For decades, chemists have relied on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), a technique that uses magnets, to probe the structure of molecules. NMR works beautifully for many elements but struggles with most of the periodic table. That’s because many nuclei known as “quadrupolar nuclei” behave in ways that standard methods can’t easily capture.
“Traditionally, you would need a superconducting magnet costing $20 million just to get a clear look at the more challenging nuclei,” says Professor David Bryce. “That puts many experiments out of reach for most labs.”
This is where doctoral candidate Alireza Nari’s ingenuity came in. He revisited a recognized spectroscopic method called nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR). With a modern twist, the team managed to measure the structure and behaviour of notoriously tricky isotopes, such as iodine and bromine, using only tiny magnetic fields.
Listening to atoms in a new way
If nuclear magnetic resonance is like taking a powerful X-ray of atoms, nuclear quadrupole resonance is more like putting a sensitive microphone near them. By gently perturbing atoms with a small magnetic field—the Zeeman effect—the researchers could “hear” subtle signals that reveal how atoms bond and interact with their neighbours. “It’s like eavesdropping on a conversation between atoms without disturbing them,” Nari says.
The duo used the method to measure the strength of halogen bonds, a non-covalent interaction (a weaker interaction between molecules or parts of molecules) that helps determine the stability and function of many materials. These weak forces, invisible to the naked eye, are crucial in everything from drug design to the development of new electronic materials.
Sustainable science
Beyond the scientific achievement, there’s a bigger message: sustainability. Superconducting magnets not only carry astronomical price tags but also rely on liquid helium, a rare and dwindling natural resource. “With this new approach, there is no need for massive magnets or scarce cryogens when looking at strongly quadrupolar nuclei,” says Bryce. “That makes the science more accessible, affordable and environmentally responsible.”
A new startup by one of Bryce’s former students, Patrick Szell, is developing a new device that exploits these principles, promising to make NMR measurements far more accessible.
This shift could allow more researchers around the world to explore elements and interactions that were previously unreachable, fuelling discoveries in materials science, chemistry and more.
The journey of discovery continues
Bryce and Nari are already working on follow-up studies to expand the method to more elements and tackle challenges like overlapping atomic signals. Their vision is a future where scientists can map interactions across the entire periodic table without needing ultra-expensive tools. As Nari says, capturing these tiny changes at the atomic level can help scientists design better materials, smarter medicines and more efficient technologies.
Their work shows that scientific revolutions often come not from building bigger machines but from approaching problems differently.
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