Weilin Liao
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Interests
Weilin Liao has a total of 5 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Tsenguun Byambadorj
Center for Wireless Integrated MicroSensing and Systems (WIMS2), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
1 shared publication - Tsung-Hsueh Lu
Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
1 shared publication - Xiangyu Zhao
School of Integrated Circuits, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
1 shared publication - Yogesh B. Gianchandani
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
1 shared publication - Yutao Qin
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
Progressive Cellular Architecture in Microscale Gas Chromatography for Broad Chemical Analyses
Gas chromatography is widely used to identify and quantify volatile organic compounds for applications ranging from environmental monitoring to homeland security. We investigate a new architecture for microfabricated gas chromatography systems that can significantly improve the range, speed, and efficiency of such systems. By using a cellular approach, it performs a partial separation of analytes even as the sampling is being performed. The subsequent separation step is then rapidly performed within each cell. The cells, each of which contains a preconcentrator and separation column, are arranged in progression of retentiveness. While accommodating a wide range of analytes, this progressive cellular architecture (PCA) also provides a pathway to improving energy efficiency and lifetime by reducing the need for heating the separation columns. As a proof of concept, a three-cell subsystem (PCA3mv) has been built; it incorporates a number of microfabricated components, including preconcentrators, separation columns, valves, connectors, and a carrier gas filter. The preconcentrator and separation column of each cell are monolithically implemented as a single chip that has a footprint of 1.8 × 5.2 cm2. This subsystem also incorporates two manifold arrays of microfabricated valves, each of which has a footprint of 1.3 × 1.4 cm2. Operated together with a commercial flame ionization detector, the subsystem has been tested against polar and nonpolar analytes (including alkanes, alcohols, aromatics, and phosphonate esters) over a molecular weight range of 32–212 g/mol and a vapor pressure range of 0.005–231 mmHg. The separations require an average column temperature of 63–68 °C within a duration of 12 min, and provide separation resolutions >2 for any two homologues that differ by one methyl group.
Open AccessProgressive Cellular Architecture in Microscale Gas Chromatography for Broad Chemical Analyses
Gas chromatography is widely used to identify and quantify volatile organic compounds for applications ranging from environmental monitoring to homeland security. We investigate a new architecture for microfabricated gas chromatography systems that can significantly improve the range, speed, and efficiency of such systems. By using a cellular approach, it performs a partial separation of analytes even as the sampling is being performed. The subsequent separation step is then rapidly performed within each cell. The cells, each of which contains a preconcentrator and separation column, are arranged in progression of retentiveness. While accommodating a wide range of analytes, this progressive cellular architecture (PCA) also provides a pathway to improving energy efficiency and lifetime by reducing the need for heating the separation columns. As a proof of concept, a three-cell subsystem (PCA3mv) has been built; it incorporates a number of microfabricated components, including preconcentrators, separation columns, valves, connectors, and a carrier gas filter. The preconcentrator and separation column of each cell are monolithically implemented as a single chip that has a footprint of 1.8 × 5.2 cm2. This subsystem also incorporates two manifold arrays of microfabricated valves, each of which has a footprint of 1.3 × 1.4 cm2. Operated together with a commercial flame ionization detector, the subsystem has been tested against polar and nonpolar analytes (including alkanes, alcohols, aromatics, and phosphonate esters) over a molecular weight range of 32–212 g/mol and a vapor pressure range of 0.005–231 mmHg. The separations require an average column temperature of 63–68 °C within a duration of 12 min, and provide separation resolutions >2 for any two homologues that differ by one methyl group.