Dynamic Nuclear Polarization NMR of Low-γ Nuclei: Structural Insights into Hydrated Yttrium-Doped BaZrO3

We demonstrate that solid-state NMR spectra of challenging nuclei with a low gyromagnetic ratio such as yttrium-89 can be acquired quickly with indirect dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) methods. Proton to Y-89 cross polarization (CP) magic angle spinning (MAS) spectra of Y3+ in a frozen aqueous solution were acquired in minutes using the AMUPol biradical as a polarizing agent. Subsequently, the detection of the Y-89 and H-1 NMR signals from technologically important hydrated yttrium-doped zirconate ceramics, in combination with DFT calculations, allows the local yttrium and proton environments present in these protonic conductors to be detected and assigned to different hydrogen-bonded environments.