S&T

Characterizing the total surface energy profile of a solid is a valuable tool for comparing the performance of similar materials. It also provides a strong starting point for predicting various physicochemical properties, including agglomeration potential and flowability.

However, it is important to distinguish the components that make up the total surface energy. This energy is divided into a dispersive component and a specific component.

Evaluating the specific surface energy reveals the polarity of the surface and its tendency to interact with polar solvents or charged species.

Key physicochemical properties such as wettability can also be predicted through these measurements.

Further study can determine whether the surface exhibits more acidic or basic characteristics — a factor that can be critical in determining material functionality.

BET Surface Area

Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) instruments and the Inverse Gas Chromatography Surface Energy Analyzer (iGC-SEA) can be used to measure BET surface area. Both instruments allow measurements to be performed at room temperature and require only very small sample amounts — typically on the order of a few milligrams for DVS.

This stands in contrast to the traditional nitrogen BET method, which requires measurements at very low temperatures and typically around one gram of sample. Some samples may undergo morphological changes at low temperatures, which can be problematic for the traditional BET method. Since iGC and DVS perform measurements at room temperature, this issue is avoided.

Application Note 18: Measuring BET Surface Areas using Organic Probe Molecules. [Request a copy] Application Note 225: Isotherm Measurements for BET Surface Area Calculations using Inverse Gas Chromatography. [Request a copy]

Catalyst

Finite Concentration Inverse Gas Chromatography (IGC) is a valuable tool for investigating surface and pore properties.

The Surface Energy Analyzer (SEA), an instrument based on IGC principles, offers the potential to distinguish between micropore sorption, surface sorption, and mesopore sorption when used in combination with thermal desorption data obtained from Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS).

This enables the calculation of physically meaningful BET values for highly microporous materials and supports analysis that accounts for molecular sieve effects.

Application Note 215: A Sorption Study on Microporous Materials by Finite Dilution Inverse Gas Chromatography. [Request a copy]

Nanomaterials

Surface energy is a critical property in a wide range of industrial applications and processes. It correlates closely with numerous macroscopic properties and is deeply linked to key interfacial phenomena such as adhesion and wettability.

Nanomaterials can be energetically heterogeneous and may feature diverse surface sites — including structural defects and specific functional groups. As a result, a surface energy heterogeneity profile provides more comprehensive information about the characteristics and distribution of these surface sites.

Inverse Gas Chromatography offers a sensitive, rapid, and reliable method for analyzing the surface properties of nanomaterials.

Application Note 226: Surface Energetic Heterogeneity of Carbon-based Nanomaterials. [Request a copy]

Porous Materials

Many common materials contain pores and pore networks, which can significantly influence the behavior of both naturally occurring and engineered materials.

These include Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), Covalent-Organic Frameworks (COFs), and zeolites — all of which are well-suited candidates for use in sorbents, catalysts, and separation processes.

Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) and Inverse Gas Chromatography (iGC-SEA) are highly useful techniques for detecting and analyzing the pore properties of these materials.

Application Note 51: Gas Capture and Vapour Separation by Microporous Materials. [Request a copy] Application Note 54: Detecting and Modelling Porosity in Natural and Engineered Materials.

[Request a copy] Application Note 215: Characterisation of Microporous Materials by Finite Concentration Inverse Gas Chromatography.

[Request a copy] Application Note 504: Water Vapor Induced Mesoporous Structure Collapse Observed by GenRH with Mcell and FT-IR. [Request a copy]

Characterizing the total surface energy profile of a solid is a valuable tool for comparing the performance of similar materials. It also provides a strong starting point for predicting various physicochemical properties, including agglomeration potential and flowability. However, it is important to distinguish the components that make up the total surface energy. This energy is divided into a dispersive component and a specific component.

Evaluating the specific surface energy reveals the polarity of the surface and its tendency to interact with polar solvents or charged species. Key physicochemical properties such as wettability can also be predicted through these measurements. Further study can determine whether the surface exhibits more acidic or basic characteristics — a factor that can be critical in determining material functionality.

BET Surface Area

Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) instruments and the Inverse Gas Chromatography Surface Energy Analyzer (iGC-SEA) can be used to measure BET surface area. Both instruments allow measurements to be performed at room temperature and require only very small sample amounts — typically on the order of a few milligrams for DVS.

This stands in contrast to the traditional nitrogen BET method, which requires measurements at very low temperatures and typically around one gram of sample. Some samples may undergo morphological changes at low temperatures, which can be problematic for the traditional BET method. Since iGC and DVS perform measurements at room temperature, this issue is avoided.

Application Note 18: Measuring BET Surface Areas using Organic Probe Molecules.

[Request a copy] Application Note 225: Isotherm Measurements for BET Surface Area Calculations using Inverse Gas Chromatography. [Request a copy]

Catalyst

Finite Concentration Inverse Gas Chromatography (IGC) is a valuable tool for investigating surface and pore properties. The Surface Energy Analyzer (SEA), an instrument based on IGC principles, offers the potential to distinguish between micropore sorption, surface sorption, and mesopore sorption when used in combination with thermal desorption data obtained from Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS).

This enables the calculation of physically meaningful BET values for highly microporous materials and supports analysis that accounts for molecular sieve effects.

Application Note 215: A Sorption Study on Microporous Materials by Finite Dilution Inverse Gas Chromatography. [Request a copy]

Nanomaterials

Surface energy is a critical property in a wide range of industrial applications and processes. It correlates closely with numerous macroscopic properties and is deeply linked to key interfacial phenomena such as adhesion and wettability.

Nanomaterials can be energetically heterogeneous and may feature diverse surface sites — including structural defects and specific functional groups. As a result, a surface energy heterogeneity profile provides more comprehensive information about the characteristics and distribution of these surface sites. Inverse Gas Chromatography offers a sensitive, rapid, and reliable method for analyzing the surface properties of nanomaterials.

Application Note 226: Surface Energetic Heterogeneity of Carbon-based Nanomaterials. [Request a copy]

Porous Materials

Many common materials contain pores and pore networks, which can significantly influence the behavior of both naturally occurring and engineered materials. These include Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), Covalent-Organic Frameworks (COFs), and zeolites — all of which are well-suited candidates for use in sorbents, catalysts, and separation processes.

Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) and Inverse Gas Chromatography (iGC-SEA) are highly useful techniques for detecting and analyzing the pore properties of these materials.

Application Note 51: Gas Capture and Vapour Separation by Microporous Materials. [Request a copy] Application Note 54: Detecting and Modelling Porosity in Natural and Engineered Materials. [Request a copy] Application Note 215: Characterisation of Microporous Materials by Finite Concentration Inverse Gas Chromatography. [Request a copy] Application Note 504: Water Vapor Induced Mesoporous Structure Collapse Observed by GenRH with Mcell and FT-IR. [Request a copy]