NMR Spin-lattice Relaxation Times Research Articles

Supercooling and Nucleation of Fatty Acids: Influence of Thermal History on the Behavior of the Liquid Phase.

Saturated fatty acids are an exceptionally important class of liquids, used in many consumer products and suggested as phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage, in part because they crystallize with minimal supercooling. Here we investigate fatty acid nucleation to understand why crystallization is so facile, as a step toward identifying potential mechanisms for the suppression of supercooling in other PCMs. We find that fatty acid supercooling can be induced only if the liquid is first heated above a material-dependent threshold temperature. NMR spin-lattice relaxation time studies show that the average mobility of the alkyl chains in the fatty acids increases more rapidly with temperature above the supercooling threshold temperature, and NMR T1 hysteresis also sets in at that temperature. Measurements of the real portion of the dielectric constant as a function of temperature show that a liquid fatty acid heated far above its melting point behaves with an apparent temperature upon cooling that is higher than the actual temperature, when compared to its behavior at the same temperature upon heating. Our results suggest that molecular clusters in the liquid fatty acids break apart when the liquids are heated above their threshold temperature and do not immediately re-form on cooling. The breakup of clusters leads to an increase in the mobility of the fatty acid molecules. Because the clusters do not re-form quickly on subsequent cooling, nucleation does not occur, and substantial supercooling results.

Hybrid organic-inorganic bismuth(III)-based material [4-NH2C5H4NH]7[BiCl6]2Cl. Crystal structure, dielectric properties and molecular motions of 4-aminopyridinium cations

4-aminopyridinium analogue, [4-NH2PyH]7[BiCl6]2Cl, has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction at 100 K, calorimetric, dilatometric and dielectric studies. The crystal structure is centrosymmetric with the monoclinic space group, P21/n. It consists of two discrete [BiCl6]3- octahedra, one loose Cl− anion and seven, partially disordered, 4-aminopyridinium cations. The compound reveals a reversible first-order phase transition (I→II) at 305/304 K of the ‘order-disorder’ type. The dielectric studies disclosed a relaxation process in the kilohertz frequency region, assigned to the dynamics of organic cations, described well by the Cole-Cole relation. The 1H NMR spin–lattice relaxation time measurements indicate a complex cations motion over the Phase II. The possible mechanism of the I → II phase transition in [4-NH2PyH]7[BiCl6]2Cl is discussed.

Optorelaxers: Achieving real-time control of NMR relaxation

We present an approach to increase the detection sensitivity of NMR by shortening the spin-lattice relaxation time using transient paramagnetic species created by light irradiation of “optorelaxer” molecules. In the ultimate implementation of this concept, not yet realized here, these transient species are absent during the detection period, thereby avoiding the loss of spectral resolution caused by inhomogeneous broadening from paramagnetic species. Real-time control of NMR relaxation by visible light is demonstrated with Fe(II)(ptz)6(BF4)2, (ptz = 1-propyltetrazole), abbreviated FePTZ. Illumination of FePTZ at 30 K results in a decrease of the 1H NMR spin-lattice relaxation time T1 due to formation of a high spin photoexcited state. The 1H NMR of polystyrene containing a low concentration of FePTZ molecules shows a similar reduction in T1, establishing that FePTZ can act as an optorelaxer for the protons of a matrix. Numerical modeling of the spin-diffusion processes from the protons in a FePTZ core to those in a shell of polystyrene accounts for the observed T1 effects under both dark and light conditions. Additionally, 1H MAS (magic-angle spinning) NMR results for pure FePTZ provide information on the isotropic and anisotropic portions of the electron-nuclear hyperfine interactions.

Molecular Interactions and Mechanisms in the 1H NMR Relaxation of Residual CHCl3 in Deuterochloroform Solution of a Two-Chain Ionic Surfactant

1H NMR spin–lattice (T1) and spin–spin (T2) relaxation times have been measured for the residual CHCl3 component of deuterochloroform (99.8 atom% D) in neat solvent samples and in a series of isotropic solutions of the ionic surfactant n-octylammonium-n-octadecanoate and also in degassed/dried and aerated solvent systems at 298 K. Analysis of the proton relaxation times as composite values from various relaxation mechanisms suggests that the spin–lattice process is predominantly via spin–rotation while spin–spin relaxation principally involves 1H–Cl scalar coupling. Rotational correlation times from relaxation rates via the dipolar and spin–rotation mechanisms reveal similar fast picosecond molecular rotation of chloroform in the different samples. The presence of surfactant in the solution appreciably affects the 1H NMR spin–lattice relaxation time of CHCl3 and the chemical shift, which is concentration dependent owing to weak intermolecular interactions. Effects of sample condition and solvent degassing, drying, and aeration treatments on the NMR relaxation times and line shape properties of the residual CHCl3 isotopomers are also examined.

NMR studies of excluded volume interactions in peptide dendrimers

Peptide dendrimers are good candidates for diverse biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and low toxicity. The local orientational mobility of groups with different radial localization inside dendrimers is important characteristic for drug and gene delivery, synthesis of nanoparticles, and other specific purposes. In this paper we focus on the validation of two theoretical assumptions for dendrimers: (i) independence of NMR relaxations on excluded volume effects and (ii) similarity of mobilities of side and terminal segments of dendrimers. For this purpose we study 1H NMR spin-lattice relaxation time, T1H, of two similar peptide dendrimers of the second generation, with and without side fragments in their inner segments. Temperature dependences of 1/T1H in the temperature range from 283 to 343 K were measured for inner and terminal groups of the dendrimers dissolved in deuterated water. We have shown that the 1/T1H temperature dependences of inner groups for both dendrimers (with and without side fragments) practically coincide despite different densities of atoms inside these dendrimers. This result confirms the first theoretical assumption. The second assumption is confirmed by the 1/T1H temperature dependences of terminal groups which are similar for both dendrimers.

Improved Li-Ion Transport by DME Chelation in a Novel Ionic Liquid-Based Hybrid Electrolyte for Li–S Battery Application

Current Li–S battery technology has yet to reach the promise of high capacity and suffers rapid capacity fade due in large part to the dissolution and diffusion of polysulphide intermediates. The electrolyte plays a significant role here as well as in stabilizing the Li metal anode electrochemistry. In this work, a novel hybrid electrolyte system is investigated based on varying composition of N-methyl, N-propyl pyrrolidinium bisfluorosulfonimide (C3mpyrFSI) ionic liquid (IL) and 1,2-dimethoxy ether (DME) at the saturated concentration of LiFSI salt, demonstrating a most favorable performance for an 80:20 IL/DME composition (by weight). This electrolyte presented higher ionic conductivity and diffusivity while simultaneously improving the electrochemical behavior of Li metal plating and stripping. The ionic interactions among different species of the electrolyte have been studied by NMR spin lattice relaxation time (T1) measurements, which indicated that Li–DME is likely to form chelation compounds, there...

Reorientation of DABCO (1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) in halogen-bonded molecular complex DABCO-2(C6F5I)

Temperature dependence of 1H NMR spin-lattice relaxation time is investigated of a 1:2 molecular complex of DABCO (1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) and iodopentafluorobenzene formed by the halogen-bonding between nitrogen and iodine atoms. Besides the known phase transition at 230 K from polar (space group Pc) to nonpolar (space group P21/c) phases, another first-order phase transition was suggested for the first time at 129 K. The correlation time of reorientational motion of DABCO molecule is determined as a function of temperature. The activation energies Ea of the motion were estimated to be 20 kJ mol−1 and 11 kJ mol−1 for the crystallographically nonequivalent DABCO molecules in the intermediate-temperature phase.

Characterization of poly-d-mannuronate and poly-l-guluronate block fractions from sodium alginate and preparation of hydrogels with poly(vinylalcohol)

Sodium salts of homopoly-d-mannuronic acid (MM) and of homopoly-l-guluronic acid (GG) from sodium alginates were characterized by NMR relaxometry. Determination of NMR spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times of water proton in homopolymeric block solutions and hydrogels indicated differences in homopolymeric blocks tertiary structure. Hydrogels of MM or GG blocks and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were prepared by freeze-thawing cycles method; their swelling properties and sensitivity to pH stimuli were assayed in control delivery of a model drug. MM/PVA hydrogels show better metformin release characteristics than GG/PVA hydrogels. It was found that release of the drug at pH 1.2 from hydrogels was minor to 5%. At the release equilibrium, 60 and 55% of the drug encapsulated were release from MM/PVA and GG/PVA hydrogels, respectively. Also, the release of metformin from hydrogels was studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy showing that 40 and 36% of drug were released after 4 h from MM/PVA and GG/PVA hydrogels, respectively.

Study of H1 spin lattice relaxation and dielectric relaxation in Poly(propylene glycol) system

Proton NMR spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) and dielectric relaxation time (τ0) have been used to correlate the experimental and calculated values of T1 for Poly (propylene glycol) at 300 K. Also, the contributions of dielectric relaxation time (τ0) of each constituent group of PPG-425 to the effective dielectric relaxation time due to the whole chain of the polymer have been calculated using NMR spin–lattice relaxation time. The H1 NMR data and dielectric data of Poly (propylene glycol) HO [CH(CH3)CH2O]nH with number average molecular weight 425 (n = 7) g mol−1have been used to understand the conformation and basic mechanism of relaxation in polymer in its pure liquid state. Conformational analysis using Hartree-Fock formalism was performed for the polymer of n = 7 and the average bond distances obtained from the computation were used to assign NMR relaxation times to specific subgroups. Free energy and enthalpy of activation associated with methyl and other groups in the chain of PPG molecules have been calculated. BPP (Bloembergen Purcell Pound) model gives better correlation for molecular tumbling motion for PPG-425 in pure liquid state than Kubo & Tomita equation.

Widely used hardly known. An insight into electric and dynamic properties of formamidinium iodide.

The simple organic crystal formamidinium iodide (FAI) appeared to be a novel semiconducting material in a wide temperature range. The electric properties of FAI and the role of formamidinium cation (FA+) in the molecular mechanism of the solid-to-solid phase transitions (at 345 K (III → II) and 388 K (II → I)) were analysed. The creation of the ferroelastic domain structure in phases III and II was proved on the basis of observation under a polarizing microscope. Moreover, the molecular arrangement of dipolar organic FA+ was studied by 1H NMR (spin-lattice relaxation time) and vibrational spectroscopy supported by density functional theory. The theoretical results show a good agreement with the experimental data. The infrared spectrum in a harmonic approximation was calculated and a comparative vibrational analysis was performed. All used techniques showed that the prototypic phase I exhibits the feature of plastic phase.

Reorientational dynamics of organic cations in perovskite-like coordination polymers.

Here we report the dynamics of organic cations as guest molecules in a perovskite host-framework. The molecular motion of CH3NH3+ (MAFe), (CH3)2NH2+ (DMAFe) and (CH3)3NH+ (TrMAFe) in the cage formed by KFe(CN)63- units was studied using a combination of experimental methods: (i) thermal analysis, (ii) dielectric and electric studies, (iii) optical observations, (iv) EPR and 1H NMR spectroscopy and (v) quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS). In the case of MAFe and TrMAFe, the thermal analysis reveals one solid-to-solid phase transition (PT) and two PTs for the DMAFe crystal. A markedly temperature-dependent dielectric constant indicates the tunable and switchable properties of the complexes. Also, their semiconducting properties are confirmed by a dc conductivity measurement. The broadband dielectric relaxation is analyzed for the TrMAFe sample in the frequency range of 100 Hz-1 GHz. QENS shows that we deal rather with the localized motion of the cation than a diffusive one. Three models, which concern the simultaneous rotation of the CH3 and/or NH3 group, π-flips and free rotations of the organic cation, are used to fit the elastic incoherent structure factor. The 1H NMR spin-lattice relaxation time for all compounds under study, as well as the second moments, has been measured in a wide temperature range. In all studied samples, the temperature dependence of the second moment of the proton NMR line indicated the gradual evolution of the molecular movements from the rigid state up to a highly disordered one.

Organic-inorganic hybrid crystals, (2,4,6-CH3PyH)3Sb2Cl9 and (2,4,6-CH3PyH)3Bi2Cl9. Crystal structure characterization and tunneling of CH3 groups studied by 1H NMR and neutron spectroscopy

The crystal structures of (2,4,6-CH3PyH)3Sb2Cl9 (TMPCA) and (2,4,6-CH3PyH)3Bi2Cl9 (TMPCB) (Py – pyridine) have been determined at 100 K by the single crystal X-ray diffraction method. TMPCA and TMPCB crystallize in the monoclinic C2/c and triclinic P1 polar space group, respectively. In both cases the asymmetric part is comprised of three nonequivalent 2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium cations and a discrete M2Cl93− anion. The Bi2Cl93− moiety forms a face-sharing bi-octahedron, whereas in a case of Sb2Cl93− we deal with two pyramids connected by a corner. The inelastic neutron scattering spectra (INS) were recorded for TMPCA at low temperatures (4–50 K). Two peaks on each side of the central elastic line have been observed at ca. 4.8 and 2.9 μeV, the high energy peak exhibits an excitation energy value equal to ca. 6 meV. For TMPCA and TMPCB the 1H NMR spin–lattice relaxation times, T1, have been measured in the temperature region 15–410 K. The flattening of the T1 (spin–lattice) vs. reciprocal temperature, 1/T, dependence between 30 K and 15 K indicates the incoherent tunneling effect of the methyl group being treated as the quantum rotor. The conclusions drawn from the 1H NMR results as regards to the tunneling of the CH3 groups in the pyridinium cations are consistent with the tunneling peaks observed in the INS spectra.

The pseudo 2-D relaxation model for obtaining [formula omitted]–[formula omitted] relationships from 1-D [formula omitted] and [formula omitted] measurements of fluid in porous media

NMR spin-lattice (T1) and spin-spin (T2) relaxation times and their inter-relation possess information on fluid behaviour in porous media. To elicit this information we utilize the pseudo 2-D relaxation model (P2DRM), which deduces the T1–T2 functional relationship from independent 1-D T1 and T2 measurements. Through model simulations we show empirically that the P2DRM accurately estimates T1–T2 relationships even when the marginal distributions of the true joint T1–T2 distribution are unknown or cannot be modeled. Estimates of the T1:T2 ratio for fluid interacting with pore surfaces remain robust when the P2DRM is applied to simulations of rapidly acquired data. Therefore, the P2DRM can be useful in situations where experimental time is limited.

Sub-millisecond 125Te NMR spin-lattice relaxation times and large Knight shifts in complex tellurides: Validation of a quadratic relation across the spectrum

125Te NMR spectra and spin-lattice relaxation times, T1, have been measured for several GeTe-based materials with Te excess. The spectra show inhomogeneous broadening by several thousand ppm and a systematic variation in T1 relaxation time with resonance frequency. The quadratic dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation rate, 1/T1, on the Knight shift in the Korringa relation is found to be valid over a wide range of Knight shifts. This result confirms that T1 relaxation in GeTe-based materials is mostly dominated by hyperfine interaction between nuclei and free charge carriers. In GeTe with 2.5% excess of Te, about 15% of the material exhibits a Knight shift of ≥4500ppm and a T1 of only 0.3ms, indicating a high hole concentration that could correspond to close to 50% vacancies on the Ge sublattice in this component. Our findings provide a basis for determining the charge carrier concentration and its distribution in complex thermoelectric and phase-change tellurides, which should lead to a better understanding of electronic and thermal transport properties as well as chemical bonding in these materials.

(1)H NMR Relaxometric Study of Molecular Dynamics in a "de Vries" Liquid Crystal.

Liquid crystals that exhibit de Vries smectic A phases are promising materials for new generations of ferroelectric liquid crystal displays and other electro-optical devices. We investigated the molecular dynamic properties of a rod-like de Vries liquid crystal compound, namely the 9HL, a (S)-hexyl lactate derivative, in the whole mesophasic range. This is the first molecular dynamics' investigation on a de Vries phase, and the interest of this system is related to the understanding of the structural and supramolecular organization of de Vries SmA phases, which has been a subject of a broad scientific debate in the last years. Proton NMR spin-lattice relaxation times, T1, were measured in the range 100 MHz to 5 kHz, thus covering a very wide range of motional regimes. (1)H NMR dispersion curves and temperature-dependent relaxation rates were analyzed with a global minimum target fitting approach and the main molecular motions, namely reorientational diffusion, translational self-diffusion, layer undulation, and tilting director fluctuations were fully characterized. The molecular dynamics' behavior observed across the SmA-SmC* phase transitions of 9HL was consistent with the proposed cluster diffuse cone model for the de Vries SmA phase.

An NMR study on the mechanisms of freezing and melting of water confined in spherically mesoporous silicas SBA-16.

Thermodynamic and dynamic properties of water confined in mesoporous silica glass SBA-16 were investigated by DSC, and (1,2)H NMR spectroscopy and (2)H NMR spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) as a function of pore size. SBA-16 possesses the main spherical pores, interconnecting channels and micropores (corona). Water in the characteristic spherical pores of SBA-16 freezes at the homogeneous nucleation temperature of water. Between room and freezing temperatures, the correlation time of the isotropic rotation of water in the pores of SBA-16 followed the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) relation, which reflects the formation and growth of clusters of fragile water for changing to the strong water. The vitrification of water in micropores around 200 K was observed by (2)H NMR. Above 200 K, the correlation time of the rotation of water in micropores exhibited non-Arrhenius behavior, which is correlated with the gradual decrease in the mobility of water due to the growth of hydrogen bonding, forming low density water before vitrification. After vitrification, the activation energy of the rotation of water in micropores was 25-33 kJ mol(-1), which was similar to that in ice Ih for all samples. The freedom of cluster formation and water rotation increased with the increasing the pore size.

Identification of Li-Ion Battery SEI Compounds through (7)Li and (13)C Solid-State MAS NMR Spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry.

Solid-state (7)Li and (13)C MAS NMR spectra of cycled graphitic Li-ion anodes demonstrate SEI compound formation upon lithiation that is followed by changes in the SEI upon delithiation. Solid-state (13)C DPMAS NMR shows changes in peaks associated with organic solvent compounds (ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate, EC/DMC) upon electrochemical cycling due to the formation of and subsequent changes in the SEI compounds. Solid-state (13)C NMR spin-lattice (T1) relaxation time measurements of lithiated Li-ion anodes and reference poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) powders, along with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry results, indicate that large-molecular-weight polymers are formed in the SEI layers of the discharged anodes. MALDI-TOF MS and NMR spectroscopy results additionally indicate that delithiated anodes exhibit a larger number of SEI products than is found in lithiated anodes.

High-Resolution Solid-State NMR Characterization of Morphology in Annealed Polylactic Acid

Single-pulse 13C NMR spectra and spin-lattice relaxation times T1(1H), detected indirectly via 13C carbons, and T1(13C) were measured at 31°C for virgin pelletized and annealed polylactic acid (PLA) samples using the magic-angle spinning technique. The structural relaxation resulting in more regular crystals with narrower conformation distribution and increase in the lamellae thickness and crystallinity brought about by annealing at 100°C was deduced from the narrowing of the 13C NMR lines and proton spin-lattice relaxation times T1(1H). The spin-lattice relaxation times T1(13C) related to the respective carbons of the α-polymorph of PLA are also discussed in the study.

Proton dynamics in the hydrogen bonds of 4-amino-3,5-dihalogenobenzoic acid

On the polycrystalline sample of 4-amino-3,5-dihalogenobenzoic acid, 4-NH2-3,5-X2C6H2COOH, which has a symmetric dimer structure in the crystal, the proton tunneling in the hydrogen bonds has been investigated by NQR and NMR spin–lattice relaxation times T1 measurements. Two 35Cl NQR lines of the X=Cl derivative show the existence of two crystallographically inequivalent chlorine atoms in the high-temperature phase, in consistency with the reported crystal structure. Below 138K, each splits into a doublet indicating the symmetry breaking of the benzoic acid dimer. The proton dynamics was analyzed by a coherent and incoherent tunneling models, for the high- and low-temperature phases, respectively. The temperature dependence of the correlation time of proton translation was estimated. As for the X=I derivative, the proton dynamics was discussed similarly by 1H NMR T1 data by assuming occurrence of a phase transition at low-temperature.

NMR spin–lattice relaxation time T1 of thin films obtained by magnetic resonance force microscopy

We obtained the NMR spectrum and the spin–lattice relaxation time (T1) for thin film samples by magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM). The samples were CaF2 thin films which were 50nm and 150nm thick. T1 was measured at 18K using a cyclic adiabatic inversion method at a fixed frequency. A comparison of the bulk and two thin films showed that T1 becomes shorter as the film thickness decreases. To make the comparison as accurate as possible, all three samples were loaded onto different beams of a multi-cantilever array and measured in the same experimental environment.