Compact, Integrated EPR Spectrometer for Dynamic Nuclear Polarization

描述(由申请人提供)：建议的研究重点是开发一种紧凑、集成的高场EPR光谱仪，用于DNP增强的固态魔角旋转(MAS)核磁共振波谱。该光谱仪将允许研究人员记录EPR谱，并在与DNP实验相同的条件下获得DNP样品的有价值的驰豫参数。近年来，DNP已被证明是在世界各地的实验室的核磁共振实验中增强信号强度的一种强有力的方法，并且在将DNP用于固体核磁共振光谱方面取得了实质性的进展。然而，为了理解和优化DNP过程，充分了解极化剂的EPR谱和弛豫参数是至关重要的。世界各地只有几台自制的高场光谱仪。因此，研究人员经常不得不推测他们的DNP样本的EPR特征。我们建议开发一种性价比高的EPR光谱仪，它可以很容易地改装成覆盖目前DNP光谱学中使用的整个频率范围。该设计将是紧凑和交钥匙的，这样该设备也可以被非专家使用。在这个项目的第一阶段，我们将进行完整的机械和电气设计，并制造出工作在263 GHz(400 MHz 1H)的EPR光谱仪原型。这项技术的成功开发将为研究人员提供目前无法获得的EPR特征，并将促进用于DNP-核磁共振光谱的新的、优化的偏振剂的开发。这将对许多由美国国立卫生研究院资助的项目产生重大影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed research focuses on the development of a compact, integrated high-field EPR spectrometer for DNP-enhanced solid-state, magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. The spectrometer will allow researchers to record the EPR spectra and obtain valuable relaxation parameters of the DNP sample under the same conditions under which the DNP experiment is performed. In recent years, DNP has proven to be a robust method to increase signal intensities in NMR experiments in laboratories around the world and substantial progress has been made in adapting DNP for solid-state NMR spectroscopy. However, to understand and optimize the DNP process it is crucial to fully understand the EPR spectrum and relaxation parameters of the polarizing agent. Only a few home-built high-field spectrometers are available around the world. Therefore researchers often have to speculate about the EPR characteristics of their DNP sample. We propose to develop a cost-effective EPR spectrometer that can easily be adapted to cover the complete frequency range that is currently used in DNP spectroscopy. The design will be compact and turn-key so that the device can also be used by non experts. During Phase I of this project we will perform the complete mechanical and electrical design and fabricate a prototype EPR spectrometer operating at 263 GHz (400 MHz 1H). The successful development of this technology will provide researchers access to currently inaccessible EPR characteristics and will proliferate the development of new, optimized polarizing agents for DNP-NMR spectroscopy. This will be of large interest to many projects funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.