ABSTRACT
Separation science is a research field over a wide range of science and technology. This chapter reviews the use of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including fullerenes as the sample probes in the retention behavior analysis in liquid chromatography, has been reviewed. The unique chemical structures of fullerenes and their chemical reactivities have been studied since the observation of a stable carbon cluster ion containing 60 carbon atoms was first reported in 1985. The bonded phase structure on the silica support has been studied with a group of well-designed analytes, including PAHs and fullerenes. In the history of chromatography and the innovations as a separation technique, various types of stationary phases have been developed and commercialized to satisfy the demands from the users. Among a wide variety of compounds exhibiting a specific phenomenon of liquid-crystal nature, a rod-like molecule is often found, with a rigid structure and also with polar functional group(s) therein.
