Solid State NMR

Solid State NMR Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for structural investigations of inorganic, organic and hybrid materials. We focus our NMR research particularly on the characterization of structure and ion dynamics of active materials for batteries and fuel cells, but we also investigate aluminosilicates and pharmaceutics. Our 400 MHz Bruker Avance III spectrometer is also equipped with a microimaging accessory, so we can also investigate in operando miniaturized working fuels cells.

 

Electrochemical NMR Microscopy (ELMINMR)

 

We developed an electrochemical NMR microscope able to investigate, in operando, polymer fuel cells (PEMFCs) operating up to around 100C, also under low or zero relative humidity. At present, it is possible to obtain density maps of both water and less mobile protons. In the next future, 1H chemical shift mapping and microimaging of hetero-nuclei (7Li, 31P, etc.) will be possible. The instrument was developed thanks to a grant of Fondazione Cariplo (Milano, Italy, project 2011-1802) in the frame of “Frontier Research in Chemistry – 2011” contest.