Spatially resolved spectroscopy using tapered stripline NMR

Koen C H Tijssen; Jacob Bart; Roald M Tiggelaar; J W G Hans Janssen; Arno P M Kentgens; P Jan M van Bentum

doi:10.1016/j.jmr.2015.12.021

Spatially resolved spectroscopy using tapered stripline NMR

J Magn Reson. 2016 Feb:263:136-146. doi: 10.1016/j.jmr.2015.12.021. Epub 2016 Jan 8.

Authors

Koen C H Tijssen¹, Jacob Bart¹, Roald M Tiggelaar², J W G Hans Janssen¹, Arno P M Kentgens¹, P Jan M van Bentum³

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
² Mesa+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
³ Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.vanbentum@nmr.ru.nl.

PMID: 26796112
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2015.12.021

Abstract

Magnetic field B0 gradients are essential in modern Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy and imaging. Although RF/B1 gradients can be used to fulfill a similar role, this is not used in common practice because of practical limitations in the design of B1 gradient coils. Here we present a new method to create B1 gradients using stripline RF coils. The conductor-width of a stripline NMR chip and the strength of its radiofrequency field are correlated, so a stripline chip can be tapered to produce any arbitrary shaped B1 field gradient. Here we show the characterization of this tapered stripline configuration and demonstrate three applications: magnetic resonance imaging on samples with nL-μL volumes, reaction monitoring of fast chemical reactions (10(-2)-10(1)s) and the compensation of B0 field gradients to obtain high-resolution spectra in inhomogeneous magnetic fields.

Keywords: B(1) imaging; Microfluidics; NMR; RF coil design; RF gradient; Reaction monitoring; Tapered stripline.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't