Chemistry NMR Facility

The Chemistry complex is now fully open. The MR Facility is available under “normal” operating procedures:

When contacting NMR staff, use nmrstaff@chem.wisc.edu and include your advisor’s name in the email.

1.  All new users of the facility must go through training – do not use the facility until you have completed all parts of it. Sign up for NMR training and follow the instructions on the canvas site. The in-person portion of the training is available every Friday at 11am; sign up for it on the google sheet.

2.  The following COVID safety protocols remain in effect in the MR Facility:
—  Although no longer a requirement, we request that you stay masked while in the facility.
—  As much as is reasonable, maintain social distancing while in the Facility.
—  Keep surfaces disinfected.  Plastic covers will stay on keyboards, and EtOH solutions will be at all workstations for spraying before and after use.
—  Please wash your hands frequently, especially after you exit from the Facility.

3.  Artemis (av400) and Callisto (DCH500) are available under total automation using IconNMR.  See this video to remind yourself how to use IconNMR, and for guidance and rules for use of the spectrometers. See below for comments about sample removal from the facility.

4.  All other instruments are available via our calendaring (FACES) system at nmr.chem.wisc.edu.  Please be collegial with scheduling your time.  All of these instruments require additional training for use.  If you have not been trained and have a justifiable need, contact NMR staff.
—  Phoebe (av600) and Nyx (operando 500) are liquids use only.
—  Eos is used extensively for Chem636, Chem344, Chem346 and other courses. That use will be on the calendar. Researchers can schedule in any time not already taken by the lab classes. Nyx is recommended for now for VT experiments.
—  Persephone (ss500) will be used primarily for solid-state NMR studies.  Contact Cathy (clewett@wisc.edu) for details prior to scheduling time.
—  SQUID, Mossbauer, and EPR are available via calendaring.

If you have questions or concerns, contact NMR staff using nmrstaff@chem.wisc.edu.

Information about COVID-19 compiled by the department can be found here.

NMR Facility hours match the Chemistry Building hours:  users should not enter the building or Facility outside of these hours.

***********   Policy for Sample Removal    *********************************************

It is the responsibility of every user to remove their samples promptly from the MR Facility. Chemical safety is a priority, and the facility cannot provide storage of samples. The introductory training video for artemis and callisto provides more detailed information. Users must know how to interact with the 1-day, 2-day, and overflow racks that are used to assist with sample removal.

In brief, samples should be removed from the facility within 24 hr of their finishing on the spectrometer. If they are still present the following weekday morning, an email will be sent reminding users to remove the samples that day. Repeated violations in not having samples removed from the facility within 48 hr may result in loss of instrument access and/or fines.

***********   Other news    *********************************************

The Eos BBFO probe has been fixed, and is in use on the instrument. Full broadband capabilities are available, as is VT (but look to Nyx first for VT experiments).

The new 500 MHz spectrometer, Nyx, is available to users that have appropriate training.  New capabilities for operando operation are not yet installed, but the spectrometer has a BBFO+ probe installed that can detect any NMR-active nucleus.  It will operate over a VT range of -120 to +120C.  The functionality is very similar, albeit with better sensitivity, to what persephone had when it was in liquids mode.  It you want to start using Nyx, you must have taken Chem 636 or had equivalent training.  Email nmrstaff@chem.wisc.edu to schedule a time when we can get you introduced to the spectrometer.  That session will take about 10 min, assuming you’ve previously used Eos (in topspin mode), Persephone, and/or the 600.

Phoebe (600) is available to all users that have been trained on it.  If you want to use the instrument, email nmrstaff@chem.wisc.edu to setup training. Be prepared to answer why the 600 will be necessary for your research.

The full MR Facility has resumed “normal” accounting practices for applying charges.  Be aware that fees are not based on calendar requests, not are they based on IconNMR use (except for Artemis and Callisto).  Under calendared use, charges are based on the time logged into the spectrometer (independent of whether an experiment is running or not).  That has worked well in the past, and is an accurate and efficient method for doing the accounting.  It is the user’s responsibility to sign-up and use just the time needed under calendared use.  Log out when done. If the user assumes someone else will logout for them and that does not happen, the full amount of time the user is logged in will be charged.  Do not signup for a set of short experiments unless someone will stick around to log out when the experiments are done.

[6 April 2022]