- Phase analysis

- Electronic structure of metals

- Near-neighbor environment of atoms in solids

- Measures rate of kinetic processes, for example molecular reorientation or diffusion

- Magnetic structural studies

- Molecular structure of organic compounds

- Quantitative analysis of specific components and functional groups

- Detection of phase changes

- Study of hydrogen diffusion in metals

- Studies of long-range order in intermetallic compounds

- Spin wave studies in ferromagnetic materials

- Effect of pressure on electronic structure

- Isomer identification and quantification

- Determination of copolymer ratios

- Form: Inorganic powders, thin wires, or thin foils, with one dimension small compared with the radio frequency skin depth, generally 10m or less. Special shapes and single crystals are used in some cases. Organic solids are usually dissolved in an appropriate solvent; organic liquids can be run directly or diluted. For conventional nuclear magnetic resonance, samples must generally be nonmagnetic. For ferromagnetic nuclear resonance, samples must generally be strongly magnetic

- Size; Several grams (inorganic) to 0.1 g (organic)

- 30 min to 48 h

- Optical metallography: Shows morphology and number of phases present

- X-ray diffraction: Gives related crystal structure information

- Mössbauer effect: Provides a detectable effect in the presence of many defects

- Infrared/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy: More sensitive for compound identification; applicable to gases; easier data interpretation

- Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry: Useful for identification of complex mixtures; more sensitive