Miniaturized gas chromatography (GC) technology has matured further by the development of arrays of nanoelectromechanical sensors (NEMS) on a large scale.
Miniaturized gas chromatography (GC) technology has matured further by the development of arrays of nanoelectromechanical sensors (NEMS) on a large scale.1
A group at the California Institute of Technology has worked with researchers at Minatec in Grenoble, France, to produce the arrays, which comprise thousands of individual nanoresonators with densities of up to 6 million NEMS cm2. The individual devices are electrically coupled using a combined series-parallel configuration that is very robust. They are also able to handle extremely high input powers without excessive heating or deterioration of resonance response. The team were able to demonstrate the performance of the arrays as a high-performance chemical vapour sensor and could detect 1 ppb of a chemical warfare simulant, diisopropyl methylphosphonate, within a 2 s exposure period.
This technology offers the advantage of portability and could potentially lead to a gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer on a chip.
1 M.L. Roukes et al., Nano Lett., DOI: 10.1021/nl2037479 (2012).
This story originally appeared in The Column. Click here to view that issue.
Analysis of Greenhouse Gases by Gas Chromatography
May 15th 2024This application note demonstrates the use of SCION's 8500GC system for the analysis of key greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide—in a single atmospheric air matrix. Highlighting the system's excellent sensitivity and repeatability, this method is crucial for understanding emission sources and combating climate change.
Analysis of DEHP in Drinking Water by HPLC-DAD
May 15th 2024This application note outlines a method for detecting low levels of 1,4-Dioxane, a likely carcinogenic compound, in drinking water using SCION GC-MS technology. It details the procedure for analyzing water samples spiked with 1,4-Dioxane, achieving excellent sensitivity and low detection limits, demonstrating the method's effectiveness for environmental monitoring.