Grant for Exploratory Research: Field Cycling Electron Nuclear Double Resonance Studies

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Professor Alvin L. Kwiram is supported by a Small Grant for Exploratory Research from the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program to investigate the potential for performing zero field electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. If he succeeds, this new technique will offer many unique advantages over conventional ESR methodologies for studying structure and dynamics of organic free radicals. Zero field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques have been known for some time now. The primary advantage over conventional NMR, which arises from increased sensitivity, is the capability of measuring small nuclear quadrupole coupling constants as well as very small splittings of spin half nuclei. Kwiram plans to employ rapid electronic switching techniques to implement field cycling for ESR. Electronic switching is necessary rather than the mechanical methods employed in zero field NMR spectroscopy, because of the much shorter relaxation times encountered in typical ESR experiments. If successful, the resulting zero field ESR should have a sensitivity enhancement over conventional methods of about two orders of magnitude. This increased sensitivity will open up the possibility of a number of new experiments involving studies of matrix isolated species and biological molecules.