Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

It is a scientific truth that new methods of measurement inevitably lead to new discoveries and new understanding. Our long term objective is to develop and explore Magnetic Resonance (MR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as quantitative tools in the chemical and materials sciences. MRI is well established in clinical radiology; it can be similarly valuable in analytical and materials chemistry because it permits, in select systems, examination of chemical change both spatially and temporally resolved. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the premier analytical technique in chemical science, is a frequency domain technique. The MR and MRI methods we espouse are strongly oriented to the time domain, where one measures signal intensities and signal lifetimes. Quite naturally such MR techniques are often termed time domain MR. In MRI these same signal intensities and lifetimes yield contrast in an image.      In this Discovery grant program we will emphasize three areas of research, our short term objectives. (1) MR/MRI methods with a new style variable field magnet for the interrogation of complex functional structures including batteries. Variable field operation permits interrogation of different MR active nuclei, for example 1H, 19F and 7Li at constant frequency. New MR/MRI applications in the variable field magnet will include 3D printed high strength MR/MRI compatible metal pressure vessels. (2) Relaxation correlation measurements of materials, notably new T1-T2* and T1rho-T2* methods. These methods will permit analysis of systems heretofore inaccessible to relaxation correlation studies. These methods will permit rational control and understanding of the contrast in the MR/MRI studies of area 1. (3) New style permanent magnets based on simple, low cost NdFeB permanent magnets. A variety of small portable magnets will be developed for studies of chemical systems, including magnets with an imposed permanent magnetic field gradient for studies of spatially resolved velocity in tube flow for rheology.       The UNB MRI Centre is one of the best known MR/MRI of materials laboratories worldwide. It is also one of the largest and best equipped laboratories of its type. The broad appeal of the methodologies we continue to pioneer is most readily reflected by the wide range of academic and corporate research labs with whom we interact. In all areas of research proposed we are one of the top three labs in the world, and in many cases we lead internationally. We intend to develop and extend our lead. In all of our work, the development and application of MR and MRI methods to `challenging' materials systems and conditions will assist the development and application of MR/MRI, a multi billion dollar industry, in science and biomedicine.