High pressure carbon-13 NMR studies of dynamics in disordered systems

Abstract

The development of experimental high pressure high resolution $\sp1$H-decoupled $\sp{13}$C NMR spectroscopy is described. The design of an pulsed NMR spectrometer with increased sensitivity and versatility is presented and used in the design and development of a high pressure high resolution double-resonance NMR probe. This new technique is used in the study of two disordered systems under extreme conditions of pressure. The first system is 2-ethylhexylbenzoate, a model elastohydrodynamic lubricant. The second system is L-$\alpha$-dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, a model biomembrane system. Also, the design of a data acquisition system specifically targeted at the study of dynamic processes is described along with a new technique conceived during the development of the data acquisition system that allows a direct determination of the magnetic field gradient used in NMR diffusion studies.