A low-noise X-band microwave source with digital automatic frequency control for electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy

We report a new design of microwave source for X-band electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer.The microwave source is equipped with a digital automatic frequency control circuit.The parameters of the digital automatic frequency control circuit can be flexibly configured for different experimental conditions,such as the input powers or the quality factors of the resonator.The configurability makes the microwave source universally compatible and greatly extends its application.To demonstrate the ability of adapting to various experimental conditions,the microwave source is tested by varying the input powers and the quality factors of the resonator.A satisfactory phase noise as low as-135 d Bc/Hz at 100-k Hz offset from the center frequency is achieved,due to the use of a phase-locked dielectric resonator oscillator and a direct digital synthesizer.Continuous-wave electron paramagnetic resonance experiments are conducted to examine the performance of the microwave source.The outstanding performance shows a prospect of wide applications of the microwave source in numerous fields of science.

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Optical Absorption Studies on Copper Ions in Mixed Alkali Cadmium Phosphate Glasses

Electron paramagnetic resonance （EPR） and optical absorption studies were carried out at room temperature on copper doped mixed alkali cadmium phosphate （LiNaCdP） glasses to understand the nature and symmetry of dopant. Three samples with varying concentrations of alkali ions have been prepared. The spin Harniltonian parameters obtained from room temperature EPR spectra are： gli=2.437, 9⊥=2.096, A‖=117×10-4 cm-1, A⊥=26×10-4 cm-1 for LiNaCdP1, g‖=2.441, g⊥=2.088, A‖=121×10-4 cm-1, A⊥=25×10-4 cm-1 for LiNaCdP2and g‖=2.433,g⊥=2.096, A‖=125×10 4cm-1, A⊥=32×10-4cm-1 for LiNaCdP3. TheseEPR results indicate that the dopant Cu2＋ ion enters the glass matrix into a tetragonally elongated octahedral site. The bonding parameters evaluated by correlating optical and EPR data suggest that bonding between the central metal ion and ligands is partially covalent. The mixed alkali effect in cadmium phosphate glasses was reported.

Effect of local structure on electron paramagnetic resonance spectra for trigonal [Cr(H_2O)_6]^(3+) coordination complex in the sulfate alums series:a ligand field theory study

A simple theoretical method is introduced for studying the interrelation between electronic and molecular structures.By diagonalizing the 120 × 120 complete energy matrices,the relationships between zero-field splitting （ZFS） parameter D and local distortion parameter △θ for Cr^3＋ ions doped,separately,in α- and β- alums are investigated.Our results indicate that there exists an approximately linear relationship between D and △θ in a temperature range 4.2-297 K and the signs of D and △θ are opposite to each other.Moreover,in order to understand the contribution of spin-orbit coupling coefficient ζ to ZFS parameter D,the relation between D and ζ is also discussed.

Electron paramagnetic resonance study of amphiphiles partitioning behavior in desiccation-tolerant moss during dehydration

Desiccation tolerance is a crucial characteristic for desert moss surviving in arid regions. Desiccation procedure always induces amphiphiles transferring from the polar cytoplasm into lipid bodies. The behavior of amphiphiles transferring can contribute to the enhancement of desiccation tolerance and the reduction of plasma membrane integrity simultaneously. The effects of amphiphiles partitioning into the lipid phase during water loss has been studied for pollen and seeds using electron paramagnetic resonance （EPR） spectroscopy. However, desiccation-tolerant high plants occur among mosses, several angiosperms and higher plants seeds or pollens. They have different strategies for survival in dehydration and rehydration. A desiccation-tolerant moss Tortula desertorurn was used to investigate the behaviors of amphiphilic molecules during drying by spin label technology. There are small amount of amphiphilic probes partitioning into membrane during moss leaves dehydration, comparing with that in higher plants. Cytoplasm viscosity changed from 1.14 into glass state only dehydration less than 60 min. Moss leaves lost plasma membrane integrity slightly,from 0.115 to 0.237, occurred simultaneously with amphiphiles partition. The results showed the more advantages of mosses than higher plants in adapting fast dehydration. We propose that EPR spin label is feasible for studying the amphiphiles partitioning mechanisms in membrane protection and damage for desiccation-tolerant mosses.

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of the chelate-based ionic liquid in different solvents

The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of the chelate-based ionic liquid[C_(10)mim][Cu(F_6-acac)_3]in different solvents have been obtained at 120 K.It was found that the values of the^(63)Cu hyperfine coupling constants(A_(IL))of[C_(10)mim][Cu(F_6-acac)_3]in molecular solvents were from 116 to 180 Gauss.Moreover,the A_(IL)values in general ionic liquids are more complicated,and two sets of peaks can often be observed in their electron paramagnetic resonance spectra.Based on the Kamlet-Taft parameters,relative permittivity,the experimental results were discussed in terms of solvation effect and coordination of the solvents.

Electron paramagnetic resonance characterization of aluminum ion implantation-induced defects in 4H-SiC

Deep-level defects in silicon carbide(SiC)are critical to the control of the performance of SiC electron devices.In this paper,deep-level defects in aluminumion-implanted 4H-SiC after high-temperature annealingwere studied using electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR)spectroscopy at temperatures of 77 K and 123 K under different illumination conditions.Results showed that the main defect in aluminum ion-implanted 4H-SiC was the positively charged carbon vacancy(VC+),and the higher the doping concentration was,the higher was the concentration of VC+.Itwas found that the type of material defectwas independent of the doping concentration,although more VC+defects were detected during photoexcitation and at lower temperatures.These results should be helpful in the fundamental research of p-type 4H-SiC fabrication in accordance with functional device development.

X-Ray Diffraction, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Optical Absorption Study of Bauxite

The bauxite mineral obtained from Araku, Vishakapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, India is used in the present work. Structural characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The mineral was found to be gibbsite in phase. The transitional metal ions present were investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical absorption spectra. The EPR results suggest that Fe3+ has replaced Al3+ in the unit cell of bauxite. The optical absorption spectrum is due to Fe3+ which indicates that it is in distorted octahedral environment. The near-infrared (NIR) spectrum is due to water fundamentals and combination overtones, which confirm the formula of the compound. The impurities in the mineral are identified using spectroscopic techniques.

Monitoring the autoproteolysis of hiv-1 protease by site-directed spin-labeling and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy

Site-directed spin-labeling with continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to monitor autoproteolysis of HIV-1 protease, an enzyme essential for viral maturation. Two protein constructs were examined, namely subtype F and the circulating recombinant form CRF01_A/E. As the protease undergoes self-cleavage, protein unfolds and small peptide fragments containing the spin label are generated, which collectively give rise to a sharp spectral component that is easily discernable in the high-field resonance line in the EPR spectrum. By monitoring the intensity of this spectral component over time, the autoproteolytic stability of each construct was characterized under various conditions. Data were collected for samples stored at 4 °C, 25 °C, and 37 °C, and on a subtype F HIV-1 protease sample stored at 25 °C and containing the FDA-approved protease inhibitor Tipranavir. As expected, the rate of autoproteolysis decreased as the storage temperature was lowered. Minimal autoproteolysis was seen for the sample that contained Tipranavir, providing direction for future spectroscopic studies of active protease samples. When compared to standard methods of monitoring protein degradation such as gel electrophoresis or chromatographic analyses, spin-labeling with CW EPR offers a facile, real-time, non-consuming way to monitor autoproteolysis or protein degradation. Additionally, mass spectrometry studies revealed that the N-termini of both constructs are sensitive to degradation and that the sites of specific autoproteolysis vary.

Theoretical Studies of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Parameters for Cr^4＋ Ions in Ca2GeO4 Crystals

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters (zero-field splitting D and g factors g‖, g ) of Cr4+ions in Ca2 GeO4 crystals have been calculated from the complete high-order perturbation formulas of EPR parameters for a 3d2 ion in trigonal MX4 clusters. In these formulas, in addition to the contributions to EPR parameters from the widely used crystal-field (CF) mechanism, the contributions from the charge-transfer (CT) mechanism (which are often neglected) are included. From the calculations, it is found that for the high valence state 3dm ions in crystals, the reasonable explanation of EPR parameters (in particular, the g factors) should take both the CF and CT mechanisms into account.

Developing in situ electron paramagnetic resonance characterization for understanding electron transfer of rechargeable batteries

Electrochemical energy storage devices are pivotal in achieving“carbon neutrality”by enabling the storage of energy generated from renewable sources.To facilitate the development of these devices,it is important to gain insight into the underlying the single-/multi-electron transfer process.This can be achieved through in-time detection under operational conditions,but there are limited tools available for monitoring electron transfer under operando conditions.Electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR)is a powerful technique that can meet these expectations,as it is highly sensitive to unpaired electrons and can detect changes of paramagnetic centres.Despite the long history of in situ electrochemical EPR research,its potential has been surprisingly underutilized due to the need for strict operando cell design under special testing conditions.This review comprehensively summarizes recent efforts to understand energy storage mechanisms using in situ/operando EPR,with the aim of drawing researchers’attention to this powerful technique.After introducing the fundamental principles of EPR,we describe the critical advances made in detecting batteries using operando EPR,along with the remaining challenges and opportunities for future development of this technology in batteries.We emphasize the need for strict operando cell design and the importance of designing experiments that closely mimic real-world conditions.We believe that this review will provide innovative solutions to solve tough problems that researchers may encounter during their battery research,and ultimately contribute to the development of more efficient and sustainable energy storage devices.

高频高场下EPR谱仪的研究进展

电子顺磁共振(EPR)是一种研究磁性材料微观信息的测量手段.由于早期的EPR研究受到磁场强度和微波频率的限制,一些材料相关的微观信息并不能得到清晰地显示.近些年来,随着强磁场技术和微波技术的发展,连续波电子顺磁共振(cw-EPR)谱仪和脉冲电子顺磁共振(pulsed EPR)谱仪在高频高场下得到了充分的应用,同时谱仪的灵敏度和分辨率等技术指标也得到了比较好的提升.本文主要介绍了在高频高场下EPR谱仪的原理和构造,国内外发展历程和研究现状,以及在相关领域的最新应用.

A design of resonant cavity with an improved coupling-adjusting mechanism for the W-band EPR spectrometer

We report a new design of resonant cavity for a W-band electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR)spectrometer.An improved coupling-adjusting mechanism,which is robust,compact,and suits with both solenoid-type and split-pair magnets,is utilized on the cavity,and thus enables both continuous-wave(CW)and pulsed EPR experiments.It is achieved by a tiny metal cylinder in the iris.The coupling coefficient can be varied from 0.2 to 17.9.Furthermore,two pistons at each end of the cavity allow for adjustment of the resonant frequency.A horizontal TE_(011) geometry also makes the cavity compatible with the two frequently used types of magnets.The coupling-varying ability has been demonstrated by reflection coefficient(S_(11))measurement.CW and pulsed EPR experiments have been conducted.The performance data indicates a prospect of wide applications of the cavity in fields of physics,chemistry and biology.

EPR谱图模拟软件EasySpin的图形用户界面设计

EasySpin是一款较为流行的电子顺磁共振(EPR)谱图模拟和拟合软件,LabVIEW是一种图形化编程语言开发环境.本文介绍了一款使用LabVIEW为EasySpin设计的图形用户界面LV-EasySpin.LV-EasySpin提供了一种直观的操作方法来实现连续波EPR多组分波谱的可视化模拟和拟合.本文辅以各种模式下的实例进行说明,阐述了LV-EasySpin的设计思路与实现方案,最终希望具有简洁、易操作界面的LV-EasySpin可以降低用户使用EasySpin分析EPR谱图的难度.

Thermal evolution of source rocks in sedimentary basin by using electron paramagnetic resonance technique

1 Methods and principles Based on the variation of free radicals, thermal evolution of organic matter in source rocks in sedimentary basin can be identified by using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. This is based on the changes of free radicals with the evolution of kerogen, which may lead to the changes of EPR spectra. The number of free radicals

Electron paramagnetic resonance in monitoring of nitric oxide production after kidney transplantation in rats

Background Much research has been focused on ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) to the transplanted organs. As a free radical, nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in IRI. In this study, the production of NO and its functions during IRI were monitored in rat models after allotransplantation of kidney grafts.Methods Of 75 male LEW rats, 30 served as donors, and the remaining 45 rats were divided into three groups (15 rats in each group): controls (group 1), kidney allotransplantation followed by bilateral nephrectomy during reperfusion (group 2), 2 hours before operation, donors and recipients were treated with NG-nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a NO synthase inhibitor, at a dose of 30 mg/kg (group 3). Bilateral nephrectomies were performed while kidney grafts were reperfused. The kidney grafts were hypothemically stored for 24 hours. The production of NO before and after reperfusion was measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The creatinine level, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and the protein carbonyl content in tissue samples were recorded on the first and the fifth day after operation. The data were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance. Differences were considered to be statistically significant when a P value was less than 0.05.Results After reperfusion for 15 minutes, the production of NO increased remarkably and kept increasing till 120 minutes, after which the level returned to normal. In group 3, which was pretreated with L-NAME, creatinine levels were higher than those in group 2 at the 24th hour (4.10±0.50 mg/dl vs. 3.77±0.42 mg/dl, P<0.05) and the 120th hour (3.19±0.79 mg/dl vs. 2.22±0.53 mg/dl, P<0.05). GFR levels in group 3 were lower than those in group 2 at the 24th hour (0.50±0.12 ml/min vs. 0.71±0.19 ml/min, P<0.05) and the 120th hour (0.59±0.38 ml/min vs. 1.27±0.23 ml/min, P<0.01). The content of protein carbonyl in tissue samples of group 3 was lower than that in group 2 at the 24th hour (29.01±7.02 nmol/mg protein vs. 49.39±13.13 nmol/mg protein, P<0.05), but was higher than that at the 120th hour (75.71±16.74 nmol/mg protein vs. 57.93±15.32 nmol/mg protein, P<0.05).Conclusions After transplantation of hypothemically stored kidney grafts, the increased NO production in the early stage has protective effects on the transplanted kidney. Application of L-NAME to inhibit NO production is harmful to the recovery of the renal functions of kidney grafts.

Spin probes for electron paramagnetic resonance imaging

Electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) is a relatively recent imaging technique, which provides potentially multidimensional imaging of the spatial distribution of paramagnetic species. Thanks to the use of stable spin probes, low frequency EPR imaging has recently allowed the use of large tissue samples or whole animals in vivo in the field of biology and medicine. It is normally necessary to introduce prior intravenous or intramuscular infusion of stable or slowly metabolizable non-toxic water-soluble paramagnetic materials, or stable implantable particulate materials as spin probes into the system. The classification and research progress of spin probes at present were described briefly. Three important potential approaches in water-soluble paramagnetic materials design including deuterated, site-specific and macromolecular conjugated nitroxides were also investigated.

ELECTRON PARAMAGNETIC RESONANCE STUDIES OF SINGLE CRYSTAL SODIUM HEXAMOLYBDOCHROMATE (Ⅲ)Cr^(3+)/Na_3(AlMo_6O_(24)H_6)·8H_2O

An X-band EPR study on a Na3(CrMo6O24H6)·8H2O single crystal diluted by its isomor-phic compound Na3(AlMo6O24H6)·8H2O at room temperature is reported. Using the least squares-fitting method to simulate the EPR data for principal planes, the Hamiltonian parameterswere obtained. The principal values of the g tensors are gZZ = 1.904, gXX= 1.973, gYY=1.933. The zero field splitting tensor parameters are D = 0.275 cm-1, E = 0.05 cm-1. The fielddependence of Cr3+ energy levels with field at different angles from the principal axes whenthe field is along the principal planes is calculated based on these experimental parameters.The isofrequency plots of calculated field vs. angle are also shown. They agree well with theexperimental results.

晶体(NH_4)_2C_4H_4O_6∶VO^(2+)的EPR参量及局域结构的研究

采用叠加模型和双旋-轨耦合参量模型,建立了结构参数与EPR参量之间的定量关系;较好地解释了[VO(H2O)5]2+络离子的局域结构和EPR参量;研究结果发现,(NH4)2C4H4O6:VO2+晶体中络离子[VO(H2O)5]2+的键长为R//≈0.130nm,R⊥≈0.195nm;在(NH4)2C4H4O6:VO2+晶体中,局域结构沿C4轴方向呈压缩的八面体结构;所得EPR参量的理论计算与实验测量数据符合很好。

电子顺磁共振技术在化工基础研究中的应用进展

电子顺磁共振(electron paramagnetic resonance,EPR)技术能够检测自由基、过渡金属离子及缺陷等顺磁性物质,谱图具有高特异性,背景信号少,既可以检测溶液样品,也可以检测固态样品,且检测限低。在化工基础研究中,尤其是自由基相关过程研究中,EPR技术的优势是其他谱学无可比拟的。但是化工领域的科学家们使用EPR技术并不广泛。综述了EPR在化工基础相关研究中应用的一些例子,包括催化材料的表征、活性中间体的表征、溶剂性质表征及材料性能表征四个方面,希望能让更多化工领域工作者了解EPR技术,并使用EPR技术解决化工问题。