Claims
- 1. A method of operating a flowing junction reference electrode comprising:
in a system in which a microfluidic liquid junction member is situated between a pressurized reference electrolyte solution and a sample solution, and in which the microfluidic liquid junction member has an array of discrete nanochannels; flowing the reference electrolyte solution through the array of nanochannels and into the sample solution at a linear velocity greater than about 0.1 centimeter per second.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of nanochannels is less than approximately 108 and greater than approximately 100.
- 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the number of nanochannels is less than approximately 103.
- 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the number of nanochannels is less than approximately 105.
- 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the number of nanochannels is less than approximately 104.
- 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the number of nanochannels is greater than approximately 103.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanochannels are substantially straight and substantially parallel to one another.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the width of any nanochannel in the array of nanochannels is substantially equal to the width of any other nanochannels in the array of nanochannels.
- 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanochannels have widths of greater than approximately 1 nanometer and less than approximately 900 nanometers.
- 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanochannels have widths of greater than approximately 10 nanometers and less than approximately 500 nanometers.
- 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanochannels are coated.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the junction member [is constructed of] comprises a polymer.
- 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate and polyimide.
- 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the junction member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicon, glass, and ceramic.
- 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference electrolyte solution flows through the junction member and into the sample solution at a volumetric flow rate less than approximately 60 μL per hour
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the linear velocity of the reference electrolyte solution flowing into the sample solution is greater than approximately 0.5 centimeters per second.
- 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the volumetric flow rate of the reference electrolyte solution into the sample solution is less than approximately 10 μL per hour.
- 18. The method of claim 1, where the electrode is capable of operating without substantial maintenance for greater than approximately one year, during which variations of electrolytic potential are less than approximately 1 mV, and during which less than approximately 100 mL of electrolyte flows into the sample solution.
- 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the electrode is capable of operating without substantial maintenance for greater than approximately two years.
- 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the resistance across the junction member is less than approximately 1 megohm.
- 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference electrolyte solution flows through the array of nanochannels and into the sample solution at a linear velocity greater than about 1.0 centimeter per second.
- 22. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of nanochannels is less than approximately 103.
- 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of nanochannels is less than approximately 105.
- 24. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of nanochannels is less than approximately 104.
- 25. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of nanochannels is greater than approximately 103.
- 26. The method of claim 1, wherein the junction member comprises glass.
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/738,881, filed Dec. 14, 2000. The present application claims priority to each of the following two applications. The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/590,781, filed Jun. 8, 2000, which in turn claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/138,141, filed Jun. 8, 1999.
Government Interests
[0002] This invention was made with United States Government support under SBIR Phase I Grant No. DMI-9960665 awarded by the National Science Foundation. The United States Government has certain rights in this invention.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60138141 |
Jun 1999 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09590781 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Child |
10361708 |
Feb 2003 |
US |