Bulk Hyperpolarization of Inorganic Materials

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is a well-established method to obtain atomic-level information about the structure of inorganic materials, but its use is often limited by low sensitivity. We review how solvent generated dynamic nuclear polarization can be used to increase sensitivity in solid-state NMR of inorganic materials, with emphasis on our recent method for hyperpolarization of proton-free bulk. We use selected examples to show how overall gains in sensitivity can be observed in both the surface and bulk spectra of inorganic compounds such as lithium titanate. The hyperpolarization methods reviewed here can be used to improve NMR sensitivity for a range of inorganic materials.