Developing Accessible Benchtop NMR Spectrometer with Advanced Pulse Sequence Capabilities

Overview

This project is focused on the creation of SolVRIX, a low-cost (<$1000), high-fidelity DIY 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer designed to bridge the gap between ultra-low-field DIY sensors and commercial benchtop systems. The system proposed utilizes a Neodymium permanent magnet assembly in a Helmholtz-like configuration, targeting a polarization field of 0.3 - 0.4T. To overcome the inherent inhomogeneities of permanent magnets, the system integrates a coaxial Maxwell pair coil configuration to perform rudimentary active shimming and reduce linear field gradients, thereby narrowing linewidths. The control architecture centers on a Spartan-7 FPGA, providing the nanosecond-level timing precision required for complex pulse sequences. The RF chain employs an AD9102 TxDAC for agile frequency generation and amplitude modulation enabling selective presaturation techniques, reducing the dependence on expensive/hazardous solvents such as deuterium oxide(D2O) or deuterated chloroform (CDCl3), increasing the low cost profile of the device. A coil probe with a Q of 50 is used, with active damping control to reduce ringing and decreasing dead time. To achieve very basic chemical shift resolution, the system employs frequency-selective presaturation with pulsed gradients, suppressing targeted resonances prior to Hahn echo acquisition. To assist with spectral clarity, backend software implements Digital Signal Processing (DSP), including automated first gradient phase correction algorithms to further decrease linewidth. Experimental verification focuses on resolving chemical shifts in non-deuterated ethanol and sucrose samples, in which linewidth analysis, signal to noise ratio (SNR), and spectral deviation from known spectra are calculated.

Competition history

• CSEF 2026 Electronics & Electromagnetics (Senior Division) · Entry S-10-14

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