TRR 386:  HYP*MOL – Hyperpolarization in molecular systems

• Subject Area: Chemistry ; Biology ; Materials Science and Engineering ; Mathematics ; Physics
• Term: since 2023
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 514664767

Electrons and many atomic nuclei carry not only electric charge, but also a magnetic moment called “spin”. The controlled realization of a transient spin order of electrons or magnetic nuclei, i.e., of hyperpolarization, in molecular systems is expected to have a major impact in three research areas of chemistry and physics, namely magnetic resonance, spintronics and spin-chemistry with implications towards practical applications for example in medicine, multifunctional electronics, or high-yield catalysis. The CRC HYP*MOL will contribute to the fundamental understanding of generation of electronic and nuclear spin hyperpolarization, its transport through molecular structures and its control. To that end, HYP*MOL will bring the fields of magnetic resonance, spintronics and spin-chemistry together. In all three areas, hyperpolarization is deployed to enhance efficiency. We will focus on molecular systems, starting with small molecules, moving to oligomers and proteins, and finally to organometallic and covalent-organic frameworks (MOFs and COFs). The research of the CRC HYP*MOL, organized into four joint work packages (JWP) will allow to: (i) bring photo-CIDNP µ-MRI (photochemically indexed dynamic nuclear polarization micro-magnetic resonance imaging) to biomedical applications (JWP1); (ii) increase the understanding of spin transport mechanisms in molecular systems and unlock the CISS effect as a new source of hyperpolarization (JWP2); (iii) establish DNP-based distance measuring for biomolecular structure determination (JWP3), and (iv) achieve hyperpolarization on demand for magnetic imaging or photocatalytic applications by MOFs and COFs (JWP4). The fields of magnetic resonance, spintronics, and spin-chemistry will profit from the concerted approach of the CRC. The close collaboration between these three fields will lead to a unified molecular spin-science. Our two research areas provide critical masses for development of hyperpolarization-based methods for structure, imaging, and sensorics (Research area A) and rationally designed molecular systems for hyperpolarization (Research area B). All projects are carried out by interdisciplinary teams consisting of two to three group leaders combining experts in synthesis, analytics, and theory. Our integrated research training group (iRTG) will train the young spin-scientists the benefits of looking beyond the horizon of single research field and making use of concepts from the three communities joined by the CRC. HYP*MOL builds on an excellent research infrastructure at both locations in Leipzig and Chemnitz and integrates leaders in the field strategically at additional partner universities. Our consortium develops up-to-date regional interdisciplinary information technology networks. We place particular emphasis on gender equality issues and on improving work-family balance.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios

Current projects

• 1 - Magnetic resonance imaging with photo-CIDNP signal enhancement (Project Heads Alia Matysik, Alia ;  Matysik, Jörg )
• 1 - Distances by site-specific DNP for biomolecular structure determination (Project Heads Corzilius, Björn ;  Künze, Georg ;  Wiegand, Thomas )
• 1 - Solid-state photo-CIDNP NMR applying flavin systems (Project Heads Gulder, Tanja ;  Matysik, Jörg ;  Solovyov, Ph.D., Ilia )
• 1 - Magneto-detection by CISS-based hybrid interfaces (Project Heads Hellwig, Olav ;  Kelling, Jeffrey ;  Tegenkamp, Christoph )
• 1 - Suppressing nuclear spin relaxation by light-driven switching of multi-spin DNP agents (Project Heads Corzilius, Björn ;  Monakhov, Kirill )
• 2 - Development and characterization of self-assembled container molecules for triplet dynamic nuclear polarization (Project Heads Abel, Bernd ;  Kersting, Berthold )
• 2 - Systematically designed polypeptides to explore the CISS effect (Project Heads Gemming, Sibylle ;  Künze, Georg )
• 2 - Chiral nanoclusters for spin hyperpolarization upon photoexcitation (Project Heads Mehring, Michael ;  Salvan, Georgeta )
• 2 - Porous materials for pumping nuclear hyperpolarization of small molecules (Project Heads Krautscheid, Harald ;  Pöppl, Andreas ;  Wunderlich, Ralf )
• 2 - Block cooligomers for spin filtering and transport across all-organic interfaces (Project Heads Ortmann, Frank ;  Salvan, Georgeta ;  Sommer, Michael )
• 2 - Molecular thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters and their spin-dynamics (Project Heads Deibel, Carsten ;  Wiebeler, Christian ;  Zeitler, Kirsten )
• 2 - Flavomaquettes with observer spin label for hyperpo-larized EPR (Project Heads Coin, Irene ;  Elgeti, Matthias ;  Meiler, Jens )
• 2 - Design and application of novel TADF compounds for triplet–triplet upconverting photocatalysis (Project Heads Deibel, Carsten ;  Zeitler, Kirsten )
• 3 - Central administration and coordination (Project Head Matysik, Jörg )
• 3 - Scientific service project: Tailored chemical and biochemical probe factory (Peptide Factory) (Project Heads Coin, Irene ;  Lamers, Christina )
• 4 - Module: Integrated research training group (Project Heads Gemming, Sibylle ;  Kersting, Berthold )
• 5 - Information Infrastructure Project: Non-invasive interdisciplinary research data management in federated organizational environments (Project Heads Gaedke, Martin ;  Meiler, Jens )

• Applicant Institution: Universität Leipzig
• Co-Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Chemnitz
• Participating University: Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg; Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen; Technische Universität München (TUM); Universität Augsburg; Universität Rostock
• Participating Institution: Leibniz-Institut für Oberflächenmodifizierung e.V. (IOM)
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Jörg Matysik