Adaptation of a Low-Cost Hyperpolarization Technique for Use with Single-Sided NMR

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) suffers from inherent signal problems due to low levels of nuclear polarization at room temperature. These problems are especially prevalent in single-sided NMR, which allows for a more flexible measurement geometry and simpler, cheaper instrumentation than traditional NMR. Hyperpolarization techniques can remedy this by providing artificially high levels of polarization for a single measurement. Signal Amplification By Reversible Exchange (SABRE) hyperpolarization is particularly advantageous, since it can be produced quickly using relatively cheap and simple instrumentation. While SABRE hyperpolarization has been successfully demonstrated with traditional NMR, it has not yet been adapted for single-sided NMR. Here, an apparatus for performing SABRE hyperpolarization with single-sided NMR is constructed and verified. With this apparatus, signal enhancements of over two orders of magnitude are achieved. Finally, simple proof-of-concept measurements are performed to evaluate and demonstrate the potential of the new technique