Novel Fused Silica Capillary Columns: Surface Modification Through Controlled Doping of the Preform Tube

A method has been developed for fabricating fused silica capillary columns which have specific surface properties but still retain the excellent strength, flexibility, and resilience of pure fused silica. By using the Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition process (MCVD), typically used for the production of optical fiber lightguides, inorganic dopants such as Al, Nd, Ge, and P can be introduced into the glass at the inner surface of the preform-tube from which capillaries are drawn.