1H and 13C MAS NMR analysis for the role of chemically inequivalent a-N(CH3)4 and b-N(CH3)4 ions in [N(CH3)4]2CuCl4

The spin–lattice relaxation times in the laboratory frame, T1, and in the rotating frame, T1ρ, for 1H and 13C in [N(CH3)4]2CuCl4 were measured by static NMR and magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR as functions of temperature. The intensities of the 1H and 13C signals changed near phase transition temperatures TC1 and TC3, which indicated that N(CH3)4 plays an important role in these phase transitions. It was thus apparent that the T1 and T1ρ for 1H are governed by the same molecular motions. Two inequivalent ions, a-N(CH3)4 and b-N(CH3)4, were identified by 13C cross-polarization (CP)/MAS NMR. From these results, the behaviors of these two chemically inequivalent N(CH3)4 groups in the paraelastic and ferroelastic phases are discussed.