Synthesis, characterization and applications of hydride-based surface materials for HPLC, HPCE and electrochromatography

The chemical modification method based on the silanization of an oxide surface to a hydride intermediate followed by hydrosilation with an organic molecule containing a terminal olefin is reviewed. The resulting bonded organic moiety is attached to the surface via a direct Si-C bond which leads to high stability. The method has been more extensively applied to silica surfaces for the production of stationary phases in RPLC but it can also be used on other oxides such as alumina, zirconia, titania and thoria. More recent applications have been in the modification of the inner wall of fused silica capillaries for HPCE. The bonded moieties possess high stability and useful applications have been developed for the separation of proteins and peptides under a variety of buffer conditions. The same procedure for modifying the inner wall of a fused silica capillary has also been extended to etched surfaces for use in electrochromatography (CEC). This type of CEC has been shown to be applicable to the separation of macromolecules as well as small solutes.