Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

We present a cost-effective solution to an urgent unmet need for a robot-controlled nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spectrometer console and associated amplifiers and probe. There are no such spectrometers available in Canada to our knowledge, and costly resources are being consumed by using a temporary work-around reliant on access to NMR spectrometers. A significant issue arises in studying many of the elements of the periodic table by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. 75% of the elements in the periodic table are quadrupolar (nuclear spin I >1/2), resulting oftentimes in substantial spectral broadening. In the case of isotopes such as germanium-73, iodine-127, and antimony-121, for example, quadrupolar broadening is so severe that solid-state NMR becomes impractical and intractable, even in the highest commercially available magnetic fields. NQR spectroscopy, carried out in the absence of an external applied magnetic field, becomes the only option. The requested equipment will allow us to overcome the limitations imposed by quadrupolar broadening observed in solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and truly open the complete periodic table of elements and isotopes for study. We will also develop in-situ mechanochemistry tools for NQR. The auto-tuning functionality, coupled with advanced radiofrequency pulse sequences, will greatly accelerate and advance multiples lines of our academic and industrial research. Approximately 20/year highly qualified personnel (HQP) supervised directly by the co-applicants will immediately benefit from access to this instrument. Further indirect training benefits will be realized through extensive ongoing and future collaborative work. As part of the NMR Core Facility there are > 200 other potential HQP users. Adding NQR spectroscopy to their arsenal of NMR and solid-state chemistry skills will help make them highly sought-after candidates for employment in the academic, industrial, and government sectors.