Oxygen-17 NMR central-line exchange spectroscopy of the slow dynamics in glass formers and crystalline solids

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Roland Böhmer
• Subject Area: Analytical Chemistry
• Term: from 2016 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 286881352

Magnetic resonance exchange spectroscopy is a well-established and indispensable tool to study the ultraslow molecular and ionic dynamics in condensed matter. So far, the corresponding studies mostly focused on nuclei with spin 1/2 or spin 1, such as deuterium, carbon, or phosphorous and a few others. However, the spectra of most NMR-active nuclei are broadened to an extent that enables one only in exceptional cases to exploit them in studies of ultraslow dynamics. The principal goal of this project is to further develop the central-line spectroscopy of strongly quadrupolarly perturbed nuclei that was recently outlined theoretically and demonstrated experimentally by our group and to contribute to its general establishment as a method of investigation. In this context mostly oxygen-17 will be used, a nuclear probe that has proven useful in the study of diverse ion conducting materials as well as of materials that are relevant in the geological and in the life sciences. This project is devoted to the exploration of complex motional processes in crystals and glass formers which so far are not or not fully resolvable using other techniques. In this context, a variety of experimental and theoretical research avenues are outlined to enhance efficiency and range of applicability of the central-line exchange spectroscopy.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants