Periodic Reporting for period 4 - THz-FRaScan-ESR (THz Frequency Rapid Scan – Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy for spin dynamics investigations of bulk and surface materials (THz-FRaScan-ESR))
Période du rapport: 2022-07-01 au 2022-12-31
Current high frequency electron spin resonance (HFESR) instruments suffer from the disadvantages of being limited to a single frequency and to tiny sample volumes. The study of spin dynamics at frequencies beyond a few hundred gigahertz is currently prohibitively difficult. These limitations are now preventing progress in dynamic nuclear polarisation (DNP) and preclude the implementation of zero-field quantum computing based on molecular qubits. DNP is a very promising technique which can revolutionise the sensitivity in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which, in future, will allow researchers to watch molecular interactions in real time or even to monitor how sophisticated systems (ribosomes) work. Therefore, the project is devoted to development of a novel and worldwide unique technique called broadband terahertz frequency rapid scan (FRaScan) ESR.
Results obtained within the project will lead to technical progress and will impact fields as diverse as DNP in MRI (NMR) and quantum computing. It will lead to orders of magnitude better MRI systems in hospitals with significantly better and precise diagnoses, to zero field quantum computers with computation power which will be never reached with conventional technology. Last but not least, the developed FRaScan spectrometer makes HFEPR spectroscopy more accessible to the broad scientific community.
The main objectives of the ERC Starting grant are as follows: 1) to develop a THz Frequency Rapid Scan ESR spectrometer, 2) to investigate spin dynamics of solid state materials, molecules on surfaces and in the bulk, and 3) to perform THz frequency rapid scan ESR on polarising agents for DNP.
Results obtained within the project will lead to technical progress and will impact fields as diverse as DNP in MRI (NMR) and quantum computing. It will lead to orders of magnitude better MRI systems in hospitals with significantly better and precise diagnoses, to zero field quantum computers with computation power which will be never reached with conventional technology. Last but not least, the developed FRaScan spectrometer makes HFEPR spectroscopy more accessible to the broad scientific community.
The main objectives of the ERC Starting grant are as follows: 1) to develop a THz Frequency Rapid Scan ESR spectrometer, 2) to investigate spin dynamics of solid state materials, molecules on surfaces and in the bulk, and 3) to perform THz frequency rapid scan ESR on polarising agents for DNP.
The project THz-FRaScan-ESR (GA 714850) started successfully on 1st January 2018 at the Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) at the Brno University of Technology (BUT). Because the Principal Investigator was employed at the Universität Stuttgart (USTUTT) in Germany, a relocation to Brno, Czech Republic was necessary. It was one of the reasons for postponing the project start by one year (instead of 1st January 2017). The necessity for construction adjustments of laboratories in the Host Institution along with longer than anticipated purchase and tender processes also contributed to the postponed start of the project.
As a part of the project, we constructed and equipped new laboratories, the THz spectroscopy laboratory and the chemistry laboratory, where the project took place. We recruited PhD students and postdocs working on the project in the first year based on public open calls. Furthermore, three PhD students had already successfully completed their PhD studies and found postdoctoral positions in well know ESR and chemistry laboratories in USA and Europe; four more PhD defences are planned for 2023.
There are no significant deviations from the original proposal. However, some components to successfully complete WP1 according to the original plan had been delayed and we faced technical challenges which were successfully overcome. The FRaScan spectrometer is assembled and put into operation. To facilitate and enable measurements of different sample types, a set of sample holders was designed and fabricated. We have demonstrated the feasibility of THz frequency rapid scans in accessing the electron spin relaxation times in a broad magnetic field range on different sample types as it was planned in work packages 2 and 3, and the work is still in progress through new grants obtained thanks to the established laboratory and spectrometer during this project. The work was disseminated in many opportunities both to the general public and to the scientific community: an international workshop and two international summer schools, including the prestigious school of the European Federation of ESR groups (EFEPR), several news and magazines articles, including an interview on the Czech TV, and many scientific publications with open access to the community.
As a part of the project, we constructed and equipped new laboratories, the THz spectroscopy laboratory and the chemistry laboratory, where the project took place. We recruited PhD students and postdocs working on the project in the first year based on public open calls. Furthermore, three PhD students had already successfully completed their PhD studies and found postdoctoral positions in well know ESR and chemistry laboratories in USA and Europe; four more PhD defences are planned for 2023.
There are no significant deviations from the original proposal. However, some components to successfully complete WP1 according to the original plan had been delayed and we faced technical challenges which were successfully overcome. The FRaScan spectrometer is assembled and put into operation. To facilitate and enable measurements of different sample types, a set of sample holders was designed and fabricated. We have demonstrated the feasibility of THz frequency rapid scans in accessing the electron spin relaxation times in a broad magnetic field range on different sample types as it was planned in work packages 2 and 3, and the work is still in progress through new grants obtained thanks to the established laboratory and spectrometer during this project. The work was disseminated in many opportunities both to the general public and to the scientific community: an international workshop and two international summer schools, including the prestigious school of the European Federation of ESR groups (EFEPR), several news and magazines articles, including an interview on the Czech TV, and many scientific publications with open access to the community.
We have successfully put into operation the unique FRaScan spectrometer with which we performed, among others, spin relaxation studies on liquid and bulk materials in wide frequency range (100 – 400 GHz). This clearly brings the ESR spectroscopy beyond the current state of the art. However, the technique of rapid scan ESR is still at the development stage, and we need to solve certain obstacles before it can be routinely used by a general scientific community (on a ‘plug and play’ level). To expand the capabilities of FRaScan spectrometer even further, we have implemented the electrically detected mode of ESR (EDMR) which is especially useful in studies of semiconducting materials. This was demonstrated at frequencies above 100 GHz using a monocrystal of 15R SiC polytype heavily doped by nitrogen.