Chip Electrochromatographic Systems: Novel Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes and Silica Monoliths based Separations

Miniaturized analytical systems using chip electrochromatography (CEC) have been of great interest over the past decade. This book describes the development of aligned carbon nanotubes and photopolymerizable silica solgel (PSG) as novel stationary phase for CEC separations. First part reports the localized growth of CNTs using multi- phasic catalyst deposition in ?-channels. CNT characterization using raman spectroscopy, optical and electron microscopy is also detailed. Further , proof-of-concept separations using reversed phase as well as solid phase extraction onto the CNT bed are illustrated. The next part describes PSG developed as stationary phase for CEC. The engineering parameters governing morphology of PSG is explained. Characterization with electron microscopy, thermal porometry, nitrogen adsorption and calorimetry is further detailed. Additionally, computational models and confocal microscopy is conceptualized for studying the fluid dynamics. PSG formulations incorporating methoxysilanes to bind with affinity ligands is also reported. Finally, innovations in optical detection, chip material and induced pressure flow systems are enumerated.