Watching unpaired electrons at work

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy may not be as mainstream a technique for chemical scientists as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, but Maxie Rößler is determined to show why it deserves greater attention.

‘You can think of EPR a bit like NMR, but for unpaired electrons instead of nuclei,’ explains Rößler. It works by placing a sample in a magnetic field and measuring how its unpaired electrons absorb microwave radiation, which reveals information about its local chemical environment and structure. ‘I think many scientists would probably consider it a niche technique, but it’s definitely underused.’