Recently there has been significant correspondence on the subject of probe
temperature control, initiated by Walter Tabaczynski. In one response Jim
Breeyear mentioned the possible use of a solid state cooler to chill air. We
tried this method back in 1989, and have since developed a working system.
It took some considerable time to 'debug' the system but it has been in
routine use for some time now.
The set-up allows us to control the sample temperature over a range of
approx. +/- 15 Kelvin about the ambient probe temperature, without the need
for buckets of ice or nitrogen or.....etc etc. Our system requires no day to
day care once installed and has negligible running costs.
Previously we had experienced problems of sample temperature drift in
aqueous solutions when operating close to ambient probe temperature, but
this is no longer the case.
We are planning to publish details of the system. If you are interested we
would be willing to send out preprints of the manuscript when it's ready.
Norman Gregory & Tim Claridge
Dr. Tim Claridge
NMR Facility Manager
The Dyson Perrins Laboratory
University of Oxford
South Parks Road
Oxford OX1 3QY, UK.
Tel: (01865) 275658 Email: tim.claridge@dpl.ox.ac.uk
Fax: (01865) 275674