A simple scheme for probehead background suppression in one-pulse 1H NMR

A very simple method for reducing probehead background signal in one-pulse 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra is presented. Two one-pulse spectra are recorded, the first with pulse length tp1, the second with an L-times longer pulse, e.g. with L = 2. The second spectrum scaled by 1/L is subtracted from the first. Since the weak pulses experienced by spins outside the coil are in the linear regime, the background from outside the coil is effectively subtracted out. The background suppression efficiency is approximately 1.5b2, where b is the ratio of the B1 field inside the coil relative to that outside the coil. Experimentally, background suppression by at least a factor of 10 was achieved. Examples of background suppression in 1H wideline as well as 1H fast magic-angle spinning (MAS) one-pulse spectra of clay and polymer samples are shown.