Electron spin resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of organic semiconductors

The aim of the proposed project is to develop a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms for electron and nuclear spin relaxation in organic semiconductors in the solid state as well as to develop methods for characterising the coupling between electron and nuclear spins in these materials. Mechanisms for electron spin relaxation are currently not well understood, in particular the relative importance of hyperfine and spin-orbit interaction induced relaxation mechanisms as well as the nature of the relevant dynamic processes which generate the time-varying magnetic fields that can induce spin-flips. Phenomena like the Overhauser effect or DNP remain largely unexplored in these materials. In the project you will develop a DNP method for characterizing organic semiconductors and their conformation and local microstructure in thin films samples, as well as explore novel physical phenomena in these materials based on controlling electron - nuclear spin interactions that could potentially be exploited in applications such as energy storage, spintronics or quantum information processing. The project is mainly an experimental project based on combining electron spin resonance (ESR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy measurements available in the Cavendish Laboratory and the Department of Chemistry as well as dynamic nuclear polarisation (DNP) measurements; the project will also involve modeling of the experimental spectra.