Magnetic Resonance

Shu Xu and Sarah Cady

The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory serves a wide variety of researchers at Iowa State University and chemical industries in the Ames area. The instrumentation provided in the NMR facility is used by individual student and industrial researchers, in addition to accepting externally submitted samples for Iowa State University-affiliated collaborations and regional corporations and universities. 

Located in rooms 1232 Hach Hall and 1702 Gilman Hall, the NMR Laboratory is both a service and user facility. Most local users are trained to run samples and analyze data independently. Sample submissions from Iowa State or external clients should be arranged through facility staff. 

The primary users of the laboratory are from the departments of Chemistry, Material Sciences and Chemical and Biological Engineering.

Please contact Dr. Sarah Cady or Dr. Jeff Purslow for information and training.

Phone: Hach Lab/Office 515-294-5975, Gilman Lab: 515-294-4057.  

  • Avance III 600 Cryo: This spectrometer features a 14.1 Tesla/600MHz standard bore Ultrashield Plus magnet, Bruker Avance III console, and capacity for up to four channels: 1H/2H/13C/15N or 31P. Topspin 3.6 software is used for data acquisition and processing. This instrument is equipped with 5 mm QCI-P solution cryoprobe with extended temperature range of 0-135 °C. The instrument is also equipped with a SampleCase 24-sample changer. Use of this instrument is primarily limited to groups requiring high-sensitivity biological solution NMR experiments, and must be pre-arranged with facility staff. 
  • Avance III 600: This spectrometer is equipped with a standard bore 14.1 Tesla magnet, Bruker Avance III console, normal geometry 2H/1H/BB BBFO SmartProbe. The SmartProbe is capable of tuning to nuclei of 109Ag-19F on the broadband channel. There is also a 2H/13C/1H/BB inverse probe with a dedicated 13C channel and 109Ag - 19F range on the broadband channel. Both probes have variable temperature capabilities ranging from -150 °C to +150 °C. The instrument is also equipped with a SampleCase 24-sample changer. 
  • MR400: This spectrometer features a standard bore 9.4 Tesla magnet equipped with a OneNMR pulse-field-gradient probe, that is capable of auto tuning to nuclei from 15N - 19F. This probe uses the 1H channel for 19F experiments and is also capable of variable temperature experiments in the range of -80 to +130 °C. This instrument is used for routine 1H/13C characterization experiments, routine X nucleus detection, 1D selective experiments (APT, DEPT, NOESY1D) and 2D experiments. 
  • NEO 400: This spectrometer is equipped with a standard bore 9.4 Tesla magnet, Bruker Avance NEO console, a LN2-cooled broadband Prodigy Cryoprobe, and Insight MR flow cell for reaction kinetics. The Prodigy probe has excellent sensitivity for X channel experiments and a temperature range of -40 °C to +80 °C. The instrument is also equipped with a SampleCase 24-sample changer. This instrument is principally used for routine walk-up, kinetics and multi-dimensional experiments.
  • DRX 500: This spectrometer is equipped with a standard bore 11.7 Tesla magnet, Bruker DRX console, and a broadband triple resonance, normal geometry probe. This instrument is used mainly for routine walk-up 1D 1H and 13C experiments. 
  • ELEXSYS E580: The EPR system has both CW and pulsed/FT X-band capabilities. The system has four resonators for facility use, including two CW resonators (SHQE and aqueous resonators), and two FT resonators (dielectric and split-ring resonators). It also has a low temperature accessory for both CW and FT resonators, capable of reaching liquid nitrogen or liquid helium temperatures.
  • The Biological NMR Facility in BBMB features 700 and 800 MHz NMR spectrometers equipped with cryoprobes. These systems offer extremely high resolution for high molecular weight systems and high sensitivity for low concentration samples. The cryogenically cooled probes offer up to 4x enhancement in NMR signal. Both NMRs are located in the basement of the MBB building, across the street from Hach Hall. Contact Dr. Jeff Purslow or Dr. Bruce Fulton for more information and to schedule measuring time.

Magnetic Resonance Resources