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Improved sensitivity and quantification for ${}^{29}$Si NMR experiments on solids using UDEFT (Uniform Driven Equilibrium Fourier Transform)

We demonstrate the possibility to use UDEFT (Uniform Driven Equilibrium Fourier Transform) technique in order to improve the sensitivity and the quantification of one-dimensional ${}^{29}$Si NMR experiments under Magic-Angle Spinning (MAS). We derive an analytical expression of the signal-to-noise ratios of UDEFT and single-pulse (SP) experiments subsuming the contributions of transient and steady-state regimes. Using numerical spin dynamics simulations and experiments on ${}^{29}$Si-enriched amorphous silica and borosilicate glass, we show that 59${}_{180}$298${}_{0}$59${}_{180}$ refocusing composite $π$-pulse and the adiabatic inversion using tanh/tan modulation improve the robustness of UDEFT technique to rf-inhomogeneity, offset, and chemical shift anisotropy. These pulses combined with a two-step phase cycling limit the pulse imperfections and the artifacts produced by stimulated echoes. The sensitivity of SP, UDEFT and CPMG (Carr-Purcell Meiboom-Gill) techniques are compared experimentally on functionalized and non-functionalized mesoporous silica. Furthermore, experiments on a flame retardant material prove that UDEFT technique provides a better quantification of ${}^{29}$Si sites with higher sensitivity than SP method.