Gas chromatography using a spin-coated stationary phase and a molded elastomer micro-channel

Many different designs of microfabricated gas chromatography columns have recently been proposed and demonstrated. These designs either incorporate a stationary phase directly into the device which limits the versatility of the column as a separator, or require coating, which presents its own problems with determining the proper conditions for each different stationary phase a user may need. Here, we present a new approach: Uniformly spin coating a flat surface with the stationary phase and creating a column by pressing a lid, with micro-fabricated ridges, down onto the coated substrate. The lids are molded using commercially available epoxies so that when pressed onto a flat surface they create an airtight seal. The epoxy material is rendered inert by a thin layer of gold. We describe the fabrication and initial results from a standard, OV-1, stationary phase as proof of concept.