Urgent and Cost-Effective Robot-Controlled Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance Spectrometer

我们提出了一个具有成本效益的解决方案，迫切需要一个机器人控制的核四极共振（NQR）谱仪控制台和相关的放大器和探头。据我们所知，加拿大没有这样的光谱仪，使用依赖于NMR光谱仪的临时工作区消耗了昂贵的资源。在通过核磁共振（NMR）光谱学研究周期表中的许多元素时出现了一个重要问题。元素周期表中75%的元素是四极的（核自旋I >1/2），经常导致光谱显著展宽。例如，在锗-73、碘-127和锑-121等同位素的情况下，四极展宽是如此严重，以至于固态NMR变得不切实际和棘手，即使在最高的商业可用磁场中。在没有外部施加磁场的情况下进行的NQR光谱成为唯一的选择。所要求的设备将使我们能够克服固态NMR光谱中观察到的四极展宽所带来的限制，并真正打开完整的元素和同位素周期表供研究。我们还将开发用于NQR的原位机械化学工具。自动调谐功能，加上先进的射频脉冲序列，将大大加快和推进我们的学术和工业研究的多条线。每年约有20名由共同申请人直接监督的高素质人员（HQP）将立即受益于使用该仪器。通过目前和今后的广泛协作，将实现更多的间接培训效益。作为NMR核心设施的一部分，还有超过200个其他潜在的HQP用户。将NQR光谱添加到他们的NMR和固态化学技能库中将有助于使他们成为学术，工业和政府部门备受追捧的候选人。

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.