Slow Motion of Confined Molecules: NMR and Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy Investigations

Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and broadband dielectric spectroscopy are used to investigate the dynamics of small glass-forming molecules confined to restricted geometries. Ethylene glycol molecules are embedded in the supercages of NaX zeolites. The combined application of NMR and broadband dielectric spectroscopy advances the understanding of the slowing down of the motion near the glass transition temperature of these confined molecules. In combination with nuclear spin relaxation and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, dielectric relaxation studies on glass forming molecules allow conclusions on the character of the motion. High resolution 1H magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR measurements not only enable a characterisation of the state of the adsorbed molecules via a chemical shift analysis. By means of an analysis of MAS spinning sidebands we may also estimate a correlation time the meaning of which will be discussed in comparison to the results of longitudinal proton spin relaxation measurements. In addition to broadband dielectric spectroscopy slow molecular motions of partially deuterated ethylene glycol adsorbed in NaX are studied by means of 2H NMR line-shape analysis.