Improved performance of micro-fabricated preconcentrators using silica nanoparticles as a surface template

• Silica nanoparticles are deposited in silicon based micro-thermal preconcentrators.
• The morphology of Tenax TA adsorbent is modified by the silica nanoparticles.
• The adsorption capacity of Tenax TA is enhanced as a result of this modification.
• Selective affinity of the silica nanoparticles for polar compounds is also observed.

A new approach of enhancing the adsorption capability of the widely used polymer adsorbent Tenax TA poly(2,6-diphenylene oxide) through its deposition on a nano-structured template is reported. The modified Tenax TA-coated silica nanoparticles (SNP) are incorporated as an adsorbent bed in silicon based micro-thermal preconcentrator (μTPC) chips with an array of square microposts embedded inside the cavity and sealed with a Pyrex cover. The interior surface of the chip is first modified by depositing SNP using a layer-by-layer self-assembly technique followed by coating with Tenax TA. The adsorption capacity of the SNP-Tenax TA μTPC is enhanced by as much as a factor of three compared to the one coated solely with thin film Tenax TA for the compounds tested. The increased adsorption ability of the Tenax TA is attributed to the higher surface area provided by the underlying porous SNP coating and the pores between SNPs affecting the morphology of deposited Tenax TA film by bringing nano-scale features into the polymer. In addition, the adsorption ability of the SNP coating as a pseudo-selective inorganic adsorption bed for polar compounds was also observed. The modified Tenax TA-coated SNP μTPC is a promising development toward integrated micro-gas chromatography systems.