Spin-lattice Relaxation Dispersion Research Articles

Water Dynamics in Dextran-Based Hydrogel Micro/Nanoparticles Studied by NMR Diffusometry and Relaxometry.

Water dynamics in mesoporous dextran hydrogel micro/nanoparticles was investigated by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. High-resolution 1H NMR spectra and pulsed field gradient (PFG) NMR diffusometry measurements obtained on swollen state dextran micro/nanogel revealed the existence of different fractions of water molecules based on their interaction with the gel matrix. In addition to the translational diffusion of bulk water, two more diffusion processes characterized with self-diffusion coefficients 1 and 2 orders of magnitude smaller than that of bulk water were identified. 1H spin-lattice relaxation dispersion profiles obtained for a broad range of Larmor frequencies using fast field cycling (FFC) and conventional NMR relaxometry techniques allowed us to further clarify the mechanisms of molecular motion. According to the water proton pool fractions and associated self-diffusion coefficients, it is shown that the relaxation contribution associated with reorientation-mediated translational motions (RMTDs) dominates the relaxation dispersion observed at intermediate frequencies. At very low frequencies, the spin-lattice relaxation rate is dominated by the slow solid-gel dynamics probed by the water molecules interacting with the pores' surface hydroxyl groups due to the rapid chemical exchange between surface hydroxyl groups and free water. The correlation time for the thumbling-like motion of the dextran gel was found to be in the submillisecond range. The values of the self-diffusion and coherence lengths associated with motion of water molecules interacting with the solid-gel particles are consistent with the particle size and pore size distributions obtained for the studied dextran gels.

Probing interfacial dynamics of water in confined nanoporous systems by NMRD

The confined dynamics of water molecules inside a pore involves an intermittence between adsorption steps near the interface and surface diffusion and excursions in the pore network. Depending on the strength of the interaction in the layer(s) close to the surface and the dynamical confinement of the distal bulk liquid, exchange dynamics can vary significantly. The average time spent in the surface proximal region (also called the adsorption layer) between a first entry and a consecutive exit allows estimating the level of ‘nanowettablity’ of water. As shown in several seminal works, NMRD is an efficient experimental method to follow such intermittent dynamics close to an interface. In this paper, the intermittent dynamics of a confined fluid inside nanoporous materials is discussed. Special attention is devoted to the interplay between bulk diffusion, adsorption and surface diffusion on curved pore interfaces. Considering the nano or meso length scale confinement of the pore network, an analytical model for calculating the inter-dipolar spin–lattice relaxation dispersion curves is proposed. In the low-frequency regime (50 KHz–100 MHz), this model is successfully compared with numerical simulations performed using a 3D-off lattice reconstruction of Vycor glass. Comparison with experimental data available in the literature is finally discussed.

Predicting quadrupole relaxation enhancement peaks in proton R1-NMRD profiles in solid Bi-aryl compounds from NQR parameters

ABSTRACTWe propose a simple method to calculate and predict quadrupole relaxation enhancement (QRE) features in the spin-lattice nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (-NMRD) profile of protons (1H) in solids. The only requirement is the knowledge of the nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) parameters of the quadrupole nuclei in a molecule. These NQR parameters – the quadrupole coupling constant and the asymmetry parameter η – can be determined by NQR spectroscopy or using quantum chemistry calculations. As there is an increasing interest in using molecules producing high field QRE features as, e.g. for contrast enhancing agents in magnetic resonance imaging, the experimental efforts of seeking for suitable compounds can be reduced by pre-selecting molecules via calculations. Also, the method can be used to extract NQR parameter, and thus structural information, from -NMRD profiles showing QRE features. In this article, we describe the calculation procedure and present examples of comparing the result to experimental -NMRD data of two different solid 209Bi-aryl compounds.

Dispersion of Water Proton Spin–Lattice Relaxation Rates in Aqueous Solutions of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) Stabilized via Alkyloxymethylimidazolium Surfactants

Carbon nanotubes and a number of other carbon nanomaterials have a tendency to aggregate, which often resulted in difficulties of dispersion of these nanomaterials in aqueous solutions. The ability of dicationic (gemini) surfactants to disperse multiwall carbon nanotubes in water and the dynamic processes taking place at the water–multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCTs) interface are studied. Stable dispersions of multiwall carbon nanotubes with selected gemini surfactants (1,1′-(1,6-hexanediyl)bis(3-alkyloxymethylimidazolium) dichlorides) were prepared and characterized by nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD), NMR diffusometry, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The addition of multiwall carbon nanotubes to aqueous solutions of studied gemini surfactants leads to significant paramagnetic enhancement of the spin–lattice relaxation processes, which gets more pronounced with increasing concentration of well-dispersed MWNTs in water. The dominant role of outer sphere (OS) relaxation mechanism in total observed R1, governed by two-dimensional diffusion of water on the carbon nanotube surface in the vicinity of paramagnetic centers incorporated in the MWCNTs’ sidewalls (mainly of iron origin), was assumed to explain NMRD data. The NMR diffusion experiments confirm the existence of restricted water diffusion in the studied supernatants. The NMR diffusion results are consistent with the FTIR and NMR proton spin–lattice relaxation dispersion in which the more effective R1 dispersion noticed for the sample with IMIC6C12 was ascribed to the better accessibility of water molecules to the surface of the MWCNTs.

Segmental Mean Square Displacement: Field-Cycling 1H Relaxometry vs Neutron Scattering

Proton (1H) field-cycling (FC) NMR relaxometry is applied to monitor the crossover in the segmental subdiffusion from the Rouse to the constrained Rouse regime in an entangled linear polymer melt. The method probes the dispersion of the spin–lattice relaxation rate R1(ω). Via Fourier transformation the segmental mean square displacement ⟨r2(t)⟩ is calculated from the intermolecular relaxation contribution R1inter(ω) to the total 1H spin–lattice relaxation dispersion R1(ω). As an example we chose poly(ethylene propylene) (M = 200k), and R1inter(ω) is singled out by performing an isotope dilution experiment. The ⟨r2(t)⟩ data obtained by FC NMR is directly compared to such of neutron scattering (NS) available from the literature. Because of different experimental time windows the NS data is converted to a reference temperature assuming frequency–temperature superposition. Absolute agreement is revealed between FC NMR and NS. The data on ⟨r2(t)⟩ confirm the predictions of the tube-reptation model; i.e., the c...

Dynamics of [C3H5N2]6[Bi4Br18] by means of (1)H NMR relaxometry and quadrupole relaxation enhancement.

(1)H spin-lattice field cycling relaxation dispersion experiments in the intermediate phase II of the solid [C3H5N2]6[Bi4Br18] are presented. Two motional processes have been identified from the (1)H spin-lattice relaxation dispersion profiles and quantitatively described. It has been concluded that these processes are associated with anisotropic reorientations of the imidazolium ring, characterized by correlation times of the order of 10(-8) s-10(-9) s and of about 10(-5) s. Moreover, quadrupole relaxation enhancement (QRE) effects originating from slowly fluctuating (1)H-(14)N dipolar interactions have been observed. From the positions of the relaxation maxima, the quadrupole coupling parameters for the (14)N nuclei in [C3H5N2]6[Bi4Br18] have been determined. The (1)H-(14)N relaxation contribution associated with the slow dynamics has been described in terms of a theory of QRE [Kruk et al., Solid State Nucl. Magn. Reson. 40, 114 (2011)] based on the stochastic Liouville equation. The shape of the QRE maxima (often referred to as "quadrupole peaks") has been consistently reproduced for the correlation time describing the slow dynamics and the determined quadrupole coupling parameters.

Proton NMR relaxation study of molecular dynamics of chromonic liquid crystal Edicol Sunset Yellow

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) relaxometry, over about five decades in Larmor frequency, and pulsed field gradient NMR were used to study the molecular dynamics in the chromonic nematic and isotropic phases of stacked molecules of the binary mixture composed by Edicol Sunset Yellow (ESY) and deuterated water. Our results evidence that in both phases collective motions are responsible for the spin-lattice relaxation dispersion in the Larmor frequency range below 1 MHz. In the nematic phase, the collective motion are attributed to columnar undulations within the stacked molecules, while, in the isotropic phase, the results are explained by local order fluctuations due to the formation of the stacks. The high frequency dispersion was explained by individual molecular motions like rotations around and perpendicular to the stack axis, and also self-diffusion.

Simultaneous measurement of very small magnetic fields and spin-lattice relaxation

A field cycling (FC) NMR experiment is presented which allows for the simultaneous determination of very small magnetic fields down to about 3μT and the concomitant measurement of nuclear spin-lattice relaxation times in these fields. The technique will enable broadband spin-lattice relaxation dispersion experiments down to about 100Hz 1H Larmor frequency. Limitations of its applicability are discussed.

ESR lineshape and 1H spin-lattice relaxation dispersion in propylene glycol solutions of nitroxide radicals – Joint analysis

Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation Dispersion (NMRD) experiments are reported for propylene glycol solutions of the nitroxide radical: 4-oxo-TEMPO-d16 containing (15)N and (14)N isotopes. The NMRD experiments refer to (1)H spin-lattice relaxation measurements in a broad frequency range (10 kHz-20 MHz). A joint analysis of the ESR and NMRD data is performed. The ESR lineshapes give access to the nitrogen hyperfine tensor components and the rotational correlation time of the paramagnetic molecule. The NMRD data are interpreted in terms of the theory of paramagnetic relaxation enhancement in solutions of nitroxide radicals, recently presented by Kruk et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 138, 124506 (2013)]. The theory includes the effect of the electron spin relaxation on the (1)H relaxation of the solvent. The (1)H relaxation is caused by dipole-dipole interactions between the electron spin of the radical and the proton spins of the solvent molecules. These interactions are modulated by three dynamic processes: relative translational dynamics of the involved molecules, molecular rotation, and electron spin relaxation. The sensitivity to rotation originates from the non-central positions of the interacting spin in the molecules. The electronic relaxation is assumed to stem from the electron spin-nitrogen spin hyperfine coupling, modulated by rotation of the radical molecule. For the interpretation of the NMRD data, we use the nitrogen hyperfine coupling tensor obtained from ESR and fit the other relevant parameters. The consistency of the unified analysis of ESR and NMRD, evaluated by the agreement between the rotational correlation times obtained from ESR and NMRD, respectively, and the agreement of the translation diffusion coefficients with literature values obtained for pure propylene glycol, is demonstrated to be satisfactory.

1H relaxation dispersion in solutions of nitroxide radicals: Influence of electron spin relaxation

The work presents a theory of nuclear ((1)H) spin-lattice relaxation dispersion for solutions of (15)N and (14)N radicals, including electron spin relaxation effects. The theory is a generalization of the approach presented by Kruk et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 137, 044512 (2012)]. The electron spin relaxation is attributed to the anisotropic part of the electron spin-nitrogen spin hyperfine interaction modulated by rotational dynamics of the paramagnetic molecule, and described by means of Redfield relaxation theory. The (1)H relaxation is caused by electron spin-proton spin dipole-dipole interactions which are modulated by relative translational motion of the solvent and solute molecules. The spectral density characterizing the translational dynamics is described by the force-free-hard-sphere model. The electronic relaxation influences the (1)H relaxation by contributing to the fluctuations of the inter-molecular dipolar interactions. The developed theory is tested against (1)H spin-lattice relaxation dispersion data for glycerol solutions of 4-oxo-TEMPO-d16-(15)N and 4-oxo-TEMPO-d16-(14)N covering the frequency range of 10 kHz-20 MHz. The studies are carried out as a function of temperature starting at 328 K and going down to 290 K. The theory gives a consistent overall interpretation of the experimental data for both (14)N and (15)N systems and explains the features of (1)H relaxation dispersion resulting from the electron spin relaxation.

Long-Time Diffusion in Polymer Melts Revealed by 1H NMR Relaxometry.

We demonstrate that field-cycling 1H NMR relaxometry can be used as a straightforward method of determining translational diffusion coefficient D = D(M) in polymer systems. The 1H spin-lattice relaxation dispersion for polybutadiene of different molecular masses M (446 < M/(g mol-1) < 9470) is measured at several temperatures (233 < T/K < 408) in a broad frequency range. The diffusion coefficient D(T) is determined from the intermolecular contribution to the overall spin-lattice relaxation rate R1(ω), which dominates in the low-frequency range and follows a universal dispersion law linear in √ω. The extracted diffusion coefficients are in good agreement with the values obtained previously by field gradient NMR. The molecular mass dependence D = D(M) exhibits two power laws: D ∝ M-1.3±0.1 and ∝M-2.3±0.1. They show a crossover for M = 2300, a value that is close to the entanglement molecular mass Me of polybutadiene. The corresponding power-law exponents are close to the prediction of the tube-reptation model.

Translational diffusion in paramagnetic liquids by 1H NMR relaxometry: Nitroxide radicals in solution

For nitroxide radicals in solution one can identify three frequency regimes in which (1)H spin-lattice relaxation rate of solvent molecules depend linearly on square root of the (1)H resonance frequency. Combining a recently developed theory of nuclear (proton) spin-lattice relaxation in solutions of nitroxide radicals [D. Kruk et al., J. Chem. Phys. 137, 044512 (2012)] with properties of the spectral density function associated with translational dynamics, relationships between the corresponding linear changes of the relaxation rate (for (14)N spin probes) and relative translational diffusion coefficient of the solvent and solute molecules have been derived (in analogy to (15)N spin probes [E. Belorizky et al., J. Phys. Chem. A 102, 3674 (1998)]). This method allows a simple and straightforward determination of diffusion coefficients in spin-labeled systems, by means of (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry. The approach has thoroughly been tested by applying to a large set of experimental data-(1)H spin-lattice relaxation dispersion results for solutions of different viscosity (decalin, glycerol, propylene glycol) of (14)N and (15)N spin probes. The experiments have been performed versus temperature (to cover a broad range of translational diffusion coefficients) using field cycling spectrometer which covers three decades in (1)H resonance frequency, 10 kHz-20 MHz. The limitations of NMR relaxometry caused by the time scale of the translational dynamics as well as electron spin relaxation have been discussed. It has been shown that for spin-labeled systems NMR relaxometry gives access to considerably faster diffusion processes than for diamagnetic systems.

Nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion investigations of water retention mechanism by cellulose ethers in mortars

We show how nuclear magnetic spin–lattice relaxation dispersion of proton-water (NMRD) can be used to elucidate the effect of cellulose ethers on water retention and hydration delay of freshly-mixed white cement pastes. NMRD is useful to determine the surface diffusion coefficient of water, the specific area and the hydration kinetics of the cement-based material. In spite of modifications of the solution's viscosity, we show that the cellulosic derivatives do not modify the surface diffusion coefficient of water. Thus, the mobility of water present inside the medium is not affected by the presence of polymer. However, these admixtures modify significantly the surface fraction of mobile water molecules transiently present at solid surfaces. This quantity measured, for the first time, for all admixed cement pastes is thus relevant to explain the water retention mechanism.

Combining one-dimensional stray-field micro-imaging with mechanical field-cycling NMR: A new spectrometer design

A new spectrometer design combining stray-field micro-imaging with mechanical field-cycling Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (FC-NMR), allowing for one dimensional spatial resolution in the order of 10 μm is described. The field-cycle is implemented by moving the probe in the stray-field of a superconducting gradient magnet. In this way a field range between 10 mT and 6.3 T is covered. The maximum transfer time is less than 5 s. Further, methods to correct for some of the imaging artefacts found in previous studies are implemented. The main objective of this design is a depth- and field-dependent investigation of the defect structure caused by heavy-ion irradiation of ionic crystals.

Entanglement and confinement effects constraining polymer chain dynamics on different length and time scales

Abstract With the time constants usually considered to be characteristic for polymer dynamics, namely τ s (the segment fluctuation time), τ e (the entanglement time), and τ R (the longest Rouse relaxation time), the time scales of particular interest: (i) t τ s ; (ii) τ s t τ e ; and (iii) τ e t τ R will be discussed and compared with experimental data. These ranges correspond to the chain-mode length scales: (i) l b ; (ii) b l d 2 / b ; and (iii) d 2 / b l L , where b is the statistical segment length, d is the dimension of constraints by entanglements and/or confinement, and L is the chain contour length. Based on Langevin-type equations-of-motion coarse-grained predictions for the mean-squared segment displacement and the spin-lattice relaxation dispersion will be outlined for the scenarios “freely-draining”, “entangled”, and “confined”. In the discussion we will juxtapose “local” versus “global” dynamics on the one hand, and “bulk” versus “confined” systems on the other. The experimental technique of particular interest here is field-cycling NMR relaxometry which predominantly probes conformational fluctuations. A comparison with methods sensitive by contrast to translational fluctuations such as field-gradient NMR diffusometry and neutron scattering will be discussed with respect to sensitivity to confinement phenomena, i.e. the so-called corset effect.

Nuclear spin–lattice relaxation dispersion investigation of smectic order fluctuations in isotropic and nematic phases

Proton magnetic relaxation dispersion (PMRD) measurements are made with a view to investigating the influence of an underlying smectic phase, on the isotropic and nematic phases of the binary liquid crystalline mixture of 4DBT and 12CB, at two distinct concentrations, namely 50% 12CB (has no smectic phase) and 70% 12CB (retains S Ad phase of 12CB). Analyses of the data in terms of relevant molecular processes show that the influence of smectic clusters on the nematic order fluctuations persists even in the isotropic phase. Further, the molecular dynamics are qualitatively different in the respective nematic phases of the two mixtures.

Water molecule contributions to proton spin–lattice relaxation in rotationally immobilized proteins

Spin–lattice relaxation rates of protein and water protons in dry and hydrated immobilized bovine serum albumin were measured in the range of 1H Larmor frequency from 10 kHz to 30 MHz at temperatures from 154 to 302 K. The water proton spin–lattice relaxation reports on that of protein protons, which causes the characteristic power law dependence on the magnetic field strength. Isotope substitution of deuterium for hydrogen in water and studies at different temperatures expose three classes of water molecule dynamics that contribute to the spin–lattice relaxation dispersion profile. At 185 K, a water 1H relaxation contribution derives from reorientation of protein-bound molecules that are dynamically uncoupled from the protein backbone and is characterized by a Lorentzian function. Bound-water-molecule motions that can be dynamically uncoupled or coupled to the protein fluctuations make dominant contributions at higher temperatures as well. Surface water translational diffusion that is magnetically two-dimensional makes relaxation contributions at frequencies above 10 MHz. It is shown using isotope substitution that the exponent of the power law of the water signal in hydrated immobilized protein systems is the same as that for protons in lyophilized proteins over four orders of magnitude in the Larmor frequency, which implies that changes in the protein structure associated with hydration do not affect the 1H spin relaxation.

Length and Time Scales of Entanglement and Confinement Effects Constraining Polymer Chain Dynamics

AbstractWith characteristic time constants for polymer dynamics, namely τs (the segment fluctuation time), τe (the entanglement time), and τR (the longest Rouse relaxation time), the time scales of particular interest (i) t&lt;τs, (ii) τs&lt;t&lt;τe, and (iii) τe&lt;t&lt;τR will be discussed and compared with experimental data. These ranges correspond to the chain-mode length scales (i) l&lt;b, (ii) b&lt;l&lt;d2/b, and (iii) d2/b&lt;l&lt;L, where b is the statistical segment length, d is the dimension of constraints by entanglements and/or confinement, and L is the chain contour length. Based on Langevin-type equations-of-motion coarse-grained predictions for the mean-squared segment displacement and the spin-lattice relaxation dispersion will be outlined for the scenarios “freely-draining”, “entangled”, and “confined”. In the discussion we will juxtapose “local” versus “global” dynamics on the one hand, and “bulk” versus “confined” systems on the other.

Spin–lattice relaxation dispersion in polymers: Dipolar-interaction components and short- and long-time limits

The Mori–Zwanzig projection operator technique was employed to derive the effective Hamiltonian for spin-segment coupling. The fluctuations of this operator are responsible for spin–lattice relaxation in polymer chains. In detail, dipolar interaction of spins is rigorously analyzed by components representing fluctuations of the Kuhn segment end-to-end vectors and local fluctuations on a length scale shorter than the root mean square Kuhn segment length. The former correspond to the usual coarse-grain picture of polymer chain mode theories. It is shown that these non-local chain modes dominate proton spin–lattice relaxation dispersion of flexible polymers at frequencies up to about 10 8 Hz. A corresponding evaluation of experimental data for polybutadiene melts is presented.

Deuteron and proton spin-lattice relaxation dispersion of polymer melts: Intrasegment, intrachain, and interchain contributions

Proton and deuteron field-cycling NMR relaxometry was applied to deuterated and undeuterated bulk polyethyleneoxide and polybutadiene melts and mixtures thereof with molecular weights above the critical value. Spin-lattice relaxation data due to intrasegment (quadrupolar) couplings and intra- and interchain (dipolar) interactions were evaluated. Diverse dynamic limits are identified both with the proton and deuteron frequency dispersion data. The comparison between the intrachain and the interchain contributions leads to the conclusion that only model theories based on largely isotropic chain dynamics can account for the experimental findings. The extremely anisotropic character of the well-known tube/reptation model is too restrictive in this respect.