During the two-year project, ParaMAS designed and optimized amplitude- and frequency-modulated radiofrequency pulses tailored to allow for broadband inversion at very short irradiation times. This has been instrumental to fully leverage the advantages that are offered by ultra-fast MAS and exploit its full potential in paramagnetic NMR, as well as offsetting the sensitivity penalty due to the small active rotor volumes. This, in combination with MAS at 160 kHz, has amongst others produced the first high-resolution 19F NMR spectrum of F atoms directly bonded to a paramagnetic Fe3+ centre in anti-ferromagnetic FeF3. Furthermore, these pulses were integrated in two-dimensional magic-angle turning experiments, that has allowed us to observe and resolve 1H signals in organo-metallic catalysts, neither of which were possible previously.
In addition to that, the deeper understanding developed for broadband excitation concepts has resulted in exciting new insights in the related field of Pt single-atom catalysts.