| As science moves forward into the realm of nanotechnology, new methodology for the characterization of nanomaterials must be created. In the late fifties and early sixties, new theories were brought to light to describe the motion of sub-micron sized particles in solutions of buffered electrolytes. The theories and calculations of Overbeek, Booth, O'Brian and White gave new insight into theory originally pioneered by Huckel, von Smoluchowski, and Henry. This theory stated that for any two different sized colloids, a size dependent electrophoretic separation could be conditioned by taking advantage of an ionic atmosphere that surrounds particles in buffered, aqueous solutions. By utilizing this theory and combining it with capillary electrophoresis, we have separated populations of submicron sized particles of only an eight percent difference in radial size. The work herein both confirms and extends the theory and practice of capillary electrophoretic separations on particles in this size range. |
