NMR Facility

The Mississippi State University NMR Center houses Bruker AVANCE III 300 MHz, Bruker AVANCE III HD 500 MHz, Bruker AVANCE III 600 MHz, a Bruker Neo 800 MHz NMR, and a Bruker EMX-10 EPR Spectrometer. This core magnetic research facility supports the department's faculty and student research efforts. As the most advanced NMR facility in the region, our service center is also committed to supporting on-campus, statewide, and regional researchers using NMR in their projects. 

NMR is used to study the structure of and interactions between molecules, and it can be applied to chemical kinetics and molecular motions as well. It has the added advantage of being a non-destructive technique, and it allows for quantitation of molecules in the solution state.

Collaboration and Inquiries

If you would like to discuss how our facility can support your magnetic resonance needs, please contact Dr. Nick Fitzkee, the facility director. A variety of services are available, including remote access, mail-in support, self-service use, and NMR consulting. We can also provide custom pulse-program development services.  Dr. Shrikant Sharma, our facility manager, handles the day-to-day operations of the facility. Dr. Fitzkee and Dr. Sharma share over 25 years of combined NMR expertise spanning biomolecular, organic, inorganic, and organometallic systems.

We anticipate adding solid-state NMR capability to our facility in fall of 2025!

Instrumentation and Capabilities

The 300 MHz NMR is equipped with both a broadband (BBFO) probe as well as an inverse triple resonance (TBI) probe. It is a 2-channel system and can be used for detection and decoupling of multiple nuclei, from ¹⁰⁹Ag to ³¹P. A low-temperature liquid nitrogen cryostat is available for measurement of samples down to 77 K. (Current rates: $8/hr for MSU users, $11.50/hr for external academic users, and $16/hr for industry use.)

The 500 MHz NMR is normally equipped with a two-channel broadband (BBFO) probe, which supports detection of ¹⁹F and broadband nuclei down to ¹⁰⁹Ag. However, a triple-resonance inverse probe can also be installed for biomolecular samples (TXI probe with ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N and XYZ gradients). The console has three channels for decoupling/detection and also supports three-axis gradients for diffusion measurements and artifact suppression. The 500 MHz system can also be equipped for low-temperature measurements. A 24-position autosampler is available for high-throughput data acquisition. (Current rates: $10/hr for MSU users, $14.50/hr for external academic users, and $22/hr for industry use.)

The 600 MHz NMR is equipped with a 4-channel biomolecular cryoprobe (CP-QCI) for observation of ¹H while decoupling ¹³C, ¹⁵N, and/or ³¹P. This system is ideal for detection of samples containing labeled proteins or DNA, but it is also useful for analysis of organic compounds at very low concentrations. While the cryoprobe is normally installed, a two-channel broadband probe (BBFO) is also available for this system, and a backup room-temperature biomolecular probe is available (QXI). When the cryoprobe is installed, the supported temperature range is 278-338 K (5-65 °C). Advanced ¹⁹F-¹H multidimensional experiments are routinely performed on the BBFO probe. (Current rates: $12/hr for MSU users, $17/hr for external academic users, and $24/hr for industry use.)

The 800 MHz NMR is equipped with a 3-channel biomolecular cryoprobe (CP-TCI H&F) for observation of either ¹H or ¹⁹F while decoupling ¹³C and/or ¹⁵N. It also has a tunable broadband probe for multidimensional experiments with transition metals. In addition, the system is equipped with a 24-position sample changer and a variable termpature unit for measurements at temperatures down to -40 °C. This system was purchased as part of the NSF Track 2 MRI program under grant number 2215258. (Current rates: $14/hr for MSU users, $21/hr for external academic users, and $28/hr for industry use.)

The Bruker EMX-10 EPR is an X-band continuous wave spectrometer and is equipped with variable temperature cryostats for operation from 77-350K. This instrument is suitable for the study of organic radicals and paramagnetic transition metal centers. (Current rates: $11/hr for MSU users, $16/hr for external academic users, and $22/hr for industry use.)

Scheduling and Policies

Users interested in receiving training on the NMR instruments should contact Dr. Shrikant Sharma. Dr. Sharma will assist you with setting up an account and learning to use the instrumentation. Regular training seminars and NMR classes are also available through the Department of Chemistry. All users are required to adhere to the NMR Facility Policies (see link in side bar). Users who violate the policies risk losing their access to the facility.

Instrument scheduling is done using the Faces Scheduling System.

Helium Recovery

As Mississippi's most advanced NMR facility, we are also the first facility to recover the helium from NMR boil-off. Our helium recovery system was supported by the NSF under grant number 2304919 and commissioned in 2024. For more information on this resource, check out Dr. Fitzkee's YouTube Channel. Dr. Fitzkee has also contributed to articles on helium recovery in the popular press, which you can read here and here.