Research areas
Characterising charge carriers and traps in organic semiconductors using ESR. (Electron Spin Resonance)
High Magnetic Field Electron Spin Resonance. This is an enabling technique in the study of paramagnetic systems (transition metal ions, free radicals, defects) in materials science and structural biology offering higher resolution, higher sensitivity and higher energy quanta. At St.Andrews we have used the expertise within the millimetre wave and magnetic resonance groups to construct a highly sensitive quasi-optical spectrometer that works from 80 to 300GHz in magnetic fields up to 12T at cryogenic temperatures. This spectrometer has state of the art sensitivity and is now a UK EPSRC facility and part of a European network on High Field ESR Instrumentation and research. The spectrometer has also been commercialised and several versions are now being used at leading laboratories around the world
High Field Ferromagnetic Resonance. This is the study of ferromagnetic resonance in very high magnetic fields and uses the same type of spectrometer as for high field ESR measurements. Multi-frequency measurements in high fields allow anisotropy fields and damping terms to be calculated which are important parameters in the characterisation of magnetic storage media. The extra sensitivity available with the high field spectrometer has allowed very thin films to be characterised under conditions of full saturation and is very much an enabling technique
Magnetic Resonance Force Microscopy (MRFM). This is a new technique that combines the spatial resolution of scanning probe microscopy with the chemical specifity associated with electron spin resonance. The magnetic resonance group is currently constructing a probe that works in high magnetic fields, low temperatures and in vacuum and should have a spatial resolution of around 10nm. Initial experiments have been very promising and point to the to the possibility of single spin sensitivity. If this can be achieved there are major applications in surface chemistry, ferromagnetic systems, semiconductor characterisation and structural biology.
For further information, see the High Field ESR web-site.
PhD supervision
- Yujie Zhao
- Daniel Sung
Selected publications
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Open access
Design of the elusive proteinaceous oxygen donor copper site suggests a promising future for copper for MRI contrast agents
Shah, A., Taylor, M. J., Molinaro, G., Anbu, S., Verdu, M., Jennings, L., Mikulska, I., Diaz-Moreno, S., El Mkami, H., Smith, G. M., Britton, M. M., Lovett, J. E. & Peacock, A. F. A., 4 Jul 2023, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 120, 27, e2219036120.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Large cross-effect dynamic nuclear polarisation enhancements with kilowatt inverting chirped pulses at 94 GHz
Zhao, Y., El Mkami, H., Hunter, R. I., Casano, G., Ouari, O. & Smith, G. M., 22 Aug 2023, In: Communications Chemistry. 6, 12 p., 171.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Shape dependent conformable holographic metasurfaces
Xiao, J., Hunter, R. I., Robertson, D. A., Smith, G. M., Horsley, S., Schulz, S. A. & Di Falco, A., 25 May 2023, In: Advanced Materials Technologies. 8, 10, 8 p., 2202006.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Wideband corrugated feedhorns, for radar, communications, radiometry and quasi-optics
Sung, D., Thomsen, N., Macpherson, S., Hunter, R. I., Rahman, S., Robertson, D. A., Wylde, R. J. & Smith, G. M., 29 Aug 2022, In: IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation. 3, p. 970 - 983 14 p., 9849676.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
High-sensitivity Gd3+-Gd3+ EPR distance measurements that eliminate artefacts seen at short distances
El Mkami, H., Hunter, R. I., Cruickshank, P. A. S., Taylor, M. J., Lovett, J. E., Feintuch, A., Qi, M., Godt, A. & Smith, G. M., 9 Dec 2020, In: Magnetic Resonance. 1, 2, p. 301-313Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
A gadolinium spin label with both a narrow central transition and short tether for use in double electron electron resonance distance measurements
Shah, A., Roux, A., Starck, M., Mosely, J. A., Stevens, M., Norman, D. G., Hunter, R. I., El Mkami, H., Smith, G., Parker, D. & Lovett, J. E., 18 Feb 2019, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Inorganic Chemistry. Article ASAPResearch output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Flexible patches for mm-wave holography
Burch, J., Ma, J., Hunter, R. I., Schulz, S. A., Robertson, D. A., Smith, G. M., Wang, J. & Di Falco, A., 10 Jul 2019, In: Applied Physics Letters. 115, 2, 5 p., 021104.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Orientation selection in high-field RIDME and PELDOR experiments involving low-spin CoII ions
Giannoulis, A., Motion, C. L., Oranges, M., Buehl, M., Smith, G. M. & Bode, B. E., 28 Jan 2018, In: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. 20, 4, p. 2151-2154Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
An output coupler for a W-band high power wideband gyro-amplifier
McElhinney, P., Donaldson, C., McKay, J. E., Zhang, L., Robertson, D. A., Hunter, R. I., Smith, G. M., He, W. & Cross, A., Apr 2017, In: IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices. 64, 4, 4 p., 7857760.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Design of a spline horn for a W-band gyro-TWA
Zhang, L., He, W., Donaldson, C. R., Cross, A. W., Robertson, D., Hunter, R. & Smith, G., 7 Mar 2017, Proceedings of IEEE 9th UK-Europe-China Workshop on Millimetre Waves and Terahertz Technologies, UCMMT 2016. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., p. 154-155 2 p. 7873995Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution