Contactless NMR Spectroscopy on a Chip

Abstract

Inductively coupled planar resonators offer convenient integration of high-resolution NMR spectroscopy with microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices. Planar spiral resonators are fabricated lithographically either by gold electroplating or by etching Cu laminated with polyimide. Their performance is characterized by NMR imaging as well as spectroscopy. A single-scan limit of detection LOD(t) = 0.95 nmol s(1/2) was obtained from sample volumes around 1 μL. The sensitivity of this approach is similar to that obtained by microstripline and microslot probes.