Nuclear Magnetic Resonance laboratory

Short description

In the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Laboratory, many activities are conducted mainly for research and learning purposes and minimally for third-party account. NMR Relaxometry and Diffusometry experiments are achieved to study hydrogenated fluids in porous media and, in particular, to determine properties of materials related to the porosity and the pore-size distribution. Biology, medicine, environment and conservation of the Cultural Heritage are the main topics of the research. The laboratory also offers a portable NMR device (NMR single-sided) for in-situ applications.  

Research themes

• Porous media: 

• Medicine: trabecular and cortical bone tissues; cellular water exchange and compartmentalization. 
• Biology and environment: porous structure of corals as a function of seawater acidification and warming; micro-structure of cement pastes during early stages of hydration. 
• Cultural Heritage: protective and consolidant compounds for the conservation of materials of interest to Cultural Heritage like limestones and easel painted canvas. 

• Design and development of innovative radiofrequency pulse sequences. 
• Software development for sequence simulation. 
• Software development for NMR data inversion in one and two dimensions. 

Instrumentation

• Elettromagnet Jeol C60 – Uniform/Homogeneous magnetic field. 

• Portable permanent magnet: Single-sided NMR MOUSE PM10 - Magritek. 
• Instrument for Earth-field NMR: Terranova - Magritek. 
• Portable Digital Spectrometer - Stelar s.r.l. 
• Portable digital spectrometer (medium frequencies): KEAII, Magritek. 
• Portable digital spectrometer (low frequencies): KEA (for Terranova) - Magritek. 

• Gaussmeter equipped with a transversal Hall probe: GM07 – Hirst Magnetic Instruments Ltd. 
• Electronic scale: LS500 – PCE instruments. 
• Thermohygrometer: HD2301.0 – Delta Ohm. 
• Incubator: Incudigit - J.P. Selecta s.a. 

Teaching and training

In the NMR Lab learning and training activities are conducted. 

• Training sessions for bachelor and master degree programs about nuclear magnetic resonance purposes (courses: Physics in Neuroscience and Medicine, Physical Methods of Examining Cultural Property). 
• Bachelor and Master degree thesis projects. 
• PhD projects.

Office hours

Office hours by appointment, via email or telephone (051/4296709). I am generally able to receive students at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, viale Berti Pichat 6/2, second floor, room D001, on Friday morning 9.30-10.30.