Open-source, partially 3D-printed, high-pressure (50-bar) liquid-nitrogen-cooled parahydrogen generator

Abstract

The signal of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be enhanced by several orders of magnitude using hyperpolarization. In comparison to a broadly used dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) technique that is already used in clinical trials, the parahydrogen (pH2)-based hyperpolarization approaches are less cost-intensive, are scalable, and offer high throughput. However, a pH2 generator is necessary. Available commercial pH2 generators are relatively expensive (EUR 10 000-150 000). To facilitate the spread of pH2-based hyperpolarization studies, here we provide the blueprints and 3D models as open-source for a low-cost (EUR < 3000) 50-bar liquid-nitrogen-cooled pH2 generator.