Update of the present X-band EPR spectrometer and upgrade with a Q-band facility and closed cycle cryostat for measurements at liquid helium temperatures

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Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is the method of choice when characterizing properties, structures, functions, and mechanisms of iron-sulfur-containing metalloproteins, paramagnetic inorganic complexes, and organic radical systems. In this Major Research Instrumentation grant application seven groups of the Technical University of Kaiserslautern (TUK) from the Departments of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical & Process Engineering describe their current and future research. It is crucial for these seven groups, as well as for other local users and our external collaborators, to update the twenty year-old X-band EPR spectrometer. Due to its age, the instrument is subject to frequent failures and the availability of replacement parts is becoming very problematic. Furthermore, an upgrade with a Q-band facility would enable the interpretation of highly complicated spectra of spin-coupled biological systems and (high spin) inorganic complexes. In addition, an update with a closed cycle cryostat will ensure access to measurements at liquid Helium temperatures at any time. Especially in times of increasingly frequent bottlenecks in the liquid helium supply, the lower Helium consumption and the independence of liquid Helium delivery would be highly advantageous. The update will guarantee the continuation of our EPR-based research activities and the Q-band and closed cycle cryostat upgrades would open up new research perspectives. We envisage that the requested acquisition will be particularly valuable for research at the TUK within the SFB/TRR173 SPIN+X, the SFB/TRR88 3MET and the collaborations within SPP1927, as well as in future research programs.