ESR in the Czech Republic, its Historical Overview, Current Status, and Future

Abstract

The development of magnetic resonance methods (ESR, NMR, and FMR), which took place on a global scale after the discovery of the magnetic resonance effect in the 1940s, began to have a significant impact on research in the chemical and physical sciences in Czechoslovakia in the 1950s. Over the years, several laboratories were established at universities and workplaces of Academy of Sciences, using resonance methods to solve problems of a predominantly chemical nature. In addition to NMR spectroscopy, the application of resonance methods to the investigation of paramagnetic particles, mainly free radicals and transition metal complexes, has become prominent. An essential factor in the development of ESR spectroscopy was the gradual improvement in the quality of the instrumentation available in the second half of the 1960s, mainly through the purchase of commercial spectrometers (Varian, Bruker, JEOL). This trend has continued to the present day. The submitted paper is based on the information obtained from people in various departments who have been active or are still active in ESR spectroscopy. At the same time, the contributions of several researchers who are no longer alive are mentioned. In 1993, Czechoslovakia was divided into the Czech and Slovak Republics. This article primarily describes the history of the development of ESR spectroscopy in the present Czech Republic. At the same time, it should be mentioned that the friendly cooperation between Czech and Slovak ESR workplaces continues to benefit both sides.