Beyond periodicity: probing disorder in crystalline materials by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract

We show that solid-state NMR can probe the structure of crystalline materials when disorder is present and, hence, this provides a method to extend the periodic-based description obtained by diffraction techniques. Reviewing some of our recently published results, we first address the issue of NMR sensitivity using wollastonite CaSiO₃. We then consider the atomic scale structure of solid–solution in the system La₂Si₂O₇–Y₂Si₂O₇ and finally examine the Al/Si substitution in gehlenite CaAl₂SiO₇. Those examples allow us to propose an extended structural description of materials based on the definition of chemical and/or structural local environments.