Fabrication of microstructured planar chromatography platforms via laser ablation

The field of planar chromatography has seen a resurgence due to interest in novel fabrication techniques for sorbent (stationary phase) layers. These novel sorbents must have high surface areas and achieve separations over short distances. Here, we present the first attempt to fabricate a planar chromatographic platform via laser ablation. Microchannels of 24 mm µm x 68 mm depth were produced using an Nd:YAG laser on cyclic olefin polymer substrates which act as the stationary phase. These plates were then applied to a proof-of-concept organic dye separation and were able to resolve a binary dye mixture over 11 mm of plate length. Results showed promising potential for laser ablation as a new fabrication technique for planar chromatographic substrates.