title: Preparation, characterisation and modification of carbon-based monolithic rods for chromatographic applications.
abstract: A range of porous carbon-based monolithic (PCM) rods with flow-through pore sizes of 1, 2, 5 and 10 mum, were produced using a silica particle template method. The rods were characterised using SEM and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, BET surface area and porous structure analysis, dilatometry and thermal gravimetry. SEM evaluation of the carbon monolithic structures revealed an interconnected rigid bimodal porous structure and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis verified the quantitative removal of the embedded silica beads. The specific surface areas of the 1, 2, 5 and 10 mum rods were 178, 154, 84 and 125 m(2)/g after pyrolysis and silica removal, respectively. Shrinkage of the monolithic rods during pyrolysis is proportional to the particle size of the silica used and ranged from 9 to 12%. Mercury porosimetry showed a narrow distribution of pore sizes, with an average of approximately 700 nm for the 1 mum carbon monolith. The suitability of bare and surface oxidised PCM rods for the use as a stationary phase for reversed and normal phase LC was explored. The additional modification of PCM rods with gold micro-particles followed by 6-mercaptohexanoic acid was performed and ion-exchange properties were evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Irish Separation Science Cluster, National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ali H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Eltmimi
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barron
authors.forename: Aran
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rafferty
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hanrahan
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fedyanina
authors.forename: Ekaterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nesterenko
authors.forename: Pavel N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Nesterenko
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paull