Abstract:
A method of characterizing materials comprising the steps of: providing a substrate; synthesizing an array of materials on said substrate; providing at least one reactant gas wherein said reactant gas is in contact with said array of materials; activating at least one of said materials on said array with a heating source; and periodically monitoring an infrared emission from said activated material with an infrared camera, wherein said infrared camera outputs a series of signals corresponding to an emission intensity varying with time of said activated material.
Abstract:
A chemical processing microsystem useful for identifying and optimizing materials (e.g., catalysts) that enhance chemical processes or for characterizing and/or optimizing chemical processes is disclosed. The chemical processing microsystem comprises a plurality of microreactors (600) and, in a preferred embodiment, a plurality of microseparators (900) integral with the chemical processing microsystem (10). The microreactors (600) are preferably diffusion-mixed microreactors formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable candidate-material array (100). The material array (100) comprises a plurality of different candidate materials (e.g., catalysts), preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate (e.g., wafer). The microseparators (900) are similarly formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable adsorbent array (700). The adsorbent array (700) comprises one or more adsorbents, preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate to spatially correspond to the plurality of different candidate materials. Modular microfluidic distribution systems are also disclosed. The chemical processing microsystem can be integrated into a material evaluation system that enables a comprehensive combinatorial material science research program.
Abstract:
A chemical processing microsystem useful for identifying and optimizing materials (e.g., catalysts) that enhance chemical processes or for characterizing and/or optimizing chemical processes is disclosed. The chemical processing microsystem comprises a plurality of microreactors (600) and, in a preferred embodiment, a plurality of microseparators (900) integral with the chemical processing microsystem (10). The microreactors (600) are preferably diffusion-mixed microreactors formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable candidate-material array (100). The material array (100) comprises a plurality of different candidate materials (e.g., catalysts), preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate (e.g., wafer). The microseparators (900) are similarly formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable adsorbent array (700). The adsorbent array (700) comprises one or more adsorbents, preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate to spatially correspond to the plurality of different candidate materials. Modular microfluidic distribution systems are also disclosed. The chemical processing microsystem can be integrated into a material evaluation system that enables a comprehensive combinatorial material science research program.
Abstract:
A method of characterizing materials comprising the steps of: providing a substrate; synthesizing an array of materials on said substrate; providing at least one reactant gas wherein said reactant gas is in contact with said array of materials; activating at least one of said materials on said array with a heating source; and periodically monitoring an infrared emission from said activated material with an infrared camera, wherein said infrared camera outputs a series of signals corresponding to an emission intensity varying with time of said activated material.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for screening diverse arrays of materials are provided. In particular, techniques are provided for rapidly characterizing compounds in combinatorial arrays of materials for discovering and/or optimizing new materials with specific desired properties. According to one aspect, a scanning mass spectrometer is used which includes an ionization chamber and a collector that outputs an electrical signal responsive to the quantity of gas ions contacting the collector surface. A conduit system selectively withdraws samples from the array of materials, passing the samples into the ionization chamber. In a specific embodiment, reactants are passed through the conduit system to the selected regions of interest on the substrate. Means are provided to selectively heat regions on the substrate.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for screening diverse arrays of materials are provided. In particular, techniques are provided for rapidly characterizing compounds in combinatorial arrays of materials for discovering and/or optimizing new materials with specific desired properties. According to one aspect, a scanning mass spectrometer is used which includes an ionization chamber and a collector that outputs an electrical signal responsive to the quantity of gas ions contacting the collector surface. A conduit system selectively withdraws samples from the array of materials, passing the samples into the ionization chamber. In a specific embodiment, reactants are passed through the conduit system to the selected regions of interest on the substrate. Means are provided to selectively heat regions on the substrate.
Abstract:
A chemical processing microsystem useful for identifying and optimizing materials (e.g., catalysts) that enhance chemical processes or for characterizing and/or optimizing chemical processes is disclosed. The chemical processing microsytem comprises a plurality of microreactors (600) and, in a preferred embodiment, a plurality of microseparators (900) integral with the chemical processing microsystem (10). The microreactors (600) are preferably diffusion-mixed microreactors formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable candidate-material array (100). The material array (100) comprises a plurality of different candidate materials (e.g., catalysts), preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate (e.g., wafer). The microseparators (900) are similarly formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable adsorbent array (700). The adsorbent array (700) comprises one or more adsorbents, preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate to spatially correspond to the plurality of different candidate materials. Modular microfluidic distribution systems are also disclosed. The chemical processing mcrosystem can be integrated into a material evaluation system that enables a comprehensive combinatorial material science research program.
Abstract:
A chemical processing microsystem useful for identifying and optimizing materials (e.g., catalysts) that enhance chemical processes or for characterizing and/or optimizing chemical processes is disclosed. The chemical processing microsystem comprises a plurality of microreactors (600) and, in a preferred embodiment, a plurality of microseparators (900) integral with the chemical processing microsystem (10). The microreactors (600) are preferably diffusion-mixed microreactors formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable candidate-material array (100). The material array (100) comprises a plurality of different candidate materials (e.g., catalysts), preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate (e.g., wafer). The microseparators (900) are similarly formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable adsorbent array (700). The adsorbent array (700) comprises one or more adsorbents, preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate to spatially correspond to the plurality of different candidate materials. Modular microfluidic distribution systems are also disclosed. The chemical processing microsystem can be integrated into a material evaluation system that enables a comprehensive combinatorial material science research program.
Abstract:
Parallel flow reaction systems comprising four or more reaction channels are disclosed. Distribution systems, and parallel flow reaction systems comprising such distribution systems are also disclosed. Specifically, the distribution systems comprise a feed-composition subsystem for providing a different feed composition to each of the four or more reactors. In preferred embodiments, the feed composition subsystem comprises at least one set of four or more feed-component flow restrictors, each of the four or more feed-component flow restrictors having a flow resistance that varies relative to other flow restrictors in the set.