Semiconductor Clusters as Novel Gas Chromatographic Phases.

We report our initial experiments to develop an entirely new class of chromatographic materials, based on organically-capped semiconductor clusters. Two methods for column preparation, static coating of previously prepared clusters and direct synthesis of films of clusters in the capillary, are developed and evaluated. The in-situ method is shown to produce more uniform films and to have more versatility for the further improvement of film uniformity and development of materials with unique properties. Chromatographic testing shows that significant amounts of organic capping ligand surround the cluster particles, and that this material acts as a partitioning chromatographic stationary phase. These new chromatographic materials show promise for a number of applications, including high temperature separations and the preparation of "high phenyl" and other very polar chromatographic stationary phases, currently difficult to achieve.