Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy is a foundational characterization method for modern chemical analysis. Without a tool to carry out these ubiquitous characterizations, several research programs in many research groups in Chemistry will become impossible to carry out when this tool becomes inoperable.NMR spectroscopy operates on the same principles are MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and has revolutionized our ability to determine the structure of molecules. This capacity to analyse and evaluate molecular structure is fundamental and absolutely critical in many areas of science, especially chemistry, biochemistry and medical physics; therefore NMR spectrometers are workhorse instruments in every university's faculty of science. However, at the core of each spectrometer is a superconducting magnet that must be maintained at -269 degrees Celsius at all times. This extreme temperature places significant stress on certain components of the spectrometer, and technology continues to evolve to make better, more accurate magnets that operate more efficiently at these temperatures.This application seeks to replace Carleton University's 400 MHz NMR spectrometer, which was purchased in 1990. This instrument has already exceeded its life expectancy and is showing signs of impending failure of the magnet. An upgrade will extend the life of this foundational tool by decades, with the added benefit of having improving shielding of the magnetic field. This makes the tool more useful for modern characterization while reducing health and safety hazards (specifically, pacemakers and other implanted electronics).