Advances in stimuli-responsive polymeric coatings for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography

Abstract

Open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT-CEC) is an important tool in separation science due to its effective performance and reusability, and has attracted attention because the coating-process and the coating thickness can be controlled. Although dozens of OT-CEC reviews have been published recently, design of the smart polymer coatings, which can improve the separation efficiency of OT-CEC via external stimuli, remains a challenge. This review describes the advancement of research on OT-CEC stimuli-responsive polymeric coatings (SR-PCs). It covers the latest researches in the design and synthesis of stimuli-responsive polymers, the protocols for their fabrication on capillary inner surfaces, strategies for improving stimuli-responsive OT-CEC separation efficiency and real-world applications.

Keywords: Coated capillary; Open-tubular capillary electrochromatography; Review; Separation efficiency improvement; Stimuli-responsive polymeric coatings.