Magnetics Business & Technology - Fall 2013 - (Page 4)

EDITOR’S CHOICE The concept of DNP-NMR was first theorized and demonstrated in the 1950s at the University of Illinois, but it took decades of The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Ames Laboratory will progress in microwave and NMR technology, mainly at MIT, to acquire a Dynamic Nuclear Polarization-NMR spectrometer, a make a commercially produced instrument possible, only in the last three years. step forward in the laboratory’s solid-state NMR capabilities. The instrument, manufactured by Bruker, will be delivered and The Ames Laborainstalled next year. The instrument is funded by DOE’s Office tory’s instrument will of Science, which supports fundamental research to understand, be the first of its kind predict and ultimately control matter and energy at the electronic, to be focused on maatomic, and molecular levels, in an effort to provide the foundaterials and materials tions for new energy technologies and to support DOE missions chemistry in the US. in energy, environment and national security. In traditional nu clear magnetic resonance (NMR) techElectric Racing Car Set for Victory with Advanced nology, researchers Materials from VAC are able to discover Materials and components from Vacuumschmelze GmbH & physical, chemiCo. KG are once again helping to power an electric racing car. cal, electronic and The Swiss entrants in the Formula Student race, AMZ Racing, structural informa- DNP-NMR combines two techniques, electron chose rotor and stator assemblies made of Vacoflux 48 with tape tion about materials, paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy thickness of 0.1 mm for the motors of their latest electric racing based on the way with NMR, producing more sensitive, rapid re- car, known as Julier. The rotor assemblies were designed as magatomic nuclei in the search results. Photo courtesy of Bruker. netic systems with bonded Vacodym 776 TP permanent magnets. sample absorb elecJulier, which can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in only 2.6 sectromagnetic radiation in a strong magnetic field. onds, has an excellent chance of surpassing this achievement in Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP)-NMR uses microwaves this summer’s 2013 Formula Student competition. to polarize electrons and then transfer that polarization from the Julier is the Swiss team’s first all-wheel-drive vehicle. The new electrons to the nuclei of the sample being analyzed. racer, with a full-scale “It’s essentially a combination of two techniques, electron aerodynamic body pack, paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy with NMR, which features lightweight yields an amazing increase in sensitivity,” said Cynthia Jenks, construction throughassistant director of scientific planning for the Ames Labora- out. Despite its total of tory and director of chemical and biological sciences. “In the four drive-motors detypes of materials we use, we’ve been able to demonstrate an livering a combined 190 enhancement of anywhere from eight to 30 times in signal sen- hp, Julier weighs in at sitivity. Results that used to take a week to obtain will now take 175 kilos, only slightly hours or minutes.” more than its 2012 pre The increased capabilities of the DNP-NMR instrument will decessor. The motors be in the hands of the lab’s six world-leading solid-state NMR are also well worth a scientists, and opens up possibilities for research that didn’t pre- closer look; each having viously exist. a maximum torque of 31.8 Nm and a maximum output of 36 kW. “Needless to say, we are all very pleased with this acquisition,” Weighing 4.7 kg each, this is equivalent to a power-to-weight rasaid Marek Pruski, the principal investigator of the research team. tio of an outstanding 7.7 kW/kg. “The Ames Laboratory has an elite group of scientists specializing in the development and applications of solid-state NMR tech- AVX Releases TCH Capacitors for Aerospace and niques. During the last two years we have conducted exploratory Hi-Rel Applications studies to demonstrate the critical importance of DNP NMR to AVX Corp. has released its new TCH series hermetically our materials chemistry research, using the existing instrument sealed tantalum polymer chip capacitors for aerospace and other in Lausanne, Switzerland and at the Bruker facility in Billerica, high-reliability applications. Featuring conductive polymer elecMassachusetts. All these factors, and the critical support from the trodes, TCH series capacitors exhibit low ESR and low derating Ames Laboratory leadership made this outcome possible.” capabilities in addition to high ripple current, high capacitance Laboratory scientists expect the instrument to greatly expand (1.5 to 680 µF), and the highest voltages (10 to 100 V) of any and accelerate the progress of research efforts in many areas, inspace-grade SMD tantalum polymer capacitor currently available cluding catalysis, nanocomposites, fuel cell membrane materials, on the market. soil organic matter, carbon electrode materials, plant cell walls, “The TCH series was initially developed for a mission-critihydrogen storage materials and complex states. cal European Space Agency application that required both ex- Ames Laboratory Leads with New Cutting-Edge NMR Technology 4 Magnetics Business & Technology • Fall 2013 www.MagneticsMagazine.com http://www.MagneticsMagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Magnetics Business & Technology - Fall 2013

Editor's Choice
Nanocrystalline Materials for the Next Generation of Noise Suppression Solutions
Magnetic Continuously Variable Transmission
Magnets • Materials • Measurement
Simulation Accuracy Helps Pioneering Superconducting Generator Developments
Application • Component Developments
Research & Development
Industry News
Marketplace/Advertising Index
Spontaneous Thoughts: NdFeB: The First 30 Years and the Next 30 Years

Magnetics Business & Technology - Fall 2013