EPR – The ‘Workhorse Technique’ That is Still Enabling Scientists to Break New Ground After 70+ Years

A surprisingly large number of materials have unpaired electrons. These include free radicals, many transition metal ions, and defects in materials. Free radicals are often short-lived, but play crucial roles in many significant processes such as photosynthesis, oxidation, catalysis, and polymerization reactions. As a result, the application of EPR spans one of the widest ranges of any major analytical technique, from molecular research to quality control in fields as diverse as: chemistry, quantum physics, structural biology, materials science, medical research and many more. Despite being more than 70 years old, EPR continues to deliver new breakthroughs and new insights. So, how did it all begin?