The Quantachrome Autosorb 1C instrument provides investigation and characterization of surface area and (accessible) porosity of all kinds of solid materials. Physical adsorption/desorption of a gas (usually nitrogen) or vapor is monitored while stepwise varying the pressure in the sample cell. The acquired data gives information on the specific surface area, pore size distribution, micro pores and the particle size. Adsorption/desorption isotherms recorded at pressure ratios as low as 10-7 to 1 p/p0 allow physical characterization of even high surface materials like activated carbons, MOFs or zeolites.
Integrated calculation methods include BET theory, BJH pore size distributions and material specific DFT-based pore size distribution calculations. Usually, the measured surface area is accurate in a 3-4% range. Restrictions in the accuracy of a measurement may arise from very-low-surface-samples or complicated pore size geometries. In chemisorption mode, Langmuir isotherms are recorded in order to investigate the specific chemical adsorption of a gas or vapor on the sample.
- Operation conditions:
- Pressure range: 10-7 to 1 p/p0
- Temperature range: usually 77K, up to ca. 213K possible (in chemisorption mode possibly higher)
- Sample restrictions: in principal any material (usual sample diameter < 10mm, surface area of the actual sample should be larger than 5m²)
- Applied gases: usually nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, vapors of alcohols possible