Superresolution Introduced to NMR Spectroscopy

Superresolution spectroscopy image
Deconvolution methods initially developed for superresolution microscopy can be applied to enhance the spectral resolution of 2D NMR spectra, yielding far greater structural details.
Scientific Achievement

Scientists have successfully applied superresolution microscopy methods to NMR spectroscopy, yielding dramatically higher resolution and detail.

 

Significance and Impact

NMR spectroscopy is a key technique used to understand the atomic-level function of materials. Resolution nevertheless limits its applicability to complex systems. The developed method enables a doubling of resolution and the study of larger, more complex systems.

 

Research Details
  • 1H NMR resolution is limited by 1H homonuclear dipolar broadening.
  • The broadening can be measured independently to obtain an NMR analogue of the point spread function.
  • Deconvolution using this function yields a rough doubling of the resolution, equivalent to a doubling of the spinning frequency.

 

Perras, F. A.; Wang, S.; Mayer, J.; Halder, M.; Paterson, A. L.; Culver, D. B.; Rienstra, C. M. Removal of Homogeneous Broadening from 1H-Detected Multidimensional Solid-State NMR Spectra Anal. Chem. 2025, 97, 8, 4653–4660. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c06696