New methods for the acquisition of ultra-wideline solid-state NMR spectra of spin-1/2 nuclides

Structure and bonding in rhodium coordination compounds: a 103Rh solid-state NMR and relativistic DFT study

This study demonstrates the application of 103Rh solid-state NMR (SSNMR) spectroscopy to inorganic and organometallic coordination compounds, in combination with relativistic density functional theory (DFT) calculations of 103Rh chemical shift tensors and their analysis with natural bond orbital (NBO) and natural localized molecular orbital (NLMO) protocols, to develop correlations between 103Rh chemical shift tensors, molecular structure, and Rh-ligand bonding. 103Rh is one of the least receptive NMR nuclides, and consequently, there are very few reports in the literature. We introduce robust 103Rh SSNMR protocols for stationary samples, which use the broadband adiabatic inversion-cross polarization (BRAIN-CP) pulse sequence and wideband uniform-rate smooth-truncation (WURST) pulses for excitation, refocusing, and polarization transfer, and demonstrate the acquisition of 103Rh SSNMR spectra of unprecedented signal-to-noise and uniformity. The 103Rh chemical shift tensors determined from these spectra are complemented by NBO/NLMO analyses of contributions of individual orbitals to the 103Rh magnetic shielding tensors to understand their relationship to structure and bonding. Finally, we discuss the potential for these experimental and theoretical protocols for investigating a wide range of materials containing the platinum group elements.

A Simple and Versatile Approach for the Low-Temperature Synthesis of Transition Metal Phosphide Nanoparticles from Metal Chloride Complexes and P(SiMe3 )3

Metal chloride complexes react with tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphine under mild condition to produce metal phosphide (TMP) nanoparticles (NPs), and chlorotrimethylsilane as a byproduct. The formation of Si-Cl bonds that are stronger than the starting M-Cl bonds acts as a driving force for the reaction. The potential of this strategy is illustrated through the preparation of ruthenium phosphide NPs using [RuCl2 (cymene)] and tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphine at 35 °C. Characterization with a combination of techniques including electron microscopy (EM), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, evidences the formation of small (diameter of 1.3 nm) and amorphous NPs with an overall Ru50 P50 composition. Interestingly, these NPs can be easily immobilized on functional support materials, which is of great interest for potential applications in catalysis and electrocatalysis. Mo50 P50 and Co50 P50 NPs can also be synthesized following the same strategy. This approach is simple and versatile and paves the way toward the preparation of a wide range of transition metal phosphide nanoparticles under mild reaction conditions.

An automated multi-order phase correction routine for processing ultra-wideline NMR spectra

Efficient acquisition of wideline solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra with patterns affected by large inhomogeneous broadening is accomplished with the use of broadband pulse sequences. These specialized pulse sequences often use frequency-swept pulses, which feature time-dependent phase and amplitude modulations that in turn deliver broad and uniform excitation across large spectral bandwidths. However, the resulting NMR spectra are often affected by complex frequency-dependent phase dispersions, owing to the interplay between the frequency-swept excitations and anisotropic resonance frequencies. Such phase distortions necessitate the use of multi-order non-linear corrections in order to obtain absorptive, distortion-free patterns with uniform phasing. Performing such corrections is often challenging due to the complex interdependence of the linear and non-linear phase contributions, and how these may affect the NMR signal. Hence, processing of these data usually involves calculating the spectra in magnitude mode wherein the phase information is discarded. Herein, we present a fully automated phasing routine that is capable of processing and phase correcting such wideline NMR spectra. Its performance is corroborated via processing of NMR data acquired using both the WURST-CPMG (Wideband, Uniform-Rate, Smooth Truncation with Carr-Purcell Meiboom-Gill acquisition) and BRAIN-CP (BRoadband Adiabatic Inversion Cross Polarization) pulse sequences for a variety of nuclei (i.e., 119Sn, 195Pt, 35Cl, 87Rb, and 14N). Based on both simulated and experimental NMR datasets, it is demonstrated that automatic phase corrections up to and including second order can be readily achieved without a priori information regarding the nature of the phase-distorted NMR datasets, and independently of the exact manner in which time-domain NMR data are collected and subsequently processed. In addition, it is shown that NMR spectra acquired at both single and multiple transmitter frequencies that are processed with this automated phasing routine have improved signal-to-noise properties than those processed with conventional magnitude calculations, along with powder patterns that better match those of ideal NMR spectra, even for datasets possessing low signal-to-noise ratios and/or affected by spectral artifacts.

Acceleration of indirect detection 195Pt solid-state NMR experiments by sideband selective excitation or alternative indirect sampling schemes

The measurement of the of chemical shift (CS) tensors via solid-state NMR (ssNMR) spectroscopy has proven to be a powerful probe of structure for organic molecules, biomolecules, and inorganic materials. However, when measuring the NMR spectra of heavy spin-1/2 isotopes the chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) is commonly on the order of thousands of parts per million, which makes acquisition of NMR spectra difficult due to the low NMR sensitivity imposed by the breadth of the signals and challenges in uniformly exciting the NMR spectrum. We have recently shown that complete ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectra could be rapidly measured by using ¹⁹⁵Pt saturation or excitation selective long pulses (SLP) with multiple rotor-cycle durations and RF fields less than 50 kHz into ¹H{¹⁹⁵Pt} or ¹H-³¹P{¹⁹⁵Pt} PE S-RESPDOR, TONE D-HMQC-4, J-resolved, and J-HMQC pulse sequences. The SLP only provide signal or dephasing when they are applied on resonance with a spinning sideband. The magic angle spinning ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectrum is reconstructed in the sideband selective NMR experiments by acquiring 1D NMR spectra at variable ¹⁹⁵Pt pulse offsets. In this work, we present a detailed investigation of the specific pulse conditions required for the ideal performance of sideband selective experiments. Sideband selective experiments are shown to be able to accurately reproduce MAS NMR spectra with minimal distortions of relative sideband intensities. It is also demonstrated that a ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectrum indirectly detected with HMQC can be rapidly obtained by acquiring a single rotor cycle of indirect dimension evolution points. We dub this method One Rotor Cycle of Acquisition (ORCA) HMQC. Sideband selective experiments and ORCA HMQC experiments are shown to provide a one order of magnitude improvement in experiment times as compared to conventional wideline HMQC experiments.

Structural characterization of a new fluorophosphotellurite glass system

While phosphotellurite glasses have superior properties over SiO₂-based glasses for many applications in optoelectronics and photonic devices, their high hydroxyl content limits their use in the mid-infrared range. This drawback can be overcome by fluoride addition to the formulation. In this work, we report the preparation, optical, and structural characterization of new glasses in the ternary system TeO₂-xNaF-NaPO₃ having the compositions 0.8TeO₂-0.2[xNaF-(1 - x)NaPO₃] and 0.6TeO₂-0.4[xNaF-(1 - x)NaPO₃] (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) obtained by the traditional melt-quenching method and labeled as T8NNx and T6NNx, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) reveals high thermal stability against crystallization, with T_x-T_g varying from 80 to 130 °C, depending on fluoride/phosphate ratios. Raman spectroscopy suggests that the network connectivity increases with increasing phosphate concentration. ¹²⁵Te, ²³Na, ³¹P, and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy provides detailed structural information about Te-O-P, Te-F, Te-O-Te, P-O-P, and P-F linkages and the charge compensation mechanism for the sodium ions. The present study is the first comprehensive structural characterization of a fluorophosphotellurite glass system.

Trimorphic TaCrP – A diffraction and 31P solid state NMR spectroscopic study

The metal-rich phosphide TaCrP forms from the elements by step-wise solid state reaction in an alumina crucible (maximum annealing temperature 1180 K). TaCrP is trimorphic. The structural data of the hexagonal ZrNiAl high-temperature phase (space group P 6 ‾ 2 m $P\overline{6}2m$ ) was deduced from a Rietveld refinement. At room temperature TaCrP crystallizes with the TiNiSi type (Pnma, a = 623.86(5), b = 349.12(3), c = 736.78(6) pm, wR = 0.0419, 401 F 2 values, 20 variables) and shows a Peierls type transition below ca. 280 K to the monoclinic low-temperature modification (P121/c1, a = 630.09(3), b = 740.3(4), c = 928.94(4) pm, β = 132.589(5)°, wR = 0.0580, 1378 F 2 values, 57 variables). The latter phase transition is driven by pairwise Cr–Cr bond formation out of an equidistant chain in o-TaCrP. The phase transition was monitored via different analytical tools: differential scanning calorimetry, powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility measurements and 31P solid state NMR spectroscopy.

Recent progress in solid-state NMR of spin-½ low-γ nuclei applied to inorganic materials

Significant technological and methodological advances in solid-state NMR techniques in recent years have increased the accessibility of nuclei with small magnetic moments (hereafter termed low-γ) underpinning an increased range of applications of such nuclei. These methodological advances are briefly summarised, including improvements in hardware and pulse sequences, as well as important developments in associated computational methods (e.g. first principles calculations, spectral simulation). Here spin-½ nuclei are the focus, with this Perspective complementing a very recent review that looked at half-integer spin low-γ quadrupolar nuclei. Reference is made to some of the original reports of such spin-½ nuclei, but recent progress in the relevant methodology and applications to inorganic materials (most within the last 10 years) of these nuclei are the focus. An overview of the current state-of-the-art of studying these nuclei is thereby provided for both NMR spectroscopists and materials researchers.

Magnesium-rich intermetallic compounds RE 3Ag4Mg12 (RE = Y, La–Nd, Sm–Dy, Yb) and AE 3Ag4Mg12 (AE = Ca, Sr)

The magnesium-rich intermetallic compounds RE 3Ag4Mg12 (RE = Y, La–Nd, Sm–Dy, Yb) and AE 3Ag4Mg12 (AE = Ca, Sr) were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum ampoules through heat treatment in an induction furnace. X-ray powder diffraction studies confirm the hexagonal Gd3Ru4Al12 type structure, space group P63/mmc. Three structures were refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data: a = 973.47(5), c = 1037.19(5) pm, wR2 = 0.0296, 660 F 2 values, 30 variables for Gd3Ag3.82(1)Mg12.18(1), a = 985.27(9), c = 1047.34(9) pm, wR2 = 0.0367, 716 F 2 values, 29 variables for Yb3Ag3.73(1)Mg12.27(1) and a = 992.41(8), c = 1050.41(8) pm, wR2 = 0.0373, 347 F 2 values, 28 variables for Ca3Ag3.63(1)Mg12.37(1). Refinements of the occupancy parameters revealed substantial Ag/Mg mixing within the silver-magnesium substructure, a consequence of the Ag@Mg8 coordination. The alkaline earth and rare earth atoms build Kagome networks. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate diamagnetism/Pauli paramagnetism for the compounds with Ca, Sr, Y and YbII, while the others with the trivalent rare earth elements are Curie-Weiss paramagnets. Most compounds order antiferromagnetically at T N  = 4.4(1) K (RE = Pr), 34.6(1) K (RE = Gd) and 23.5(1) K (RE = Tb) while Eu3Ag4Mg12 is a ferromagnet (T C  = 19.1(1) K). 151Eu Mössbauer spectra confirm divalent europium (δ = −9.88(1) mm s−1). Full magnetic hyperfine field splitting (18.4(1) T) is observed at 6 K. Yb3Ag4Mg12 shows a single resonance in its 171Yb solid state NMR spectrum at 6991 ppm at 300 K indicating a strong, positive Knight shift.

Molecular and Electronic Structure of Isolated Platinum Sites Enabled by the Expedient Measurement of 195Pt Chemical Shift Anisotropy

Techniques that can characterize the molecular structures of dilute surface species are required to facilitate the rational synthesis and improvement of Pt-based heterogeneous catalysts. ¹⁹⁵Pt solid-state NMR spectroscopy could be an ideal tool for this task because ¹⁹⁵Pt isotropic chemical shifts and chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) are highly sensitive probes of the local chemical environment and electronic structure. However, the characterization of Pt surface-sites is complicated by the typical low Pt loadings that are between 0.2 and 5 wt% and broadening of ¹⁹⁵Pt solid-state NMR spectra by CSA. Here, we introduce a set of solid-state NMR methods that exploit fast MAS and indirect detection using a sensitive spy nucleus (¹H or ³¹P) to enable the rapid acquisition of ¹⁹⁵Pt MAS NMR spectra. We demonstrate that high-resolution wideline ¹⁹⁵Pt MAS NMR spectra can be acquired in minutes to a few hours for a series of molecular and single-site Pt species grafted on silica with Pt loading of only 3-5 wt%. Low-power, long-duration, sideband-selective excitation, and saturation pulses are incorporated into t₁-noise eliminated dipolar heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence, perfect echo resonance echo saturation pulse double resonance, or J-resolved pulse sequences. The complete ¹⁹⁵Pt MAS NMR spectrum is then reconstructed by recording a series of 1D NMR spectra where the offset of the ¹⁹⁵Pt pulses is varied in increments of the MAS frequency. Analysis of the ¹⁹⁵Pt MAS NMR spectra yields the ¹⁹⁵Pt chemical shift tensor parameters. Zeroth order approximation density functional theory calculations accurately predict ¹⁹⁵Pt CS tensor parameters. Simple and predictive orbital models relate the CS tensor parameters to the Pt electronic structure and coordination environment. The methodology developed here paves the way for the detailed structural and electronic analysis of dilute platinum surface-sites.

Half-integer-spin quadrupolar nuclei in magic-angle spinning paramagnetic NMR: The case of NaMnO2

A combination of solid-state NMR methods for the extraction of ²³Na shift and quadrupolar parameters in the as-synthesized, structurally complex NaMnO₂ Na-ion cathode material, under magic-angle spinning (MAS) is presented. We show that the integration of the Magic-Angle Turning experiment with Rotor-Assisted Population transfer (RAPT) can be used both to identify shifts and to extract a range of magnitudes for their quadrupolar couplings. We also demonstrate the applicability of the two-dimensional one pulse (TOP) based double-sheared Satellite Transition Magic-Angle Spinning (TOP-STMAS) showing how it can yield a spectrum with separated shift and second-order quadrupolar anisotropies, which in turn can be used to analyze a quadrupolar lineshape free of anisotropic bulk magnetic susceptibility (ABMS) induced shift dispersion and determine both isotropic shift and quadrupolar products. Combining all these experiments, the shift and quadrupolar parameters for all observed Na environments were extracted and yielded excellent agreement with the density functional theory (DFT) based models that were reported in previous literature. We expect these methods to open the door for new possibilities for solid-state NMR to probe half-integer quadrupolar nuclei in paramagnetic materials and other systems exhibiting large shift dispersion.

Phosphine Ligand Binding and Catalytic Activity of Group 10-14 Heterobimetallic Complexes

Heterobimetallic complexes have attracted much interest due to their broad range of structures and reactivities as well as unique catalytic abilities. Additionally, these complexes can be utilized as single-source precursors for the synthesis of binary intermetallic compounds. An example is the family of bis(pyridine-2-thiolato)dichloro-germanium and tin complexes of group 10 metals (Pd and Pt). The reactivity of these heterobimetallic complexes is highly tunable through substitution of the group 14 element and the neutral ligand bound to the transition metal. Here, we study the binding energies of three different phosphorous-based ligands, PR₃ (R = Bu, Ph, and OPh) by density functional theory and restricted Hartree-Fock methods. The PR₃ ligand-binding energies follow the trend of PBu₃ > PPh₃ > P(OPh)₃, in agreement with their sigma-bonding ability. These results are confirmed by ligand exchange experiments monitored with ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, in which a weaker binding PR₃ ligand is replaced with a stronger one. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the heterobimetallic complexes are active catalysts in the Negishi coupling reaction, where stronger binding PR₃ ligands inhibit access to an active site at the metal center. Similar strategies could be applied to other complexes to better understand their ligand-binding energetics and predict their reactivity as both precursors and catalysts.

Long-chain mercury carboxylates relevant to saponification in oil and tempera paintings: XRPD and ssNMR complementary study of their crystal structures

Saponification, resulting from pigment-binder interactions, is one of the most endangering phenomena affecting the appearance and stability of painted works of art. The crystallization of metal carboxylates (soaps) in paint layers is recently assumed as the most critical point for the development of undesirable changes induced by saponification, however, the factors triggering it are not fully understood. The red pigment cinnabar (HgS) has been suspected of contributing to saponification, however, the paucity of reliable reference structural data limited the experimental research of its effect at the molecular level. Within this study we synthesized mercury(II) carboxylates of the formula Hg(C16)_x(C18)_2-x (x = 0.0; 0.2; 0.5; 0.8; 1.0; 1.2; 1.5; 1.8; 2.0) where C16 and C18 are hexadecanoate (palmitate) and octadecanoate (stearate), respectively, and characterize them by combination of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and ¹³C and ¹⁹⁹Hg solid state NMR (ssNMR). For a more detailed interpretation of their structural and thermal behavior, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used. The crystal structure of the studied mercury carboxylates was described on the basis of complementary ssNMR and XRPD measurements, Rietveld refinement and DFT calculations. All the subjected compounds crystallize in a monoclinic lattice of the C2/c symmetry. Mercury atoms are arranged in a slightly distorted square antiprismatic geometry and are monodentatically bonded to carboxylate anions. The structural disorder at the aliphatic end of the stearic acid chains was detected in the mixed carboxylates. Within the paper, the structural (dis)similarity with the corresponding lead carboxylates is discussed. The synthesized and characterized mercury carboxylates were applied to describe neo-formed mercury soaps in a model experiment simulating an egg-based paint system.

Improved design of frequency-swept pulse sequences

Frequency-swept pulses are extensively used in magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques for the robust manipulation of spins across wide ranges of offset frequencies in the presence of B₁ field variations. Nevertheless, designing pulse sequences consisting of multiple frequency-swept pulses can be challenging, as they often require specific timings and parameter tweaking. In the present work we discuss a simple and general approach for constructing such sequences. We present new and improved pulse sequences for applications including broadband B₁-tolerant CPMG (CHORUS-CPMG), broadband chirped excitation with suppression of homonuclear J-modulation (PROCHORUS), and the further compression of frequency-swept pulse sequences by superposition of pulses which reduces pulse sequence durations by 25-40%. All sequence design strategies are accompanied by mathematical presentations, experimental results, and supporting simulations.

Sensitivity Enhancement by Progressive Saturation of the Proton Reservoir: A Solid-State NMR Analogue of Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) enhances solution-state NMR signals of labile and otherwise invisible chemical sites, by indirectly detecting their signatures as a highly magnified saturation of an abundant resonance─for instance, the 1H resonance of water. Stimulated by this sensitivity magnification, this study presents PROgressive Saturation of the Proton Reservoir (PROSPR), a method for enhancing the NMR sensitivity of dilute heteronuclei in static solids. PROSPR aims at using these heteronuclei to progressively deplete the abundant 1H polarization found in most organic and several inorganic solids, and implements this 1H signal depletion in a manner that reflects the spectral intensities of the heteronuclei as a function of their chemical shifts or quadrupolar offsets. To achieve this, PROSPR uses a looped cross-polarization scheme that repeatedly depletes 1H-1H local dipolar order and then relays this saturation throughout the full 1H reservoir via spin-diffusion processes that act as analogues of chemical exchanges in the CEST experiment. Repeating this cross-polarization/spin-diffusion procedure multiple times results in an effective magnification of each heteronucleus's response that, when repeated in a frequency-stepped fashion, indirectly maps their NMR spectrum as sizable attenuations of the abundant 1H NMR signal. Experimental PROSPR examples demonstrate that, in this fashion, faithful wideline NMR spectra can be obtained. These 1H-detected heteronuclear NMR spectra can have their sensitivity enhanced by orders of magnitude in comparison to optimized direct-detect experiments targeting unreceptive nuclei at low natural abundance, using modest hardware requirements and conventional NMR equipment at room temperature.

Reconstructing Reliable Powder Patterns from Spikelets (Q)CPMG NMR Spectra: Simplification of UWNMR Crystallography Analysis

Spikelets NMR spectra are very popular as they enable the shortening of experimental time and give the possibility to obtain required NMR parameters for nuclei with ultrawide NMR patterns. Unfortunately, these resulted ssNMR spectra cannot be fitted directly in common software. For this reason, we developed UWNMRSpectralShape (USS) software which transforms spikelets NMR patterns into single continuous lines. Subsequently, these reconstructed spectral envelopes of the (Q)CPMG spikelets patterns can be loaded into common NMR software and automatically fitted, independently of experimental settings. This allows the quadrupole and chemical shift parameters to be accurately determined. Moreover, it makes fitting of spikelets NMR spectra exact, fast and straightforward.

125Te NMR for structural investigations in phase change materials: Optimization of experimental conditions coupled to NMR shift prediction

Phase Change Materials as those of the Ge-Sb-Te ternary system are of great interest for technological applications. Properties of these compounds are strongly related to presence of vacancies and structural investigations remain challenging. In this paper we evidence that ¹²⁵Te NMR in natural abundance and using commercial systems at intermediate field (14.1 ​T) together with NMR parameters prediction can contribute to improve understanding of electronic structure of such systems. GeTe is a typical phase change material, whose structure contains germanium vacancies, even in its stoichiometric form, giving it metallic properties. Here, we use nominal Ge₅₀Te₅₀ and Ge₄₈Te₅₂ crystalline samples as an example to optimize the WURST-CPMG technique, a powerful technique to record wide NMR spectra which has not yet been used on ¹²⁵Te. The goal was to minimize the time devoted to experiments as well as maximize the signal-to-noise ratio in order to detect small intensity signals directly linked to vacancies. Virtual Crystal Approximation (VCA) calculations performed with WIEN2K helped to interpret the NMR spectra. For Te-based crystalline conducting samples the best experimental results were obtained using 3.2 ​mm thin wall rotors with diluted samples 40 ​vol% GeTe-60 ​vol% SiO₂. In addition to the WURST-CPMG technique, high resolution spectra using MAS as implemented in the pj-MAT technique allowed us to identify the distributions of chemical shift parameters in the high intensity contribution of the 1D spectra. The NMR spectra recorded on the samples showed that an addition of Tellurium in the stoichiometric Ge₅₀Te₅₀ sample leads to an important broadening of the spectrum together with a shift of the lines. According to VCA calculations it could be attributed to a distribution of concentrations of germanium vacancies in the sample and it would appear that Knight Shift but also Chemical Shift could contribute in similar proportion to the NMR line position when metavalent bonding is invoked.

Frequency-Swept Ultra-Wideline Magic-Angle Spinning NMR Spectroscopy

Recent years have witnessed the development of solid-state NMR techniques that allow the direct investigation of extremely wide inhomogeneously broadened resonance lines. To date, this typically involves the application of frequency sweeps as offered by wideband uniform rate smooth truncation (WURST) pulses. While the effects of such advanced irradiation schemes on static samples are well understood, the interference between the varying carrier frequency and the time-dependent evolution of the spin system under magic-angle spinning (MAS) conditions is more complex. Herein, we introduce the well-known WURST-Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (WCPMG) pulse sequence for spinning samples. Using numerical spin-density matrix analysis, an ideal design based on fast frequency sweeps and high truncation of the incorporated WURST pulses is presented that enables uniform excitation/refocusing under MAS conditions with low-to-moderate radio-frequency power requirements. This permits the acquisition of ultra-wideline MAS NMR lines exceeding 500 kHz with chemical shift resolution in a single transmitter step.

Proton-detected solid-state NMR spectroscopy of spin-1/2 nuclei with large chemical shift anisotropy

Constant-time (CT) dipolar heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (D-HMQC) has previously been demonstrated as a method for proton detection of high-resolution wideline NMR spectra of spin-1/2 nuclei with large chemical shift anisotropy (CSA). However, ¹H transverse relaxation and t₁-noise often reduce the sensitivity of D-HMQC experiments, preventing the theoretical gains in sensitivity provided by ¹H detection from being realized. Here we demonstrate a series of improved pulse sequences for ¹H detection of spin-1/2 nuclei under fast MAS, with ¹⁹⁵Pt SSNMR experiments on cisplatin as an example. First, a t₁-incrementation protocol for D-HMQC dubbed Arbitrary Indirect Dwell (AID) is demonstrated. AID allows the use of arbitrary, rotor asynchronous t₁-increments, but removes the constant time period from CT D-HMQC, resulting in improved sensitivity by reducing transverse relaxation losses. Next, we show that short high-power adiabatic pulses (SHAPs), which efficiently invert broad MAS sideband manifolds, can be effectively incorporated into ¹H detected symmetry-based resonance echo double resonance (S-REDOR) and t₁-noise eliminated (TONE) D-HMQC experiments. The S-REDOR experiments with SHAPs provide approximately double the dipolar dephasing, as compared to experiments with rectangular inversion pulses. We lastly show that sensitivity and resolution can be further enhanced with the use of swept excitation pulses as well as adiabatic magic angle turning (aMAT).

Frequency-swept adiabatic pulses for broadband solid-state MAS NMR

We present a complete description of frequency-swept adiabatic pulses applied to isolated spin-1/2 nuclei with a shift anisotropy in solid materials under magic-angle spinning. Our theoretical framework unifies the existing descriptions of adiabatic pulses in the high-power regime, where the radiofrequency (RF) amplitude is greater than twice the spinning frequency, and the low-power regime, where the RF power is less than the spinning frequency, and so links the short high-powered adiabatic pulse (SHAP) and single-sideband-selective adiabatic pulses (S³AP) schemes used in paramagnetic solid-state NMR. We also identify a hitherto unidentified third regime intermediate between the low- and high-power regimes, and separated from them by rotary resonance conditions. We show that the prevailing benchmark of inversion performance based on (super) adiabatic factors is only applicable in the high- and intermediate-power regimes, but fails to account both for the poor performance at rotary resonance, and the impressive inversion seen in the low-power regime. For low-power pulses, which are non-adiabatic according to this definition of (super) adiabaticity, the effective Floquet Hamiltonian in the jolting frame reveals "hidden" (super) adiabaticity. The theory is demonstrated using a combination of simulation and experiment, and is used to refine the practical recommendations for the experimentalist who wishes to use these pulses.

Field-stepwise-swept QCPMG solid-state 115In NMR of indium oxide

Experimental and theoretical investigations of indium-115 electric-field-gradient (EFG) tensors of indium(III) oxide, In₂O₃, have been presented. Field-stepwise-swept QCPMG solid-state ¹¹⁵In NMR experiments are carried out at T ​= ​120 ​K, observed at 52.695 ​MHz, and in the range of external magnetic fields between 4.0 and 6.5 ​T. The spectral simulations yield the quadrupolar coupling constant, C_Q value, of 183(2) MHz and the asymmetry parameter, η_Q, of 0.05(5), for In(1), and that of 126(2) MHz and η_Q of 0.86(5) for In(2). Quantum chemical calculations are carried out to provide ¹¹⁵In EFG tensor orientations with respect to the molecular structure. A relationship between operative frequencies and variable ranges of external magnetic fields is briefly discussed for field-swept solid-state ¹¹⁵In NMR.

Chlorine-35 Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy as an Indirect Probe of the Oxidation Number of Tin in Tin Chlorides

Ultrawideline ³⁵Cl solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) spectra of a series of 12 tin chlorides were recorded. The magnitude of the ³⁵Cl quadrupolar coupling constant (C_Q) was shown to consistently indicate the chemical state (oxidation number) of the bound Sn center. The chemical state of the Sn center was independently verified by tin Mössbauer spectroscopy. C_Q(³⁵Cl) values of >30 MHz correspond to Sn(IV), while C_Q(³⁵Cl) readings of <30 MHz indicate that Sn(II) is present. Tin-119 SSNMR experiments would seem to be the most direct and effective route to interrogating tin in these systems, yet we show that ambiguous results can emerge from this method, which may lead to an incorrect interpretation of the Sn oxidation number. The accumulated ³⁵Cl NMR data are used as a guide to assign the Sn oxidation number in the mixed-valent metal complex Ph₃PPd^ImSnCl₂. The synthesis and crystal structure of the related Ph₃PPt^ImSnCl₂ are reported, and ¹⁹⁵Pt and ³⁵Cl SSNMR experiments were also used to investigate its Pt-Sn bonding. Plane-wave DFT calculations of ³⁵Cl, ¹¹⁹Sn, and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR parameters are used to model and interpret experimental data, supported by computed ¹¹⁹Sn and ¹⁹⁵Pt chemical shift tensor orientations. Given the ubiquity of directly bound Cl centers in organometallic and inorganic systems, there is tremendous potential for widespread usage of ³⁵Cl SSNMR parameters to provide a reliable indication of the chemical state in metal chlorides.

Review of the use of NMR spectroscopy to investigate structure, reactivity, and dynamics of lead soap formation in paintings

Heavy metal carboxylate or soap formation is a widespread deterioration problem affecting oil paintings and other works of art bearing oil-based media. Lead soaps are prevalent in traditional oil paintings because lead white was the white pigment most frequently chosen by old masters for the paints and in some cases for the ground preparations, until the development of other white pigments from approximately the middle of the 18th century on, and because of the wide use of lead-tin yellow. In the latter part of the 19th century, lead white began to be replaced by zinc white. The factors that influence soap formation have been the focus of intense study starting in the late 1990s. Since 2014, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies have contributed a unique perspective on the issue by providing chemical, structural, and dynamic information about the species involved in the process, as well as the effects of environmental conditions such as relative humidity and temperature on the kinetics of the reaction(s). In this review, we explore recent insights into soap formation gained through solid-state NMR and single-sided NMR techniques.

Uncovering lead formate crystallization in oil-based paintings

Lead carboxylates are an extensive group of compounds studied for their promising industrial applications and for their risky behavior when they are formed in oil paintings as corrosion products of lead-based pigments, leading to serious deterioration of paintings. Although the processes leading to the formation of aggregates, protrusions or inclusions, affecting undesirably the appearance of paintings, are assumed to be long term, neo-formed lead carboxylates are detectable in the early stage of paint drying. To uncover the chemical changes in lead pigments during the drying of oil paint films, model systems consisting of minium (Pb3O4) and four common drying oils were studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), 13C and 207Pb solid state NMR (ssNMR) spectroscopy and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). For the first time, a degradation mechanism of Pb3O4via the crystallization of lead formate (Pb(HCOO)2), at the end of oxidative polymerization of oil paint films, was uncovered. The formation of formic acid in oils was proved by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Vapor experiments evidenced the susceptibility of Pb3O4 to react with volatile formic acid released during the autoxidation of oils comparably to the direct pigment-binder interactions in paint films. The investigation of the local environment of lead atoms in the paint film by 207Pb WURST-CPMG NMR spectroscopy showed that Pb(ii) atoms reacted with linseed oil preferentially to form highly crystalline Pb(HCOO)2, while the local chemical environment of Pb(iv) atoms did not change. The results proved the co-existence of (i) highly crystalline Pb(HCOO)2, (ii) a highly mobile amorphous phase corresponding to free carboxylic acids or a nascent lead soap phase and (iii) the remaining Pb3O4 in the polymeric/ionomeric network. Pb(HCOO)2 is assumed to be an intermediate for the conversion of Pb3O4 to lead soaps and/or lead carbonates.

On the use of frequency-swept pulses and pulses designed with optimal control theory for the acquisition of ultra-wideline NMR spectra

Frequency-swept (FS) pulses, such as wideband uniform-rate smooth-truncation (WURST) pulses, have found much success for the acquisition of ultra-wideline (UW) solid-state NMR spectra. In this preliminary study, new pulses and pulse sequences are explored in simulation and experimentally for several nuclei exhibiting UWNMR powder patterns under static conditions, including ¹¹⁹Sn (I = 1/2), ¹⁹⁵Pt (I = 1/2), ²H (I = 1), and ⁷¹Ga (I = 3/2). First, hyperbolic secant (HS) and tanh/tan (THT) pulses are tested and implemented as excitation and refocusing pulses in spin-echo and Carr-Purcell/Meiboom Gill (CPMG)-type sequences, and shown to have comparable performances to analogous WURST pulses. Second, optimal control theory (OCT) is utilized for the design of new Optimal Control Theory Optimized Broadband Excitation and Refocusing (OCTOBER) pulses, using carefully parameterized WURST, THT, and HS pulses as starting points. Some of the new OCTOBER pulses used in spin-echo sequences are capable of efficient broadband excitation and refocusing, in some cases resulting in spectra with increased signal enhancements over those obtained in experiments using conventional FS pulses. Finally, careful consideration of the spin dynamics of several systems, by monitoring of the time evolution of the density matrix via the Liouville-von Neumann equation and analysis of the time-resolved Fourier transforms of the pulses, lends insight into the underlying mechanisms of the FS and OCTOBER pulses. This is crucial for understanding their performance in terms of generating uniformly excited patterns of high signal intensity, and for identifying trends that may offer pathways to generalized parameterization and/or new pulse shapes.

Paramagnetic NMR in solution and the solid state

The field of paramagnetic NMR has expanded considerably in recent years. This review addresses both the theoretical description of paramagnetic NMR, and the way in which it is currently practised. We provide a review of the theory of the NMR parameters of systems in both solution and the solid state. Here we unify the different languages used by the NMR, EPR, quantum chemistry/DFT, and magnetism communities to provide a comprehensive and coherent theoretical description. We cover the theory of the paramagnetic shift and shift anisotropy in solution both in the traditional formalism in terms of the magnetic susceptibility tensor, and using a more modern formalism employing the relevant EPR parameters, such as are used in first-principles calculations. In addition we examine the theory first in the simple non-relativistic picture, and then in the presence of spin-orbit coupling. These ideas are then extended to a description of the paramagnetic shift in periodic solids, where it is necessary to include the bulk magnetic properties, such as magnetic ordering at low temperatures. The description of the paramagnetic shift is completed by describing the current understanding of such shifts due to lanthanide and actinide ions. We then examine the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement, using a simple model employing a phenomenological picture of the electronic relaxation, and again using a more complex state-of-the-art theory which incorporates electronic relaxation explicitly. An additional important consideration in the solid state is the impact of bulk magnetic susceptibility effects on the form of the spectrum, where we include some ideas from the field of classical electrodynamics. We then continue by describing in detail the solution and solid-state NMR methods that have been deployed in the study of paramagnetic systems in chemistry, biology, and the materials sciences. Finally we describe a number of case studies in paramagnetic NMR that have been specifically chosen to highlight how the theory in part one, and the methods in part two, can be used in practice. The systems chosen include small organometallic complexes in solution, solid battery electrode materials, metalloproteins in both solution and the solid state, systems containing lanthanide ions, and multi-component materials used in pharmaceutical controlled-release formulations that have been doped with paramagnetic species to measure the component domain sizes.

Recent advances in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of exotic nuclei

We present a review of recent advances in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) studies of exotic nuclei. Exotic nuclei may be spin-1/2 or quadrupolar, and typically have low gyromagnetic ratios, low natural abundances, large quadrupole moments (when I > 1/2), or some combination of these properties, generally resulting in low receptivities and/or prohibitively broad line widths. Some nuclides are little studied for other reasons, also rendering them somewhat exotic. We first discuss some of the recent progress in pulse sequences and hardware development which continues to enable researchers to study new kinds of materials as well as previously unfeasible nuclei. This is followed by a survey of applications to a wide range of exotic nuclei (including e.g., ⁹Be, ²⁵Mg, ³³S, ³⁹K, ⁴³Ca, ^47/49Ti, ⁵³Cr, ⁵⁹Co, ⁶¹Ni, ⁶⁷Zn, ⁷³Ge, ⁷⁵As, ⁸⁷Sr, ¹¹⁵In, ¹¹⁹Sn, ^121/123Sb, ^135/137Ba, ^185/187Re, ²⁰⁹Bi), most of them quadrupolar. The scope of the review is the past ten years, i.e., 2007-2017.

Broadband adiabatic inversion cross-polarization phenomena in the NMR of rotating solids

We explore the use of cross-polarization magic-angle spinning (CPMAS) methods incorporating an adiabatic frequency sweep in a standard Hartman-Hahn CPMAS pulse scheme, to achieve signal enhancements in solid-state NMR spectra of rare spins under fast MAS spinning rates, including spin-1/2, integer spin, and half-integer spin nuclides. These experiments, dubbed Broadband Adiabatic INversion Cross-Polarization Magic-Angle Spinning (BRAIN-CPMAS) experiments, involve an adiabatic inversion pulse on the S-channel of a rare spin nuclide while simultaneously applying a conventional spin-locking pulse on the I-channel (¹H). The signal enhancement imparted by this CP scheme on the S-spin is broadbanded, while employing low RF field strengths on both I- and S-channels. A feature demanded by these BRAIN-CPMAS methods is to impose a selective adiabatic frequency sweep over a single MAS spinning centerband or sideband, to avoid interference between the MAS modulation and sweeps over multiple sidebands. Upon implementing this swept-CP method, a number of MAS-driven processes happen, including broadband zero- and double-quantum CP transfers, and MAS-driven rotary-resonance phenomena. When this CP method is applied to integer and half-integer quadrupolar nuclei at very fast MAS spinning rates, a favorable double-quantum CP condition is found that can be easily achieved, and avoids the level-crossings among various m_s energy levels that complicate quadrupolar CPMAS NMR experiments along lines first shown by Alex Vega. An additional CP mechanism was found in the ¹H-²H case, involving static-like zero-quantum CP modes driven by a quadrupole-modulated RF-dipolar zero-order recoupling under MAS. All these phenomena were examined using average Hamiltonian theory, numerical simulations, and experiments on model compounds. Sensitivity-enhanced, distortion-free CP over wide bandwidths were predicted and observed for S = 1/2 and for S = 1 (²H) under fast MAS rates. BRAIN-CPMAS also delivered undistorted central transition NMR spectra of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei, while utilizing low RF field strengths that avoid complex level-crossing effects under high MAS rates.

Indirect detection of broad spectra in solid-state NMR using interleaved DANTE trains

We analyze the performances and the optimization of ¹H-{I} HMQC experiments using basic and interleaved DANTE schemes for the indirect detection of nuclei I = 1/2 or 1 exhibiting wide lines dominated by chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) or quadrupole interaction, respectively. These sequences are first described using average Hamiltonian theory. Then, we analyze using numerical simulations (i) the optimal lengths of the DANTE train and the individual pulses, (ii) the robustness of these experiments to offset, and (iii) the optimal choice of the defocusing and refocusing times for both ¹H-{I} J- and D-HMQC sequences for ¹⁹⁵Pt (I = 1/2) and ¹⁴N (I = 1) nuclei subject to large CSA and quadrupole interaction, respectively. These simulations are compared to ¹H-{¹⁴N} D-HMQC experiments on γ-glycine and L-histidine.HCl at B₀ = 18.8 T and MAS frequency of 62.5 kHz. The present study shows that (i) the optimal defocusing and refocusing times do not depend on the chosen DANTE scheme, (ii) the DANTE trains must be applied with the highest rf-field compatible with the probe specifications and the stability of the sample, (iii) the excitation bandwidth along the indirect dimension of HMQC sequence using DANTE trains is inversely proportional to their length, (iv) interleaved DANTE trains increase the excitation bandwidth of these sequences, and (v) dephasing under residual ¹H-¹H and ¹H-I dipolar couplings, as well as ¹⁴N second-order quadrupole interaction, during the length of the DANTE scheme attenuate the transfer efficiency.

Wideband frequency-swept excitation in pulsed EPR spectroscopy

Excitation of electron spins with monochromatic rectangular pulses is limited to bandwidths that are smaller than the spectral widths of most organic radicals and much smaller than the spectral widths of transition and rare earth metal ions. With frequency-swept pulses, bandwidths of up to 800MHz have previously been attained for excitation and detection of spin packets at frequencies of about 9.6GHz and bandwidths of up to 2.5GHz in a polarization transfer experiment at frequencies of about 34GHz. The remaining limitations, mainly due to resonator bandwidth and due to pulse length restrictions are discussed. Flip angles for state-space rotations on passage of a transition can generally be computed from the critical adiabaticity by the Landau-Zener-Stückelberg-Majorana expression. For hyperbolic secant pulses, the Demkov-Kunike model describes excitation for spin packets within and outside the sweep range. Well within the sweep range, the Bloch-Siegert phase shift is proportional to critical adiabaticity to a very good approximation. Because of the dependence of both flip angle and coherence phase on critical adiabaticity, it is advantageous to use pairs of amplitude and frequency modulation functions that provide such offset-independent adiabaticity. Compensation for the resonator response function should restore offset-independent adiabaticity. Whereas resonance offsets and Bloch-Siegert phase can be refocused at certain pulse length ratios, phase dispersion in coupled spin systems cannot generally be refocused. Based on the bandwidth limitations that arise from spin dynamics, requirements are derived for a spectrometer that achieves precise spin control over wide bands. The design of such a spectrometer and hardware characterization by EPR experiments are discussed.

Practical considerations for the acquisition of ultra-wideline 14N NMR spectra

Several considerations for the acquisition, processing, and analysis of high quality ultra-wideline (UW) ¹⁴N solid-state NMR (SSNMR) powder patterns under static conditions are discussed. It is shown that the ¹⁴N quadrupolar parameters may be determined accurately using the frequencies of only two discontinuities in ¹⁴N NMR powder patterns that are dominated by the first-order quadrupolar interaction, thereby eliminating the need for the acquisition of the entire pattern and concomitantly reducing experimental time. A framework for utilizing the WURST-CPMG pulse sequence to improve the efficiency of UW ¹⁴N SSNMR experiments is explored in two parts: (i) a systematic investigation of the design and parameterization of the WURST pulse is presented, and (ii) the development of the practical aspects of CPMG refocusing for the acquisition of UW ¹⁴N SSNMR powder patterns is discussed, with a focus on maximizing both signal-to-noise and resolution, and minimizing spectral distortions. Finally, a strategy is demonstrated that allows for the measurement of the ¹⁴N quadrupolar parameters for any nitrogen moiety whose quadrupolar coupling constant falls within the range 0.8≤|C_Q|≤1.5MHz, by acquiring only two ¹⁴N NMR sub-spectra at strategically located transmitter frequencies; these results are compared to full powder patterns which are acquired using frequency-stepped methods. The methodologies and practical considerations outlined herein are not only useful for the rapid acquisition of UW ¹⁴N NMR spectra, but may also be modified and applied for UW NMR of a plethora of quadrupolar and spin-1/2 nuclides.

Adiabatic sweep cross-polarization magic-angle-spinning NMR of half-integer quadrupolar spins

The use of frequency-swept radiofrequency (rf) pulses for enhancing signals in the magic-angle spinning (MAS) spectra of half-integer quadrupolar nuclides was explored. The broadband adiabatic inversion cross-polarization magic-angle spinning (BRAIN-CPMAS) method, involving an adiabatic inversion pulse on the S-channel and a simultaneous rectangular spin-lock pulse on the I-channel (¹H), was applied to I(1/2)→S(3/2) systems. Optimal BRAIN-CPMAS matching conditions were found to involve low rf pulse strengths for both the I- and S-spin channels. At these low and easily attainable rf field strengths, level-crossing events among the energy levels |3/2〉,|1/2〉,|-1/2〉,|-3/2〉 that are known to complicate the CPMAS of quadrupolar nuclei, are mostly avoided. Zero- and double-quantum polarization transfer modes, akin to those we have observed for I(1/2)→S(1/2) polarization transfers, were evidenced by these analyses even in the presence of the quadrupolar interaction. ¹H-²³Na and ¹H-¹¹B BRAIN-CPMAS conditions were experimentally explored on model compounds by optimizing the width of the adiabatic sweep, as well as the rf pulse powers of the ¹H and ²³Na/¹¹B channels, for different MAS rates. The experimental data obtained on model compounds containing spin-3/2 nuclides, matched well predictions from numerical simulations and from an average Hamiltonian theory model. Extensions to half-integer spin nuclides with higher spins and potential applications of this BRAIN-CPMAS approach are discussed.

Enhanced efficiency of solid-state NMR investigations of energy materials using an external automatic tuning/matching (eATM) robot

We have developed and explored an external automatic tuning/matching (eATM) robot that can be attached to commercial and/or home-built magic angle spinning (MAS) or static nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probeheads. Complete synchronization and automation with Bruker and Tecmag spectrometers is ensured via transistor-transistor-logic (TTL) signals. The eATM robot enables an automated "on-the-fly" re-calibration of the radio frequency (rf) carrier frequency, which is beneficial whenever tuning/matching of the resonance circuit is required, e.g. variable temperature (VT) NMR, spin-echo mapping (variable offset cumulative spectroscopy, VOCS) and/or in situ NMR experiments of batteries. This allows a significant increase in efficiency for NMR experiments outside regular working hours (e.g. overnight) and, furthermore, enables measurements of quadrupolar nuclei which would not be possible in reasonable timeframes due to excessively large spectral widths. Additionally, different tuning/matching capacitor (and/or coil) settings for desired frequencies (e.g.⁷Li and ³¹P at 117 and 122MHz, respectively, at 7.05 T) can be saved and made directly accessible before automatic tuning/matching, thus enabling automated measurements of multiple nuclei for one sample with no manual adjustment required by the user. We have applied this new eATM approach in static and MAS spin-echo mapping NMR experiments in different magnetic fields on four energy storage materials, namely: (1) paramagnetic ⁷Li and ³¹P MAS NMR (without manual recalibration) of the Li-ion battery cathode material LiFePO₄; (2) paramagnetic ¹⁷O VT-NMR of the solid oxide fuel cell cathode material La₂NiO_4+δ; (3) broadband ⁹³Nb static NMR of the Li-ion battery material BNb₂O₅; and (4) broadband static ¹²⁷I NMR of a potential Li-air battery product LiIO₃. In each case, insight into local atomic structure and dynamics arises primarily from the highly broadened (1-25MHz) NMR lineshapes that the eATM robot is uniquely suited to collect. These new developments in automation of NMR experiments are likely to advance the application of in and ex situ NMR investigations to an ever-increasing range of energy storage materials and systems.

Elimination of the baseline distortions in WURST-CPMG static experiments

The WURST-CPMG pulse sequence enables: (i) observing very broad spectra due to WURST excitation, and (ii) increasing the S/N ratio due to CPMG acquisition. However, strong baseline distortions may be observed, which make the extraction of the tensor information difficult. We propose a slight modification of the sequence, WURST-CPMGM, in which we skip the first M echoes and we only acquire the following ones. This simple treatment mostly eliminates the strong background signal and the ring down effects, leading to a flat baseline.

Spin-orbit effects on the (119)Sn magnetic-shielding tensor in solids: a ZORA/DFT investigation

Periodic-boundary and cluster calculations of the magnetic-shielding tensors of (119)Sn sites in various co-ordination and stereochemical environments are reported. The results indicate a significant difference between the predicted NMR chemical shifts for tin(ii) sites that exhibit stereochemically-active lone pairs and tin(iv) sites that do not have stereochemically-active lone pairs. The predicted magnetic shieldings determined either with the cluster model treated with the ZORA/Scalar Hamiltonian or with the GIPAW formalism are dependent on the oxidation state and the co-ordination geometry of the tin atom. The inclusion of relativistic effects at the spin-orbit level removes systematic differences in computed magnetic-shielding parameters between tin sites of differing stereochemistries, and brings computed NMR shielding parameters into significant agreement with experimentally-determined chemical-shift principal values. Slight improvement in agreement with experiment is noted in calculations using hybrid exchange-correlation functionals.

Natural abundance 14N and 15N solid-state NMR of pharmaceuticals and their polymorphs

¹⁴N and ¹⁵N solid-state NMR at natural abundance are used in tandem for the investigation of pharmaceuticals and their polymorphs.

PIC microcontroller based external fast analog to digital converter to acquire wide-lined solid NMR spectra by BRUKER DRX and Avance-I spectrometers

Concerning many former liquid or hybrid liquid/solid NMR consoles, the built in Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) are incapable of digitizing the fids at sampling rates in the MHz range. Regarding both strong anisotropic interactions in the solid state and wide chemical shift dispersion nuclei in solution phase such as (195)Pt, (119)Sn, (207)Pb etc., the spectrum range of interest might be in the MHz range. As determining the informative tensor components of anisotropic NMR interactions requires nonlinear fitting over the whole spectrum including the asymptotic baseline, it is prohibited by low sampling rates of the ADCs. Wide spectrum width is also useful in solution NMR, since windowing of wide chemical shift ranges is avoidable. We built an external analog to digital converter with 10 MHz maximal sampling rate, which can work simultaneously with the built in ADC of the spectrometer. The ADC was tested on both Bruker DRX and Avance-I NMR consoles. In addition to the analog channels it only requires three external digital lines of the NMR console. The ADC sends data to PC via USB. The whole process is controlled by software written in JAVA which is implemented under TopSpin.