Zero-Field NMR Measures Quadrupolar Nuclei for the First Time

Researchers at Mainz University and the University of California, Berkeley, have made significant advancements in zero-field nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, setting new standards for benchmarking quantum chemistry calculations.

What is the structure of a specific molecule? And how do molecules interact with one another? Researchers often turn to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to answer these questions. NMR utilizes a powerful external magnetic field to align the spins of atomic nuclei. These aligned spins are then induced to rotate by an oscillating weak magnetic field produced by coils.

A change in voltage as a result can be converted to measurable frequencies. Based on this, researchers can identify the molecular structures while also revealing certain information about the nuclear spin interactions. However, this type of investigation requires very strong magnetic fields generated by massive devices, which are themselves difficult to install and to maintain. At the same time, even with such elaborate equipment, it is still difficult to analyze quadrupolar nuclei, which are the most abundant type of nuclei in nature.