Cell block techniques design

In combination with the techniques for rendering a surface nonfouling (as discussed in Sect. 3), a powerful box of building blocks arose for the design of live-cell chips. The choice of cell- or protein-repellent components, in combination with a cell-adhesion-mediating entity, of course depends on the application. Important parameters that have to be taken into account are ... 

The design of a cell that is compatible with more than one technique was illustrated by Couves et al. (1991). They briefly presented a cell design that allowed the collection of both XAFS spectra (in a dispersive geometry) and X-ray diffractograms. The cell operated at atmospheric pressure and included a pressed wafer of the catalyst. Little detail was provided, but the authors stated that the cell consisted of a custom-built Kanthal heating element embedded in a pyrophyllite block with a recess for the pressed sample. The sample could be heated to 1073 K in a flow of gas. More detail of the design was published by Dent et al. (1995). In essence, there is an outer container fabricated from aluminum that has the necessary Kapton windows and water-cooled end caps. A pyrophyllite heat shield fits inside the outer container, and a wire-wound heater, into which the sample holder fits, is placed inside this heat shield. The furnace was capable of operation from 373 to 1473 K. 

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