of the NovoFEL radiation, the transmission and polarization-retaining properties of the waveguide used in EPR experiments are presented. The types of proposed experiments accessible using this setup are sketched. In most practical cases the high-power radiation applied to the sample induces its rapid temperature increase (T-jump), which is best visible in TR mode. Although such influence is a by-product of THz radiation, this thermal effect is controllable and can deliberately be used to induce and measure transient signals of arbitrary samples. The advantage of tunable THz radiation is the absence of photo-induced processes in the sample and its high penetration ability, allowing fast heating of a large portion of virtually any sample and inducing intense transients. Such T-jump TR EPR spectroscopy with THz pulses has been previewed for the two test samples, being a useful supplement for the main goals of the created setup.

Ultra-broadband EPR spectroscopy in field and frequency domains

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is a powerful technique to investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of a wide range of materials.

Universal Dynamics of Molecular Reorientation in Hybrid Lead Iodide Perovskites

The role of organic molecular cations in the high-performance perovskite photovoltaic absorbers, methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) and formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI₃), has been an enigmatic subject of great interest. Beyond aiding in the ease of processing of thin films for photovoltaic devices, there have been suggestions that many of the remarkable properties of the halide perovskites can be attributed to the dipolar nature and the dynamic behavior of these cations. Here, we establish the dynamics of the molecular cations in FAPbI₃ between 4 K and 340 K and the nature of their interaction with the surrounding inorganic cage using a combination of solid state nuclear magnetic resonance and dielectric spectroscopies, neutron scattering, calorimetry, and ab initio calculations. Detailed comparisons with the reported temperature dependence of the dynamics of MAPbI₃ are then carried out which reveal the molecular ions in the two different compounds to exhibit very similar rotation rates (≈8 ps) at room temperature, despite differences in other temperature regimes. For FA, rotation about the N···N axis, which reorients the molecular dipole, is the dominant motion in all phases, with an activation barrier of ≈21 meV in the ambient phase, compared to ≈110 meV for the analogous dipole reorientation of MA. Geometrical frustration of the molecule-cage interaction in FAPbI₃ produces a disordered γ-phase and subsequent glassy freezing at yet lower temperatures. Hydrogen bonds suggested by atom-atom distances from neutron total scattering experiments imply a substantial role for the molecules in directing structure and dictating properties. The temperature dependence of reorientation of the dipolar molecular cations systematically described here can clarify various hypotheses including those of large-polaron charge transport and fugitive electron spin polarization that have been invoked in the context of these unusual materials.

Dynamic nuclear polarization for sensitivity enhancement in modern solid-state NMR

The field of dynamic nuclear polarization has undergone tremendous developments and diversification since its inception more than 6 decades ago. In this review we provide an in-depth overview of the relevant topics involved in DNP-enhanced MAS NMR spectroscopy. This includes the theoretical description of DNP mechanisms as well as of the polarization transfer pathways that can lead to a uniform or selective spreading of polarization between nuclear spins. Furthermore, we cover historical and state-of-the art aspects of dedicated instrumentation, polarizing agents, and optimization techniques for efficient MAS DNP. Finally, we present an extensive overview on applications in the fields of structural biology and materials science, which underlines that MAS DNP has moved far beyond the proof-of-concept stage and has become an important tool for research in these fields.

Arbitrary waveform modulated pulse EPR at 200GHz

We report here on the implementation of arbitrary waveform generation (AWG) capabilities at ∼200GHz into an Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) instrument platform operating at 7T. This is achieved with the integration of a 1GHz, 2 channel, digital to analog converter (DAC) board that enables the generation of coherent arbitrary waveforms at K_u-band frequencies with 1ns resolution into an existing architecture of a solid state amplifier multiplier chain (AMC). This allows for the generation of arbitrary phase- and amplitude-modulated waveforms at 200GHz with >150mW power. We find that the non-linearity of the AMC poses significant difficulties in generating amplitude-modulated pulses at 200GHz. We demonstrate that in the power-limited regime of ω₁<1MHz phase-modulated pulses were sufficient to achieve significant improvements in broadband (>10MHz) spin manipulation in incoherent (inversion), as well as coherent (echo formation) experiments. Highlights include the improvement by one order of magnitude in inversion bandwidth compared to that of conventional rectangular pulses, as well as a factor of two in improvement in the refocused echo intensity at 200GHz.

A ferromagnetic shim insert for NMR magnets - Towards an integrated gyrotron for DNP-NMR spectroscopy

In recent years high-field Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) enhanced NMR spectroscopy has gained significant interest. In high-field DNP-NMR experiments (⩾400MHz 1H NMR, ⩾9.4T) often a stand-alone gyrotron is used to generate high microwave/THz power to produce sufficiently high microwave induced B1e fields at the position of the NMR sample. These devices typically require a second, stand-alone superconducting magnet to operate. Here we present the design and realization of a ferroshim insert, to create two iso-centers inside a commercially available wide-bore NMR magnet. This work is part of a larger project to integrate a gyrotron into NMR magnets, effectively eliminating the need for a second, stand-alone superconducting magnet.

Effect of electron spectral diffusion on static dynamic nuclear polarization at 7 Tesla

Systematic investigation of DNP profiles at high radical concentrations and 7 T show that electron spectral diffusion directly impacts DNP processes.

Dissolution DNP using trityl radicals at 7 T field

Characterization of direct ¹³C DNP at 1.4 K and 7 T field using trityl radicals.