It’s Only Common Sense: Customer Service Is Sales in Disguise
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘Dream First, Details Later
Happy’s Tech Talk #40: Factors in PTH Reliability—Hole Voids
Diamonds May Be the Key to Future NMR/MRI Technologies
December 29, 2015 | Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryEstimated reading time: 4 minutes
Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California (UC) Berkeley have demonstrated that diamonds may hold the key to the future for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies.
In a study led by Alexander Pines, a senior faculty scientist with Berkeley Lab’s Materials Sciences Division and UC Berkeley’s Glenn T. Seaborg Professor of Chemistry, researchers recorded the first bulk room-temperature NMR hyperpolarization of carbon-13 nuclei in diamond in situ at arbitrary magnetic fields and crystal orientations. The signal of the hyperpolarized carbon-13 spins showed an enhancement of NMR/MRI signal sensitivity by many orders of magnitude above what is ordinarily possible with conventional NMR/MRI magnets at room temperature. Furthermore, this hyperpolarization was achieved with microwaves, rather than relying on precise magnetic fields for hyperpolarization transfer.
Pines is the corresponding author of a paper in Nature Communications describing this study. The paper is titled “Room-temperature in situ nuclear spin hyperpolarization from optically pumped nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond.”
The authors report the observation of a bulk nuclear spin polarization of six-percent, which is an NMR signal enhancement of approximately 170,000 times over thermal equilibrium. The signal of the hyperpolarized spins was detected in situ with a standard NMR probe without the need for sample shuttling or precise crystal orientation. The authors believe this new hyperpolarization technique should enable orders of magnitude sensitivity enhancement for NMR studies of solids and liquids under ambient conditions.
“Our results in this study represent an NMR signal enhancement equivalent to that achieved in the pioneering experiments of Lucio Frydman and coworkers at the Weizmann Institute of Science, but using microwave-induced dynamic nuclear hyperpolarization in diamonds without the need for precise control over magnetic field and crystal alignment,” Pines says. “Room-temperature hyperpolarized diamonds open the possibility of NMR/MRI polarization transfer to arbitrary samples from an inert, non-toxic and easily separated source, a long sought-after goal of contemporary NMR/MRI technologies.”
“These results are an important contribution that adds to a growing arsenal of tools being developed by experts throughout the world, including leading laboratories in the US, Europe, Japan and Israel, for creating a more sensitive NMR/MRI signature at easily attainable conditions,” says Frydman, a professor of chemistry at thes Weizmann Institute of Science. which is located in Israel, near Tel Aviv. “Achieving this could open up a plethora of applications in physics, chemistry and biology.”
Page 1 of 2
Share on:
Suggested Items
I-Connect007’s Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
07/04/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007For our industry, we have seen several bullish market announcements over the past few weeks, including one this week by IDC on the massive growth in the global server market. We’re also closely watching global trade and nearshoring. One good example of successful nearshoring is Rehm Thermal Systems, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in Mexico and the official opening of its new building in Guadalajara.
Driving Innovation: Direct Imaging vs. Conventional Exposure
07/01/2025 | Simon Khesin -- Column: Driving InnovationMy first camera used Kodak film. I even experimented with developing photos in the bathroom, though I usually dropped the film off at a Kodak center and received the prints two weeks later, only to discover that some images were out of focus or poorly framed. Today, every smartphone contains a high-quality camera capable of producing stunning images instantly.
United Electronics Corporation Advances Manufacturing Capabilities with Schmoll MDI-ST Imaging Equipment
06/24/2025 | United Electronics CorporationUnited Electronics Corporation has successfully installed the advanced Schmoll MDI-ST (XL) imaging equipment at their advanced printed circuit board facility. This significant technology investment represents a continued commitment to delivering superior products and maintaining their position as an industry leader in precision PCB manufacturing.
Orbel Corporation Integrates Schmoll Direct Imaging
06/04/2025 | Schmoll AmericaOrbel Corporation in Easton, PA, proudly becomes the first PCM facility in the U.S. equipped with Schmoll’s MDI Direct Imaging system. This installation empowers Orbel to support customers with greater precision and quality.
Key Insights on Photoresist for Defect Reduction
05/21/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamIn PCB manufacturing, understanding the intricacies of the photoresist process is crucial for achieving high-quality results. Industry experts Josh Krick, a technical service engineer at IEC, and Tim Blair, a PCB imaging specialist at Tim Blair LLC, share their knowledge on the essential stages of photoresist application, highlight critical advancements in materials, and discuss common defects encountered during production. They share best practices and innovative solutions to enhance the manufacturing process, reduce defects, and ensure efficiency and reliability in high-tech applications.