In analytical chemistry, accurately measuring the quantity of low concentration analytes in small samples is challenging. One approach for such analysis is the dried-droplet pretreatment method, used with a range of laser and x-ray based analytical methods. However, dried-droplet formation often exhibits the coffee-ring effect, which adversely affects accuracy and detection limit. CityU, in collaboration with Huazhong University of Science and Technology, has developed a novel nanoporous tin substrate that suppresses the coffee-ring effect. This led to marked improvement in measurement accuracy and detection limit. Dried-droplet pretreatment combined with the nanoporous substrate has potential to quantitatively analyze nanoliter liquid and microgram solid samples. This significant advancement will be published in the top journal Microchimica Acta.
Read more at Microchimica Acta: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00604-020-04640-w
17 Nov 2020