Toward the integration of liquid- and solid-state NMR across the undergraduate curriculum

This work addresses issues of fundamental reform in the undergraduate chemistry curriculum via advanced integration of liquid- and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments and theory. Our integrated curricula comprises a suite of NMR laboratory exercises (initially targeted within the physical and analytical chemistry laboratories) coupled with advanced NMR theory. This curriculum provides multiple layers of instructional merit from basic structural characterization to important physical chemistry concepts. For programs lacking solid-state NMR capabilities, we have developed schematics and construction materials for a low-cost, broadband NMR probe that is compatible with existing liquid-state spectrometers. This probe has been used to detect a wide range of NMR-sensitive nuclei in liquid samples, and in the future will be utilized to study deuterium NMR lineshapes in solids.