Development of a simple technique for the coating of monolithic silica with pristine boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs): HPLC chromatographic applications

In this paper, a novel and very simple homogeneous coating of a monolithic silica HPLC support using pristine boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) was d0.escribed. The chromatographic support was coated with BNNTs in a non covalent way to preserve the nanotube structure. A solution of BNNTs dispersed in dimethylacetamide (DMAc) was pumped through the column at a flow-rate of 0.3 mL/min for 24 h at room temperature. Strong interaction between amino groups and the BNNT surfaces induces the adsorption of the BNNTs on the silica, while the stable solvation in DMAc hampers further adsorption of the tubes. The excellent stability of the non covalent BNNT-coating on the monolithic silica in view of application for HPLC was also demonstrated. It was shown that this novel stationary phase was efficient for the HPLC isocratic or gradient mode separation of molecules of different structure such as phenol derivatives, alkylbenzene or doping agents (steroids). As well, this simple technique of BNNT immobilization offers new perspectives for the BNNT-coating on the surfaces of a wide range of solid substrates.