Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy:  Principles and Practice 

This lecture will present a basic introduction to solid-state NMR spectroscopy and its application in the areas of biochemistry/medicine and inorganic mineralogy. Introductory material will include a discussion of important interactions affecting NMR line shapes, e.g. dipolar, chemical shift and quadrupolar interactions; as well as methods such as cross polarization and ‘magic-angle’ spinning (MAS) for obtaining high-resolution NMR spectra. More advanced techniques, i.e. “dipolar recoupling” and “MQ/MAS”, will be discussed in their application to illuminating the structure and self-assembly of Alzheimer’s b-amyloid fibrils and the diagenesis of aluminosilicate minerals.

Robert E. Botto

 of Argonne National Laboratory

Biography 

Robert E. Botto has been a research chemist/spectroscopist in the Chemistry Division at Argonne National Laboratory for the past 23 years.  His research has involved the use of solid-state NMR spectroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and x-ray microscopy in the characterization of fossil fuel materials, structural and biopolymers and catalysts.  He is currently Associate Editor of Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. He has published 137 scientific articles, has been invited to present numerous scientific papers at national and international meetings, and has organized numerous national/international symposia.  He is a member of the Sigma Xi Honorary Research Society; a Fellow of the Ampere Society, where he serves as Assistant Secretary General of the Division of Spatially Resolved Magnetic Resonance; and American Chemical Society, where he has served as Secretary and Editor of the Fuel Chemistry Division.