MRI: track 1 acquisition of a state-of-the-art 400 MHZ NMR spectrometer to enhance research and education in south texas

The National Science Foundation Office of Integrative Activities awarded Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi $547,199 on September 1, 2026, to acquire a 400 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer and helium recovery and storage unit under the Integrative Activities program (CFDA 47.083).

The award funds a state-of-the-art NMR spectrometer that delivers clearer molecular information, faster data collection, improved sensitivity, and automated sample analysis capabilities. The instrument enables researchers to study small samples, low-concentration materials, poorly soluble compounds, weak molecular signals, and complex mixtures that are difficult to analyze with lower-sensitivity equipment. The helium recovery and storage system captures boil-off for reuse, reducing helium consumption while supporting related campus research and analytical needs in response to global helium supply challenges.

The spectrometer strengthens research infrastructure at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and at three additional South Texas Gulf Coast institutions in a geographically isolated region where routine access to comparable high-field NMR instrumentation is limited. The instrument supports research and education across supramolecular chemistry, soft matter science, molecular recognition, chiral separations, environmental chemistry, dissolved organic matter analysis, vapochromic gas sensing, organometallic chemistry, catalysis, and materials characterization.

Performance occurs in Corpus Christi, Texas, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029.

Abstract

This award supports the acquisition of a 400 MHZ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer and a helium recovery and storage unit. This instrument strengthens the research and education in the south texas gulf coast region. In general, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a powerful method for identifying molecules, determining how atoms are connected, and understanding how molecules and materials behave. Thus, IT is an indispensable tool for research in chemistry, materials science, coastal and marine science, biomedical science, and related fields. This new 400 MHZ NMR spectrometer provides clearer molecular information, faster data collection, improved sensitivity, and automated sample analysis. These capabilities allow researchers to study small samples, low-concentration materials, poorly soluble compounds, weak molecular signals, and complex mixtures that are difficult or impractical to analyze with lower-sensitivity instrumentation. The acquisition of this instrument strengthens research infrastructure at tamu-CC and at three south texas gulf coast institutions within a geographically isolated region where routine access to comparable high-field NMR instrumentation is limited. In response to global helium supply challenges, the acquisition includes a helium recovery and storage system that captures helium boil-off for reuse, reducing helium consumption while also supporting related campus research and analytical needs. The award, aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels, has a significant impact on studies in several distinct areas including supramolecular chemistry, soft matter science, molecular recognition, chiral separations, environmental chemistry, dissolved organic matter analysis, vapochromic gas sensing, organometallic chemistry, catalysis, and materials characterization. Research enabled by this instrument includes studies of charge-transfer complex formation and template-directed self-assembly in heterocycle-based molecular recognition systems. These studies require high-throughput NMR titrations, diffusion-ordered spectroscopy, and two-dimensional NMR experiments to understand how molecular hosts bind biologically relevant guests and assemble into higher-order structures. The instrument supports investigations of amino acid-based amphiphilic molecular assemblies that function as chiral recognition systems for separations, with emphasis on how surfactant structure, counterions, PH, and molecular templates control micellar structure and enantiomeric recognition. The instrument also enables the study of sensitive multinuclear NMR spectroscopy to characterize platinum-based vapochromic materials for gas sensing, where poor solubility and weak signals currently limit routine analysis. In combination with high-resolution mass spectrometry, this NMR spectrometer is used to study dissolved organic matter biomarkers and molecular transformations in aquatic and coastal environments, including samples that require water-suppression methods and improved sensitivity. Additionally, the spectrometer supports the investigation of palladium- and platinum-catalyzed alkene and alkyne functionalization reactions, including time-dependent mechanistic studies that depend on sensitive phosphorus NMR spectroscopy. Across these projects, this instrument enables routine and advanced one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR experiments, including structure determination, reaction monitoring, host?guest binding analysis, conformational studies, water-suppression experiments, and multinuclear measurements. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.