Enhancing and Expanding Solid-State NMR Capability in Scotland

NMR spectroscopy is a key tool for understanding the atomic-scale structure of solids which is a vital step in the design of functional materials. This proposal will deliver a world-class facility supporting research and training at the cutting edge of solid-state NMR spectroscopy, expanding capacity and enhancing capability. The research enabled will underpin a range of EPSRC objectives and themes, supporting researchers developing new batteries, the hydrogen economy, industrially important catalysts, and porous materials for separations, gas storage, drug delivery and carbon capture. This will contribute to the EPSRC Advanced Materials and Circular Economy thematic areas, with particularly strong input into the physical sciences, energy, engineering and healthcare technology themes, mapping onto several EPSRC and institutional strategic priorities. Currently, the facility (the only laboratory dedicated to solid-state NMR in Scotland) supports over 100 users involved in multidisciplinary transformational research across the institution (e.g., Chemistry, Physics, Earth Sciences, Geography), the EaStCHEM pooling initiative and the wider region. However, the current spectrometer consoles are aging, inefficient and are end-of-life, with repairs no longer supported by the manufacturer. The increasing number of breakdowns significantly affects the capacity and efficiency of this already oversubscribed facility. The current instrumentation is also limited in that it cannot perform many of the more complex experiments demanded by modern science. Replacing the consoles with modern instrumentation capable of interleaved acquisition and the acquisition of new multiple-resonance probeheads will not only provide increased efficiency and enhanced capacity (alleviating the significant overdemand), but will widen the range of experiments that can be performed and the complexity of the materials that can be studied. The facility employs a hybrid usage model. This combines in-person access for specialist, trained users, collaborative projects (with key academic researchers and industrial partners from the UK and across the world), and an NMR service for less experienced users. This ensures access to this vital technique for a wide and diverse user base, irrespective of background and expertise. The facility is supported by a dedicated Facility Manager, providing on-site scientific expertise, specialist training and technical support. As the only solid-state NMR facility in Scotland, the laboratory provides researchers from across the country with access, expertise and support, and enables efficient use to be made of the instrument time available at high field (e.g., at the Scottish High-Field NMR Facility in Edinburgh). The strong and supportive Scottish NMR Community (coordinated through the Scottish NMR Users Group, SNUG), is ideally placed to take advantage of the sharing of equipment and best practice. The flexible access model results in usage by academics from all four nations. In order to both improve day-to-day efficiency and provide a skilled future generation of researchers, the proposal will deliver training for all users including the development of standard operating procedures and specific training in advanced experimental techniques as needed. The proposal will also deliver significantly improved financial and environmental sustainability for the facility. The superconducting magnets require a regular supply of liquid helium, which is a costly and finite natural resource produced as a byproduct of fossil fuel extraction. By installing helium capture capabilities, the facility will be able to connect to the University’s recycling system. This will both sever a link to fossil fuels and provide a major cost reduction. Replacing old, inefficient consoles will also deliver further sustainability benefits.