EPR NRF Core Equipment Bid

电子顺磁共振（EPR）光谱，也称为电子自旋共振（ESR），可能是表征顺磁材料（即包含不成对电子）的最强大的技术。不成对电子会引起材料的磁性和电子特性，并且在存在时通常会控制反应性，因此了解它们的环境和行为很重要。从生物过程到磁性材料，准磁体无处不在;因此EPR是物理、化学、材料和生物科学中的重要工具。EPSRC资助了位于曼彻斯特大学（UoM）光子科学研究所（PSI）的EPR国家研究设施（NRF），为英国学术界提供最先进的实验技术和专业知识。粗略地说，有两种方法来做EPR光谱：连续波（cw）EPR和脉冲EPR，它们提供了互补的信息。脉冲EPR是一种分辨率更高的技术（允许测量涉及未成对电子的弱得多的相互作用），也可以获得时间分辨的信息。然而，这样的实验通常非常慢，需要长时间的数据收集以获得可接受的信噪比（例如，由于低顺磁体浓度）和/或宽范围的实验条件（例如，不同的施加磁场或实验的定时）。对单个样品进行的实验持续一周的连续测量是很常见的。因此，EPR NRF目前运行的两台脉冲EPR光谱仪是迄今为止订购最多的仪器。目前，密歇根大学在曼彻斯特生物技术研究所（MIB）设有第二台EPR设备，其中一台脉冲光谱仪于2009年投入使用。在这里，我们建议通过升级MIB光谱仪并将其重新定位和纳入PSI的NRF来扩大EPR NRF的容量和能力。这次升级和搬迁将以最低的成本将NRF的脉冲EPR能力提高50%。几乎所有的脉冲EPR都需要在低温下进行，需要液氦冷却。氦是一种昂贵且有限的资源。该提案的第二部分是在升级后的仪器上安装一个封闭系统的无冷冻剂低温恒温器，允许连续测量低于2 K的基础温度。这比我们目前在X波段所能达到的要低，这将使我们能够研究更广泛的材料。这也将几乎完全消除NRF对液氦的需求。新的完整光谱仪系统将为英国NRF的所有用户（包括ECR和博士生）增加脉冲EPR的能力，新的能力将扩大用户群。最后，新的工具包将使我们能够扩大我们的定期培训研讨会，因为参加人数受到光谱仪访问的限制。要联系国家EPR设施和服务，请发送电子邮件：epr@manchester.ac.uk

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, also known as Electron Spin Resonance (ESR), is possibly the most powerful technique for characterisation of paramagnetic materials, i.e. that contain unpaired electrons. Unpaired electrons give rise to the magnetic and electronic properties of materials and often govern reactivity when present, hence understanding their environment and behaviour is important. Paramagnets are ubiquitous from biological processes to magnetic materials; hence EPR is an essential tool in physics, chemistry, materials and biological sciences.The EPSRC funds a National Research Facility (NRF) for EPR, located in the Photon Science Institute (PSI) at The University of Manchester (UoM), providing access to state-of-the art experimental techniques and expertise for the UK academic community. Crudely, there are two ways to do EPR spectroscopy: continuous wave (cw) EPR and pulsed EPR, which give complementary information. Pulsed EPR is a much higher resolution technique (allowing measurement of much weaker interactions involving the unpaired electron) and also gives access to time-resolved information. However, such experiments are often very slow, requiring long data collection to get acceptable signal-to-noise (e.g. due to low paramagnet concentration) and/or a wide range of experimental conditions (e.g. different applied magnetic fields, or timings of the experiment). It is common for an experiment on a single sample to last a week of continuous measurement. As a consequence, the two pulsed EPR spectrometers that the EPR NRF currently runs are by far and away the most over-subscribed pieces of instrumentation.There is currently a second EPR facility at the UoM, based in the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), which houses a pulsed spectrometer that was commissioned in 2009. Here we are proposing to expand the capacity and capability of the EPR NRF by upgrading the MIB spectrometer and relocating and incorporating it into the NRF in the PSI. This upgrade and relocation will enhance the capacity for pulsed EPR in the NRF by 50% at minimal cost. Almost all pulsed EPR needs to be performed at low temperatures, requiring liquid helium cooling. Helium is an expensive and finite resource. The second part of the proposal is to install a closed-system cryogen-free cryostat to the upgraded instrument, allowing continuous measurement down to a base temperature of <2 K. This is lower than we can currently reach at X-band, which will enable study of a wider range of materials. It will also almost entirely remove the need for liquid helium in the NRF. The new complete spectrometer system will increase the capacity for pulsed EPR for all users of the NRF across the UK, including ECRs and doctoral students, and the new capability will widen the user base. Finally, the new kit will enable us to expand our regular training workshops because attendee numbers are limited by spectrometer access.To contact the National EPR Facility and Service, please email: epr@manchester.ac.uk