| The performance of highly anisotropic, nanostructured, thin-film ultrathin-layer chromatography (UTLC) media with porosity and architecture engineered using the glancing-angle deposition (GLAD) process is investigated. Anisotropic structures resembling nanoblades are fabricated on the plates, producing channel-like features that partially decouple analyte migration from development direction, and offering new separation behaviours. These GLAD UTLC plates provide channel features that reduce transverse spot broadening while providing the wide pores required for rapid migration and high separation performance with plate numbers approaching 800. The rapid separations typical of these miniaturized plates call for new alternative detection techniques. I have designed, implemented and characterized a measurement system which records UTLC separations in full colour with 32 µm spatial resolution and 33 ms temporal resolution. My code analyzes multiple tracks per plate, filters analyte spots by colour, and automatically generates time-resolved figures of merit. Both absorption and transmission detection modes are examined, each of which offers their own advantages. |
