Cross-Effect Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Explained: Polarization, Depolarization, and Oversaturation

Pulsed dynamic nuclear polarization: a comprehensive Floquet description

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) experiments using microwave (mw) pulse sequences are one approach to transfer the larger polarization on the electron spin to nuclear spins of interest. How the result of such experiments depends on the external magnetic field and the excitation power is part of an ongoing debate and of paramount importance for applications that require high chemical-shift resolution. To date numerical simulations using operator-based Floquet theory have been used to predict and explain experimental data. However, such numerical simulations provide only limited insight into parameters relevant for efficient polarization transfer, such as transition amplitudes or resonance offsets. Here we present an alternative method to describe pulsed DNP experiments by using matrix-based Floquet theory. This approach leads to analytical expressions for the transition amplitudes and resonance offsets. We validate the method by comparing computations by these analytical expressions to their numerical counterparts and to experimental results for the XiX, TOP and TPPM DNP sequences. Our results explain the experimental data and are in very good agreement with the numerical simulations. The analytical expressions allow for the discussion of the scaling behaviour of pulsed DNP experiments with respect to the external magnetic field. We find that the transition amplitudes scale inversely with the external magnetic field.

Dipolar Order Induced Electron Spin Hyperpolarization

The structure of coupled electron spin systems is of fundamental interest to many applications, including dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), the generation of electron spin qubits for quantum information science (QIS), and quantitative studies of paramagnetic systems by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). However, the characterization of electron spin coupling networks is nontrivial, especially at high magnetic fields. This study focuses on a system containing high concentrations of trityl radicals that give rise to a DNP enhancement profile of 1H NMR characteristic of the presence of electron spin clusters. When this system is subject to selective microwave saturation through pump-probe ELectron DOuble Resonance (ELDOR) experiments, electron spin hyperpolarization is observed. We show that the generation of an out-of-equilibrium longitudinal dipolar order is responsible for the transient hyperpolarization of electron spins. Notably, the coupled electron spin system needs to form an AX-like system (where the difference in the Zeeman interactions of two spins is larger than their coupling interaction) such that selective microwave irradiation can generate signatures of electron spin hyperpolarization. We show that the extent of dipolar order, as manifested in the extent of electron spin hyperpolarization generated, can be altered by tuning the pump or probe pulse length, or the interpulse delay in ELDOR experiments that change the efficiency to generate or readout longitudinal dipolar order. Pump-probe ELDOR with selective saturation is an effective means for characterizing coupled electron spins forming AX-type spin systems that are foundational for DNP and quantum sensing.

P1 Center Electron Spin Clusters Are Prevalent in Type Ib Diamonds

Understanding the spatial distribution of the P1 centers is crucial for diamond-based sensors and quantum devices. P1 centers serve as polarization sources for dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) quantum sensing and play a significant role in the relaxation of nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers. Additionally, the distribution of NV centers correlates with the distribution of P1 centers, as NV centers are formed through the conversion of P1 centers. We utilized DNP and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques that revealed strong clustering of a significant population of P1 centers that exhibit exchange coupling and produce asymmetric line shapes. The 13C DNP frequency profile at a high magnetic field revealed a pattern that requires an asymmetric EPR line shape of the P1 clusters with electron-electron (e-e) coupling strengths exceeding the 13C nuclear Larmor frequency. EPR and DNP characterization at high magnetic fields was necessary to resolve energy contributions from different e-e couplings. We employed a two-frequency pump-probe pulsed electron double resonance technique to show cross-talk between the isolated and clustered P1 centers. This finding implies that the clustered P1 centers affect all of the P1 populations. Direct observation of clustered P1 centers and their asymmetric line shape offers a novel and crucial insight into understanding magnetic noise sources for quantum information applications of diamonds and for designing diamond-based polarizing agents with optimized DNP efficiency for 13C and other nuclear spins of analytes. We propose that room temperature 13C DNP at a high field, achievable through straightforward modifications to existing solution-state NMR systems, is a potent tool for evaluating and controlling diamond defects.

AsymPol-TEKs as efficient polarizing agents for MAS-DNP in glass matrices of non-aqueous solvents

Two polarizing agents from the AsymPol family, AsymPol-TEK and cAsymPol-TEK (methyl-free version) are introduced for MAS-DNP applications in non-aqueous solvents. The performance of these new biradicals is rationalized in detail using a combination of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, density functional theory, molecular dynamics and quantitative MAS-DNP spin dynamics simulations. By slightly modifying the experimental protocol to keep the sample temperature low at insertion, we are able to obtain reproducable DNP-NMR data with 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (TCE) at 100 K, which facilitates optimization and comparison of different polarizing agents. At intermediate magnetic fields, AsymPol-TEK and cAsymPol-TEK provide 1.5 to 3-fold improvement in sensitivity compared to TEKPol, one of the most widely used polarizing agents for organic solvents, with significantly shorter DNP build-up times of ∼1 s and ∼2 s at 9.4 and 14.1 T respectively. In the course of the work, we also isolated and characterized two diastereoisomers that can form during the synthesis of AsymPol-TEK; their difference in performance is described and discussed. Finally, the advantages of the AsymPol-TEKs are demonstrated by recording 2D 13C-13C correlation experiments at natural 13C-abundance of proton-dense microcrystals and by polarizing the surface of ZnO nanocrystals (NCs) coated with diphenyl phosphate ligands. For those experiments, cAsymPol-TEK yielded a three-fold increase in sensitivity compared to TEKPol, corresponding to a nine-fold time saving.

Multi Electron Spin Cluster Enabled Dynamic Nuclear Polarization with Sulfonated BDPA

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) can amplify the solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal by several orders of magnitude. The mechanism of DNP utilizing α,γ-bisdiphenylene-β-phenylallyl (BDPA) variants as Polarizing Agents (PA) has been the subject of lively discussions on account of their remarkable DNP efficiency with low demand for microwave power. We propose that electron spin clustering of sulfonated BDPA is responsible for its DNP performance, as revealed by the temperature-dependent shape of the central DNP profile and strong electron-electron (e-e) crosstalk seen by Electron Double Resonance. We demonstrate that a multielectron spin cluster can be modeled with three coupled spins, where electron J (exchange) coupling between one of the e-e pairs matching the NMR Larmor frequency induces the experimentally observed absorptive central DNP profile, and the electron T1e modulated by temperature and magic-angle spinning alters the shape between an absorptive and dispersive feature. Understanding the microscopic origin is key to designing new PAs to harness the microwave-power-efficient DNP effect observed with BDPA variants.

Large cross-effect dynamic nuclear polarisation enhancements with kilowatt inverting chirped pulses at 94 GHz

Dynamic nuclear polarisation (DNP) is a process that transfers electron spin polarisation to nuclei by applying resonant microwave radiation, and has been widely used to improve the sensitivity of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Here we demonstrate new levels of performance for static cross-effect proton DNP using high peak power chirped inversion pulses at 94 GHz to create a strong polarisation gradient across the inhomogeneously broadened line of the mono-radical 4-amino TEMPO. Enhancements of up to 340 are achieved at an average power of a few hundred mW, with fast build-up times (3 s). Experiments are performed using a home-built wideband kW pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer operating at 94 GHz, integrated with an NMR detection system. Simultaneous DNP and EPR characterisation of other mono-radicals and biradicals, as a function of temperature, leads to additional insights into limiting relaxation mechanisms and give further motivation for the development of wideband pulsed amplifiers for DNP at higher frequencies.

A unified description for polarization-transfer mechanisms in magnetic resonance in static solids: Cross polarization and DNP

Polarization transfers are crucial building blocks in magnetic resonance experiments, i.e., they can be used to polarize insensitive nuclei and correlate nuclear spins in multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The polarization can be transferred either across different nuclear spin species or from electron spins to the relatively low-polarized nuclear spins. The former route occurring in solid-state NMR can be performed via cross polarization (CP), while the latter route is known as dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP). Despite having different operating conditions, we opinionate that both mechanisms are theoretically similar processes in ideal conditions, i.e., the electron is merely another spin-1/2 particle with a much higher gyromagnetic ratio. Here, we show that the CP and DNP processes can be described using a unified theory based on average Hamiltonian theory combined with fictitious operators. The intuitive and unified approach has allowed new insights into the cross-effect DNP mechanism, leading to better design of DNP polarizing agents and extending the applications beyond just hyperpolarization. We explore the possibility of exploiting theoretically predicted DNP transients for electron–nucleus distance measurements—such as routine dipolar-recoupling experiments in solid-state NMR.

Spinning-Driven Dynamic Nuclear Polarization with Optical Pumping

We propose a new, more efficient, and potentially cost effective, solid-state nuclear spin hyperpolarization method combining the cross-effect mechanism and electron spin optical hyperpolarization in rotating solids. We first demonstrate optical hyperpolarization in the solid state at low temperatures and low field and then investigate its field dependence to obtain the optimal condition for high-field electron spin hyperpolarization. The results are then incorporated into advanced magic-angle spinning dynamic nuclear polarization (MAS-DNP) numerical simulations that show that optically pumped MAS-DNP could yield breakthrough enhancements at very high magnetic fields. Based on these investigations, enhancements greater than the ratio of electron to nucleus magnetic moments (>658 for ¹H) are possible without microwave irradiation. This could solve at once the MAS-DNP performance decrease with increasing field and the high cost of MAS-DNP instruments at very high fields.

Solid-State NMR Investigations of Extracellular Matrixes and Cell Walls of Algae, Bacteria, Fungi, and Plants

Extracellular matrixes (ECMs), such as the cell walls and biofilms, are important for supporting cell integrity and function and regulating intercellular communication. These biomaterials are also of significant interest to the production of biofuels and the development of antimicrobial treatment. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) and magic-angle spinning-dynamic nuclear polarization (MAS-DNP) are uniquely powerful for understanding the conformational structure, dynamical characteristics, and supramolecular assemblies of carbohydrates and other biomolecules in ECMs. This review highlights the recent high-resolution investigations of intact ECMs and native cells in many organisms spanning across plants, bacteria, fungi, and algae. We spotlight the structural principles identified in ECMs, discuss the current technical limitation and underexplored biochemical topics, and point out the promising opportunities enabled by the recent advances of the rapidly evolving ssNMR technology.

Floquet theory in magnetic resonance: Formalism and applications

Floquet theory is an elegant mathematical formalism originally developed to solve time-dependent differential equations. Besides other fields, it has found applications in optical spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). This review attempts to give a perspective of the Floquet formalism as applied in NMR and shows how it allows one to solve various problems with a focus on solid-state NMR. We include both matrix- and operator-based approaches. We discuss different problems where the Hamiltonian changes with time in a periodic way. Such situations occur, for example, in solid-state NMR experiments where the time dependence of the Hamiltonian originates either from magic-angle spinning or from the application of amplitude- or phase-modulated radiofrequency fields, or from both. Specific cases include multiple-quantum and multiple-frequency excitation schemes. In all these cases, Floquet analysis allows one to define an effective Hamiltonian and, moreover, to treat cases that cannot be described by the more popularly used and simpler-looking average Hamiltonian theory based on the Magnus expansion. An important example is given by spin dynamics originating from multiple-quantum phenomena (level crossings). We show that the Floquet formalism is a very general approach for solving diverse problems in spectroscopy.

Role of electron spin dynamics and coupling network in designing dynamic nuclear polarization

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) has emerged as a powerful sensitivity booster of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for the characterization of biological solids, catalysts and other functional materials, but is yet to reach its full potential. DNP transfers the high polarization of electron spins to nuclear spins using microwave irradiation as a perturbation. A major focus in DNP research is to improve its efficiency at conditions germane to solid-state NMR, at high magnetic fields and fast magic-angle spinning. In this review, we highlight three key strategies towards designing DNP experiments: time-domain "smart" microwave manipulation to optimize and/or modulate electron spin polarization, EPR detection under operational DNP conditions to decipher the underlying electron spin dynamics, and quantum mechanical simulations of coupled electron spins to gain microscopic insights into the DNP mechanism. These strategies are aimed at understanding and modeling the properties of the electron spin dynamics and coupling network. The outcome of these strategies is expected to be key to developing next-generation polarizing agents and DNP methods.

The distance between g-tensors of nitroxide biradicals governs MAS-DNP performance: The case of the bTurea family

Bis-nitroxide radicals are common polarizing agents (PA), used to enhance the sensitivity of solid-state NMR experiments via Magic Angle Spinning Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (MAS-DNP). These biradicals can increase the proton spin polarization through the Cross-Effect (CE) mechanism, which requires PAs with at least two unpaired electrons. The relative orientation of the bis-nitroxide moieties is critical to ensure efficient polarization transfer. Recently, we have defined a new quantity, the distance between g-tensors, that correlates the relative orientation of the nitroxides with the ability to polarize the surrounding nuclei. Here we analyse experimentally and theoretically a series of biradicals belonging to the bTurea family, namely bcTol, AMUPol and bcTol-M. They differ by the degree of substitution on the urea bridge that connects the two nitroxides. Using quantitative simulations developed for moderate MAS frequencies, we show that these modifications mostly affect the relative orientations of the nitroxide, i.e. the length and distribution of the distance between the g-tensors, that in turn impacts both the steady state nuclear polarization/depolarization as well as the build-up times. The doubly substituted urea bridge favours a large distance between the g-tensors, which enables bcTol-M to provide ∊_on/off>200 at 14.1 T/600 MHz/395 GHz with build-up times of 3.8 s using a standard homogenous solution. The methodology described herein was used to show how the conformation of the spirocyclic rings flanking the nitroxide function in the recently described c- and o-HydrOPol affects the distance between the g-tensors and thereby polarization performance.

Challenges and Advances in the Application of Dynamic Nuclear Polarization to Liquid-State NMR Spectroscopy

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful method to study the molecular structure and dynamics of materials. The inherently low sensitivity of NMR spectroscopy is a consequence of low spin polarization. Hyperpolarization of a spin ensemble is defined as a population difference between spin states that far exceeds what is expected from the Boltzmann distribution for a given temperature. Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) can overcome the relatively low sensitivity of NMR spectroscopy by using a paramagnetic matrix to hyperpolarize a nuclear spin ensemble. Application of DNP to NMR can result in sensitivity gains of up to four orders of magnitude compared to NMR without DNP. Although DNP NMR is now more routinely utilized for solid-state (ss) NMR spectroscopy, it has not been exploited to the same degree for liquid-state samples. This Review will consider challenges and advances in the application of DNP NMR to liquid-state samples. The Review is organized into four sections: (i) mechanisms of DNP NMR relevant to hyperpolarization of liquid samples; (ii) applications of liquid-state DNP NMR; (iii) available detection schemes for liquid-state samples; and (iv) instrumental challenges and outlook for liquid-state DNP NMR.

Achieving Maximal Enhancement of Electron Spin Polarization in Stable Nitroxyl Radicals at Room Temperature

Enhancing the polarization of spin levels at room temperature is one of the active research areas in magnetic resonance. Generation of electron spin hyperpolarization involves a complex interplay of electronic and spin processes. In this work, the optimization of crucial electron spin polarization (ESP) generating parameters and synthesis of a radical-chromophore adduct are described. The ESP of the synthesized adduct is about 550 times the equilibrium polarization at room temperature, which is possibly the maximal value for a chromophore-nitroxyl system. The present work highlights the crucial role of the photophysical quenching process toward the generation of a large ESP. Additionally, a chromophore-diradical adduct is synthesized, and the effects of the additional radical in the ESP generation process are discussed. Enhanced photochemical stability is demonstrated for the diradical adducts, thereby suggesting a potential route toward the generation of photostable radical-chromophore adducts for future studies. The large ESP in these molecules should enable a wide range of applications, such as in DNP, spintronics, and magnetometers.

Electron spin relaxation of P1 centers in synthetic diamonds with potential as B1 standards for DNP enhanced NMR

The microwave magnetic field, B₁, in the non-resonant structures typically used for DNP-enhanced NMR is relatively small, so calibration via continuous wave (CW) power saturation requires a sample with longer spin lattice relaxation times than the samples used as CW standards in X-band cavities. HPHT diamonds have strong, easily observed EPR signals from P1 centers (nitrogen defects), and are indefinitely stable. This makes HPHT diamonds attractive as secondary standards for calibration of electron B₁ field strength in a variety of experimental arrangements. The concentrations of P1 centers is also typically in the 30-200 ppm range, or equivalently 10-60 mM, and therefore the EPR relaxation observed is relevant to DNP enhanced NMR employing free radical polarizing agents at similar concentrations. Pulsed and CW saturation relaxation measurements T₁ and T₂ are compared at X-band. Under CW conditions the relevant T₁T₂ product of time constants in our samples at room temperature is found to be dominated by electron-electron spin diffusion, and the product is large enough that saturation will be possible with the B₁ of typical DNP systems. The similarity of T₁ and T₂ values obtained by pulse measurements at X-band and Q-band suggests that the X-band results can be extrapolated to the higher EPR frequencies used for DNP experiments. The electron spin dynamics observed here in HPHT diamond samples identify them as useful model systems to better delineate the interplay of electron spin relaxation, magic angle spinning, and inhomogeneous microwave irradiation as they affect DNP enhancement.

Postmodification via Thiol-Click Chemistry Yields Hydrophilic Trityl-Nitroxide Biradicals for Biomolecular High-Field Dynamic Nuclear Polarization

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is a powerful method to enhance nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal intensities, enabling unprecedented applications in life and material science. An ultimate goal is to expand the use of DNP-enhanced solid-state NMR to ultrahigh magnetic fields where optimal spectral resolution and sensitivity are integrated. Trityl-nitroxide (TN) biradicals have attracted significant interest in high-field DNP, but their application to complex (bio)molecules has so far been limited. Here we report a novel postmodification strategy for synthesis of hydrophilic TN biradicals in order to improve their use in biomolecular applications. Initially, three TN biradicals (referred to as NATriPols 1-3) with amino-acid linkers were synthesized. EPR studies showed that the α-position of the amino-acid linkers is an ideal modification site for these biradicals since their electron-electron magnetic interactions are marginally affected by the substituents at this position. On the basis of this finding, we synthesized NATriPol-4 with pyridine disulfide appended at the α-position. Postmodification of NATriPol-4 via thiol-click chemistry resulted in various TN biradicals including hydrophilic NATriPol-5 in a quantitative manner. Interestingly, DNP enhancements at 18.8 T of NATriPols for ¹³C,¹⁵N-proline in a glycerol/water matrix are inversely correlated with their hydrophobicity. Importantly, applications of hydrophilic NATriPol-5 and NATriPol-3 to biomolecules including a globular soluble protein and a membrane targeting peptide reveal significantly improved performance compared to TEMTriPol-1 and AMUPol. Our work provides an efficient approach for one-step synthesis of new polarizing agents with tunable physicochemical properties, thus expediting optimization of new biradicals for biomolecular applications at ultrahigh magnetic fields.

Crossover from a Solid Effect to Thermal Mixing 1H Dynamic Nuclear Polarization with Trityl-OX063

Trityl-OX063 is a narrow-line, water-soluble, and biocompatible polarizing agent, widely used for dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) amplified NMR of ¹³C, but not of the abundant ¹H nuclear spin, for which the ineffective solid effect (SE) is expected to be operational. Surprisingly, we observed a crossover from SE to thermal mixing (TM) DNP of ¹H with increasing Trityl-OX063 concentration at 7 T. We experimentally ascertained diagnostic signatures of TM-DNP that have only been theoretically predicted: (i) an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum that maintains an asymmetrically broadened EPR line from strong e-e couplings and (ii) hyperpolarization, i.e., cooling of select electron-spin populations, manifested in a characteristic pump-probe electron double-resonance spectrum under DNP conditions. Low microwave power requirements, high polarization transfer rates, and efficient DNP at high magnetic fields are the key benefits of TM-DNP.

Balancing dipolar and exchange coupling in biradicals to maximize cross effect dynamic nuclear polarization

Balancing dipolar and exchange coupling is essential for efficient Cross Effect DNP. This explains the complex performance of standard radicals (AMUPOL and HyTek) at high magnetic field and fast spinning.

Pulse-Shaped Dynamic Nuclear Polarization under Magic-Angle Spinning

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) under magic-angle spinning (MAS) is transforming the scope of solid-state NMR by enormous signal amplification through transfer of polarization from electron spins to nuclear spins. Contemporary MAS-DNP exclusively relies on monochromatic continuous-wave (CW) irradiation of the electron spin resonance. This limits control on electron spin dynamics, which renders the DNP process inefficient, especially at higher magnetic fields and non cryogenic temperatures. Pulse-shaped microwave irradiation of the electron spins is predicted to overcome these challenges but hitherto has never been implemented under MAS. Here, we debut pulse-shaped microwave irradiation using arbitrary-waveform generation (AWG) which allows controlled recruitment of a greater number of electron spins per unit time, favorable for MAS-DNP. Experiments and quantum mechanical simulations demonstrate that pulse-shaped DNP is superior to CW-DNP for mixed radical system, especially when the electron spin resonance is heterogeneously broadened and/or when its spin-lattice relaxation is fast compared to the MAS rotor period, opening new prospects for MAS-DNP.

Recent developments in MAS DNP-NMR of materials

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is a powerful technique for the characterization of the atomic-level structure and dynamics of materials. Nevertheless, the use of this technique is often limited by its lack of sensitivity, which can prevent the observation of surfaces, defects or insensitive isotopes. Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) has been shown to improve by one to three orders of magnitude the sensitivity of NMR experiments on materials under Magic-Angle Spinning (MAS), at static magnetic field B₀ ≥ 5 T, conditions allowing for the acquisition of high-resolution spectra. The field of DNP-NMR spectroscopy of materials has undergone a rapid development in the last ten years, spurred notably by the availability of commercial DNP-NMR systems. We provide here an in-depth overview of MAS DNP-NMR studies of materials at high B₀ field. After a historical perspective of DNP of materials, we describe the DNP transfers under MAS, the transport of polarization by spin diffusion and the various contributions to the overall sensitivity of DNP-NMR experiments. We discuss the design of tailored polarizing agents and the sample preparation in the case of materials. We present the DNP-NMR hardware and the influence of key experimental parameters, such as microwave power, magnetic field, temperature and MAS frequency. We give an overview of the isotopes that have been detected by this technique, and the NMR methods that have been combined with DNP. Finally, we show how MAS DNP-NMR has been applied to gain new insights into the structure of organic, hybrid and inorganic materials with applications in fields, such as health, energy, catalysis, optoelectronics etc.

Biradical rotamer states tune electron J coupling and MAS dynamic nuclear polarization enhancement

Cross Effect (CE) Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) relies on the dipolar (D) and exchange (J) coupling interaction between two electron spins. Until recently only the electron spin D coupling was explicitly included in quantifying the DNP mechanism. Recent literature discusses the potential role of J coupling in DNP, but does not provide an account of the distribution and source of electron spin J coupling of commonly used biradicals in DNP. In this study, we quantified the distribution of electron spin J coupling in AMUPol and TOTAPol biradicals using a combination of continuous wave (CW) X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) lineshape analysis in a series of solvents and at variable temperatures in solution - a state to be vitrified for DNP. We found that both radicals show a temperature dependent distribution of J couplings, and the source of this distribution to be conformational dynamics. To qualify this conformational dependence of J coupling in both molecules we carry out Broken Symmetry DFT calculations which show that the biradical rotamer distribution can account for a large distribution of J couplings, with the magnitude of J coupling directly depending on the relative orientation of the electron spin pair. We demonstrate that the electron spin J couplings in both AMUPol and TOTAPol span a much wider distribution than suggested in the literature. We affirm the importance of electron spin J coupling for DNP with density matrix simulations of DNP in Liouville space and under magic angle spinning, showcasing that a rotamer with high J coupling and optimum relative g-tensor orientation can significantly boost the DNP performance compared to random orientations of the electron spin pair. We conclude that moderate electron spin J coupling above a threshold value can facilitate DNP enhancements.

Efficient 263 GHz magic angle spinning DNP at 100 K using solid-state diode sources

The development of new, high-frequency solid-state diode sources capable of operating at 263 GHz, together with an optimized stator design for improved millimeter-wave coupling to the NMR sample, have enabled low-power DNP experiments at 263 GHz/400 MHz. With 250 mW output power, signal enhancements as high as 120 are achieved on standard samples - approximately 1/3 of the maximal enhancement available with high-power gyrotrons under similar conditions. Diode-based sources have a number of advantages over vacuum tube devices: they emit a pure mode, can be rapidly frequency-swept over a wide range of frequencies, have reproducible output power over this range, and have excellent output stability. By virtue of their small size, low thermal footprint, and lack of facility requirements, solid-state diodes are also considerably cheaper to operate and maintain than high-power vacuum tube devices. In light of these features, and anticipating further improvements in terms of available output power, solid-state diodes are likely to find widespread use in DNP and contribute to further advances in the field.

Electron spin density matching for cross-effect dynamic nuclear polarization

A new design principle for a mixed broad (TEMPO) and narrow (Trityl) line radical to boost the dynamic nuclear polarization efficiency is electron spin density matching, suggesting a polarizing agent of one Trityl tethered to at least two TEMPO moieties.

Improved waveguide coupling for 1.3 mm MAS DNP probes at 263 GHz

We consider the geometry of a radially irradiated microwave beam in MAS DNP NMR probes and its impact on DNP enhancement. Two related characteristic features are found to be relevant: (i) the focus of the microwave beam on the DNP MAS sample and (ii) the microwave magnetic field magnitude in the sample. We present a waveguide coupler setup that enables us to significantly improve beam focus and field magnitude in 1.3 mm MAS DNP probes at a microwave frequency of 263 GHz, which results in an increase of the DNP enhancement by a factor of 2 compared to previous standard hardware setups. We discuss the implications of improved coupling and its potential to enable cutting-edge applications, such as pulsed high-field DNP and the use of low-power solid-state microwave sources.