The NMR Facility at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is an interdepartmental facility, open to researchers of the Five Colleges Consortium (UMass Amherst, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Amherst and Hampshire Colleges) and industries.  It supports research programs of ca. 36 groups in the areas of chemical synthesis, polymer chemistry, materials science, and natural products.

The facility oversees five NMR spectrometers:

• Agilent 700MHz with Cold Probe®, specialized for biomacromolecule structure elucidation;
• Bruker 600MHz with Cryoprobe® and a 60-position autosampler, suitable for both in-depth biomacromolecule structure study and high-throughput screening;
• Bruker 600MHz with 1.9mm, 4mm, E-free, and Pisema solid-state probes, suitable for a wide range of solid-state NMR experiments, and a diffusion probe, specialized for studies of very slow diffusion of large molecules, micelles and aggregates;
• Bruker 500MHz with Prodigy® cryoprobe and autosampler for open-access chemical structure determination;
• Bruker 400MHz with Prodigy® cryoprobe and autosampler for open-access chemical structure determination.

Research Interest of Dr. Weiguo Hu:

Critical in many macroscopic properties, the profile of molecular dynamics in polymeric materials is complex, influenced by factors such as chain microstructure, morphology, and intermolecular interactions. With the ability to probe molecular dynamics with chemical and phase resolution, solid-state NMR is in a unique position to study this essential molecular trait. We employ and develop solid-state NMR techniques to study molecular dynamics and its relationship with chemical structure and assembly behavior in a wide variety of polymer systems.

Recent Publications

• “Oxygen Vacancy in Perovskite Ceramics for Enhanced Ionic Conductivity and Chemical Interaction”, H. Yang, M. Abdullah, J. Bright, X. Zhang, K. Kittilstved, W. Hu, C. Wang, N. Wu, Power Sources 2021, 495, 229796
• “Morphology Changes of Polypropylene Reactor Powders Over Time Studied by NMR Relaxometry”, J. Cali, W. Hu, E. Kysor, O. Kohlmann, Polymer 2021, 230, 124102
• “Investigation of Morphological Changes During Ambient Storage for Polyethylenes by TD-NMR”, J. Baker, W. Hu, E. Kysor, O. Kohlmann, in preparation
• “Bottom-up Design toward Dynamically Robust Polyurethane Elastomers” J. Hsieh, Y.-C. M. Wu, W. Hu, J. P. Mikhail, G. C. Rutledge, T. M. Swager, Polymer, 2021, 218, 123518
• “Morphology studies of Non-Fullerene Acceptor-Based Organic Photovoltaic Active Layers”, Y. Wu, Q. Hu, P. Fan, Y. Jiang, W. Zhong, W. Hu, T. P. Russell. Phys. Chem. C 2021, 125, 15863?15871
• “Facile Synthesis of Carbon-Containing Silicon Carbide and Silicon Oxycarbide Ceramic Nanocomposites via Rapid Photothermal Pyrolysis of Organosilicon Preceramic Polymers”, U. Okoroanyanwu, A. Bhardwaj, V. Einck, A. Ribbe, W. Hu, J. Morere, W.R. Schmidt, J.J. Watkins. Mater. 2021, 33, 678?694
• “Combining Mechanical Fortification and Ultra-low Flammability in Epoxy Networks”, C. Saraf, E. Stubbs, W. Hu, T. S. Emrick, A. J. Lesser, Mater. Engin. 2021, 306, 2000567
• “Characteristic Phosphorus of High Polymerization Ammonium Polyphosphate by ³¹P NMR”, Y. Liu, R. Yang, W. Hu, D. Li, J. Chin. Univ. 2020, 41, 2832-2837
• “Modifying the Structure and Dynamics of Ionomers through Counterion Sterics”, J. S. Enokida, W. Hu, H. Fang, B. F. Morgan, F. L. Beyer, H. H. Winter, E. Bryan Coughlin, Macromolecules, 2020, 53, 1767-1776
• “Molecular Dependencies of Dynamic Stiffening and Strengthening through High Strain Rate Microparticle Impact of Polyurethane and Polyurea Elastomers”, Y. Sun, Y.-C. M. Wu, D. Veysset, S. E. Kooi, W. Hu, T. M. Swager, K. A. Nelson, A. J. Hsieh, Phys. Lett. 2019, 115, 093701
• “¹⁹F MRI of Polymer Nanogels Aided by Improved Segmental Mobility of Embedded Fluorine Moieties”, O. Munkhbat, M. Canakci, S. Zheng, W. Hu, B. Osborne, A. A. Bogdanov, and S. Thayumanavan, Biomacromolecules, 2019, 20(2), pp 790–800
• “Unraveling the high strain-rate dynamic stiffening in select model polyurethanes ? the role of intermolecular hydrogen bonding”, Y.-C. M. Wu, W. Hu, Y. Sun, D. Veysset, S. E. Kooi, K. A. Nelson, T. M. Swager, A. J. Hsieh, Polymer, 2019, 168, 218-227
• “Functional polymers for growth and stabilization of CsPbBr₃ perovskite nanoparticles”, H. Kim, S. So, A. Ribbe, Y. Liu, W. Hu, V. V. Duzhko, R. C. Hayward, and T. Emrick, Commun. 2019, 55, 1833-1836
• “Characterization of High Polymerization Degree Ammonium Polyphosphate and Its Chain Structure by ³¹P NMR”, Y. Liu, R, Yang, D. Li, J. Liang, and W. Hu. J. Chin. Univ. 2018, 39, 2080-2088.
• “Broadening the scope for fluoride-free synthesis of siliceous zeolites”, V. Vattipalli, A. M. Paracha, W. Hu, H. Chen, and W. Fan, Chem. Intl. Ed. 2018, 57, 1-6.
• “Degradation Mechanism of Poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) Fibers by 31P Solid-State NMR”, N. Kanbargi, W. Hu, A. J. Lesser, Polymer Degradation and Stability, 2017, 136, 131-138
• “New Insight into the Influence of Molecular Dynamics of Matrix Elastomers on Ballistic Impact Deformation in UHMWPE Composites”, A. J. Hsieh, T. L. Chantawansri, W. Hu, J. Cain, J. H. Yu, Polymer, 2016, 95, 52-61
• “Glass transition of soft segments in phase-mixed poly(urethane urea) elastomers by time-domain ¹H and ¹³C solid-state NMR”. W. Hu, N. V. Patil, A. J. Hsieh. Polymer, 2016, 100, 149-157
• “Measuring the Degree of Crystallinity in Semicrystalline Regioregular Poly(3-hexylthiophene).” X. Shen, W. Hu, T. P. Russell. Macromolecules, 2016, 49, 4501-4509
• “New Insight into Microstructure-Mediated Segmental Dynamics in Select Model Poly(urethane urea) Elastomers”, A. J. Hsieh, T. L. Chantawansri, W. Hu et al., Polymer, 2014, 55, 1883-1892

Contact:

Weiguo Hu, Ph.D.
Director of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Labs/Chemistry & Materials
University of Massachusetts
A328 Conte
120 Governors Dr.
Amherst, MA 01003
phone: 413 577 1428.  fax: 413 545 0082. mail: weiguoh at umass edu