Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026

Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Published on: September 17, 2017
Solid-state STRAFI NMR probe for material imaging of quadrupolar nuclei
Joel A Tang1, Guiming Zhong, Sneha Dugar
1National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA.
Stray field imaging (STRAFI) offers a novel MRI method for challenging materials. This study presents a new STRAFI probe for quadrupolar nuclei, achieving micrometer-scale resolution for lithium materials.
Area of Science:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Materials Science
- Solid-State Chemistry
Background:
- Conventional MRI methods struggle with imaging certain solid materials.
- High resolution is difficult for small samples due to gradient limitations.
- Stray field imaging (STRAFI) presents an alternative approach for material characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate a STRAFI probe for imaging materials containing quadrupolar nuclei.
- To achieve micrometer-scale resolution for analyzing small volume samples.
- To apply the developed probe for characterizing lithium-ion battery electrode materials.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a 19.6 T magnet with a high fringe field gradient strength (72 T/m).
- Developed a specialized STRAFI probe designed for quadrupolar nuclei.
- Acquired one-dimensional (1D) profiles of lithium phantoms (liquid and solid state).
Main Results:
- Achieved clearly resolved features at the micrometer scale for lithium phantoms.
- Demonstrated the capability of the STRAFI probe for analyzing solid-state materials.
- Successfully examined a lithium-ion battery electrode material, showcasing practical application.
Conclusions:
- The developed STRAFI probe enables high-resolution imaging of materials with quadrupolar nuclei.
- This technique overcomes limitations of conventional MRI for specific solid materials.
- STRAFI imaging is a promising tool for advanced materials analysis, including battery components.
Related Concept Videos
¹H NMR: Complex Splitting
Splitting diagrams or splitting tree diagrams are routinely used to depict such complex couplings. While drawing splitting diagrams, the splitting with the larger coupling constant is usually applied first.
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Overview
Mass Analyzers: Common Types
Interpreting ¹H NMR Signal Splitting: The (n + 1) Rule
NMR Spectroscopy: Spin–Spin Coupling
Double Resonance Techniques: Overview
Spin decoupling is usually achieved by...
