Dispersion properties of triply periodic minimal surface stationary phases for LC: The mesoporous case

Eight different 3D printable mesoporous stationary phases based on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) are investigated. Their separation performances, for different values of the zone retention factor k′′, are analyzed in terms of plate height curves and kinetic performance factors. The two-zone moment analysis method (TZMA) for the determination of the dispersion tensor in hierarchical retentive porous media has been adopted to compute the dispersion coefficients under retentive conditions. The contribution of the internal porosity of the stationary zone drastically change the chromatographic performance of TPMS structures with respect to the non-retentive (hydrodynamic) and superficially retentive cases. Sheet-based TPMS structures are best performing geometries because the analysis of kinetic plots reveals that optimal functioning conditions are associated with optimal dimensions of the unit cell compatible with printing resolution of cutting-edge 3D printers.