A grid-shielded dual-channel NMR probe for minimizing RF interference in EC-NMR of conductive electrolytes

Electrochemical nuclear magnetic resonance (EC-NMR) has emerged as a powerful analytical technique for the detection of reactive intermediates and products in electrochemical reactions. However, its application to high-conductivity samples such as battery electrolytes presents significant technical challenges due to radiofrequency (RF) field interference effects. These interactions manifest as resonance frequency shifts in RF coils and localized sample heating, imposing critical limitations on conventional NMR probe designs. To address the above-mentioned issues, in this paper, we propose a novel grid-shielded dual-channel (for detecting 1H and X nuclei) NMR probe specifically optimized for EC-NMR investigations. Specifically, grid-shield can effectively attenuate the conservative electric field produced by the RF coil within the sample, consequently mitigating impedance variations induced by sample switching and minimizing sample heating effects. Experimental measurements demonstrate that the grid-shielded probe eliminates 1H frequency shifts while achieving ≥60% reduction in X channel shifts, without compromising spectral quality. This grid-shielded dual-channel probe is not only more suitable for EC-NMR experiments but also provides a robust solution for EC-NMR studies of conductive systems, such as battery electrolyte research.