Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy for Materials Research

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has increasingly been used for materials characterization as it enables selective detection of elements of interest, as well as their local structure and dynamic properties. Nevertheless, utilization of NMR is limited by its inherent low sensitivity. The development of dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) approaches, which provide enormous sensitivity gain in NMR through the transfer of polarization from electron spins, has transformed the application of solid-state NMR in materials science. In this review, we outline the opportunities for materials characterization that DNP has opened up. We describe the main DNP mechanisms available, their implementation, and the kinds of insight they can provide across different materials classes, from surfaces and interfaces to defects in the bulk of solids. Finally, we discuss the current limitations of the approach and provide an outlook on future developments for DNP-enhanced NMR spectroscopy in materials science.