Could smaller really be better? Current and future trends in high-resolution microcoil NMR spectroscopy

NMR is an invaluable analytical technique that provides structural and chemical information about a molecule without destroying the sample. However, NMR suffers from an inherent lack of sensitivity compared to other popular analytical techniques. This trends article focuses on strategies to increase the sensitivity of NMR using solenoidal microcoil, microstrip, and microslot probes. The role of these reduced-volume receiver coils for detection in hyphenated capillary electrophoresis (CE) and capillary isotachophoresis (cITP) NMR experiments is discussed. Future directions will likely build on work to develop probes containing multiple coils for high-throughput NMR and field-portable instruments.