A dedicated spectrometer for dissolution DNP NMR spectroscopy

Abstract

Using low temperature dynamic nuclear polarisation (DNP) in conjunction with dissolution makes it possible to generate highly polarised nuclear spin systems for liquid state applications of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. However, in its current implementation, which requires the transfer of the solute between two different magnets, the hyperpolarisation strategy is limited to spin systems with relatively long longitudinal relaxation time constants. Here we describe the design and construction of a dedicated spectrometer for DNP applications that is based on a magnet with two isocentres. DNP enhancement is carried out in the upper compartment of this magnet in a low temperature environment at 3.35 T, while a 9.4 T isocentre in the lower compartment is used for high resolution NMR spectroscopy. The close proximity (85 cm) of the two isocentres makes it possible to transfer the sample in the solid state with very little loss of spin polarisation. In first performance tests this novel experimental set-up proved to be superior to the strategy involving two separate magnets.