Acquisition of a Pulsed Fourier Transform Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectrometer

Northwestern University, Evanston IL

Investigators

Abstract

With this award from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Program, the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University will acquire a Pulsed Fourier Transform Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectrometer. The new instrument will support research in the following areas: a) mapping electronic coupling within photogenerated radical ion pairs at fixed distances using time-resolved EPR spectroscopy (Wasielewski); b) direct observation of guanine cation radical in duplex DNA (Lewis); c) time-resolved applications in energy conversion chemistry: finding and identifying electron traps at photo-active interfaces (Hupp); d) time-resolved EPR of electron transfer within protein complexes (Hoffman); e) EPR studies on cobalt (II)-substituted zinc-binding domains (Godwin); and f) EPR studies of monoamine oxidase (Silverman). An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer is an instrument used to obtain information about the molecular and electronic structure of molecules. It may also be used to obtain information about the lifetimes of free radicals which are often essential for the initiation of tumor growth and/or a variety of chemical reactions. These studies will have an impact in a number of areas, in particular the chemistry of photofunctional materials and biophysical chemistry.