An in-house built pulsed EPR spectrometer was commissioned in 1990 and continued the group's interest in light-induced physical changes that precede any photochemistry. In solids particularly, it is the physics that dictates the chemistry, not vice versa. Other groups in the ANU, for example Professor Ron Pace's in the Faculties Chemistry Department, continue their studies on bio-photochemistry making use of the spectrometer. It is fully cryogenic down to 5°K.
A recent revival of my interest in EPR at zero field, sweeping frequency rather than field, explored EPR in copper dimers as a prelude to studies on more complex exchange coupled systems. The advantages of the technique, and some of the pitfalls in normal EPR when applied to complex systems, are outlined in the Chemical Reviews article. Where precise spin Hamiltonian parameters are required, and for measurements of higher order effects, the procedure is a valuable aid. Again, the latest version of this home-built spectrometer is fully cryogenic down to 7°K.
Reviving my much earlier interests in NMR, a flair for designing new procedures to solve chemical physical problems led to the development of an electrochemical cell for simultaneous NMR measurements in a spinning NMR tube. This was in conjunction with Dr Graham Heath's research group (q.v.).
The references (v.infra) indicate the diverse interests of the group and the power of such magnetic resonance investigations.
In retirement, I am active in collaborations and consultations, within and outside the ANU.
Selected Publications
Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy at zero magnetic field. With S.J. Strach, Chem. Rev. 83, 49 (1983).
Zero-field and high-field EPR of Cr3+ in some cage complexes. With S.J. Strach, J. Chem. Phys. 88, 7380 (1988).
Quantised microwave power absorption in high temperature superconductors. With A.M. Stewart, J.G. Thompson and J.W. White, Mat. Chem. and Phys. 30, 183 (1992).
Cooling-rate dependent vortex structure in Rb3C60. Vortex-glass phase in a quenched sample. With D.M. Wang and K.-P. Dinse, Physica C217, 16 (1993).
Determination of the London penetration length for Rb3C60 with pulsed EPR. With K.-P. Dinse, D.M. Wang and J.W. White in Physica C218, 341 (1993).
Electron paramagnetic resonance and electron study of surface sites of the porous aluminosilicate MCM-41 using transition metal ion probes. With V. Luca, D.J. MacLachlan and K. Morgan, J. Phys. Chem. 100, 1793 (1996).
The zero-field EPR spectrum of a copper dimer. With C.D. Delfs, Chem.
Phys. Lett. 264, 333 (1997).
Richard Bramley is a graduate of the Universities of Sydney and London. He
was a Lecturer at University College, London before returning to Australia.