Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Investigating A Model Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography Stationary Phase With Vibrationally Resonant Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy, Arthur D. Quast

Theses and Dissertations

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) is a widely used technique for analytical separations but routinely requires empirical optimization. Gaining a better understanding of the molecular reasons for retention may mean more efficient separations with fewer trial and error runs to obtain optimized separations. Vibrationally resonant sum frequency generation (VR-SFG) is a surface specific technique that has allowed for in situ examination of model RPLC stationary phases under various solvent and pressure conditions. In order to improve on past work with model RPLC stationary phases two challenges had to be overcome. First, improved vibrational mode assignments of the C18 stationary phase were …