Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), or synonymously electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, is a magnetic resonance technique used to study materials with unpaired electrons. Examples include free radicals, transition metal ions and multiatom clusters found in diverse areas as nanomaterials, materials science, structural biology and chemistry, food science, radiation dosimetry and medicine.
Structural and electronic characterisation of a sample by EPR spectroscopy is afforded by measuring couplings between the unpaired electrons and magnetic nuclei. Samples for study can be in the form of a powder, crystal, solution or solid with no limit on molecular size. Non-invasive EPR imaging offers the capacity to spatially locate paramagnetic molecules in small animals and bulk materials.
Access to the EPR facilities is available on a fee basis.
Expert staff at CAI offer the following services:
- Experimental planning and optimisation
- Structural biology using spin probes and spin labels
- Continuous wave and pulse EPR spectroscopy for identification and structure determination of paramagnetic centres. Applications include inorganic and organic molecules, catalysts and active sites in enzymes.
- EPR imaging and spectroscopy of materials such as polymers
- EPR imaging and spectroscopy of radicals in small animals (mouse)
- Computation software for data analysis
For more information on using EPR spectroscopy and imaging in your research contact the Facility Manager.