Improving W-band pulsed ENDOR sensitivity-random acquisition and pulsed special TRIPLE

Two approaches for improving the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of W-band pulsed electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectra are presented. One eliminates base-line problems while the other enhances the ENDOR effect. High field ENDOR spectra measured at low temperatures often suffer from highly distorted base-lines due to the heating effect of the RF pulses that causes some detuning of the cavity and therefore leads to a reduction in the echo intensity. This is a severe problem because it often masks broad and weak ENDOR signals. We show that it can be eliminated by recording the ENDOR spectrum in a random, rather than the standard sequential variation of the RF frequency. The S/N of the ENDOR spectrum can be significantly enhanced by the application of the pulse analog of the continuous wave (CW) special TRIPLE experiment. While this experiment is not applicable in the solid state at conventional X-band frequencies, at W-band it is most efficient. We demonstrate the efficiency of the special TRIPLE Davies and Mims experiments on single crystals and orientationally disordered systems. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.