PerfectLight · Catalytic Reaction Evaluation

μGAS1001 Trace Gas Reaction Evaluation System

Developed from PerfectLight's extensive experience in closed glass reaction systems, μGAS1001 is designed to evaluate catalytic reactions that generate trace quantities of gas, including photocatalytic overall water splitting and photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. The integrated platform combines a touchscreen control unit, gas-circulation module, fully automatic sampling and injection module, and reactor module.

Product Features

Dynamic O₂ leak rate as low as 0.09 μmol/h, delivering a threefold improvement in airtightness over conventional systems.
Calibration-curve linear regression coefficient of R² > 0.999.
RSD < 2.5% across four consecutive injections at the same concentration.
Between-system reproducibility deviation of < 5%, supporting consistent data across instruments.
Multiple reactor configurations are available for a broad range of application scenarios.
Intelligent touchscreen control simplifies setup, operation, monitoring, and data management.

NO. 1High-Airtightness Design for Reliable Data

The system uses borosilicate-glass reaction piping and precision-lapped glass valves. It achieves an absolute vacuum pressure of ≤ 0.5 kPa and a dynamic O₂ leak rate as low as 0.09 μmol/h, providing three times the airtightness of conventional systems and meeting the stringent requirements of apparent-quantum-yield measurements for photocatalytic overall water splitting. Stable airtightness is maintained even during continuous operation beyond 24 hours, minimizing underestimation of hydrogen evolution caused by gas leakage.

NO. 2Precise Trace-Gas Sampling for Accurate Injection

A patented sampling valve manifold and interchangeable 0.5–5 mL sample loops provide a maximum sampling ratio of 1:88, enabling accurate detection of trace hydrogen generated during the initial stage of a catalytic reaction. The calibration curve delivers R² > 0.999; four consecutive injections at the same concentration achieve RSD < 2.5%; and between-system reproducibility deviation remains below 5%, ensuring accurate, stable, and highly consistent results.

μGAS1001 sampling workflow showing sample-loop evacuation, sampling, injection, and GC carrier gas — Trace-gas sampling workflow: sample-loop evacuation, sampling, injection, and GC carrier-gas transfer.

NO. 3Intelligent Touchscreen Control for Greater Efficiency

The integrated control unit features a 7-inch LCD touchscreen. Users can program multistage illumination–dark cycles and automatically collect gas samples at defined time points. For catalyst-stability studies, the system can operate continuously for 100 hours, sample automatically at preset intervals, and capture a complete long-term stability data set, substantially improving experimental efficiency.

English μGAS1001 touchscreen interface for system status and automatic operation — μGAS1001 touchscreen interface for real-time status monitoring and automated operation.

Application Fields

Photocatalytic and Photoelectrocatalytic CO₂ Reduction
Photocatalytic Apparent Quantum Yield Measurement
Photocatalytic Overall Water Splitting
Photocatalytic Oxygen-Evolution Rate Measurement
Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production
Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Electrocatalytic Water Splitting

Product Parameters

μGAS1001 Product Parameters
Touchscreen Control Unit
7-inch LCD touchscreen with real-time display of system pressure, ambient temperature, and ambient humidity. Complete recording of experimental settings and real-time storage of process parameters, including reaction temperature and pressure; paperless records with exportable results. Built-in calculation methods can import data from analytical instruments and directly display reaction rates and other results. Fully automatic dynamic leak testing allows system airtightness to be checked at any time. Built-in instrument methods control the sampling valve manifold for fully automatic online sampling, injection, and background-gas introduction. The control unit can directly start and stop the gas chromatograph and vacuum pump. System preheating prevents valve seizure caused by solidified vacuum grease.
System Piping
Absolute Vacuum Pressure	≤ 0.5 kPa, referenced to absolute zero to prevent apparent fluctuations caused by changes in temperature, humidity, and other environmental conditions.	Operating Pressure Range	0 kPa to atmospheric pressure
Dynamic O₂ Leak Rate	As low as 0.09 μmol/h; airtightness is improved threefold over conventional products and meets apparent-quantum-yield measurement requirements for photocatalytic overall water splitting.	Piping Material	Highly chemically inert, non-adsorptive borosilicate glass
Valve Technology	Precision-lapped borosilicate-glass construction with no metal components	Number of Valves	3
Vacuum Grease	Imported Apiezon H high-temperature vacuum grease with chemical resistance, low vapor pressure, and low volatility; operating range: −10 to +200 °C	Total System Volume	440 mL; total reactor volume: 210 mL; recommended working volume: 40–80 mL
Piping Temperature Control	Both circulation and injection lines are temperature-controlled, up to 200 °C.	Condenser	Provides sufficient condensation to prevent water vapor from entering the gas chromatograph or vacuum pump, helping protect equipment service life.
Fully Automatic Sampling and Injection Module
Sampling Method	The module is integrated into the system rather than the chromatograph, shortening the circulation path and improving gas-circulation efficiency.	Sample Loop	Standard 2 mL loop; optional 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 mL loops provide adjustable detection sensitivity.
Maximum Sampling Ratio	1:88, providing high sensitivity for trace-gas detection	Automatic Background-Gas Injection	Precisely controls the background-gas injection volume to promote gas circulation. Avoids air interference associated with syringe injection.
Carrier-Gas Pressure Range	Up to 0.5 MPa; compatible with gas chromatographs in complex configurations	Reaction-Parameter Monitoring Accuracy	Reaction pressure: 1 Pa; reaction temperature: 0.01 °C
Gas-Circulation Parameters
Gas-Mixing Time	Less than 10 min for both H₂ and O₂	Linearity	Calibration-curve linear regression coefficient R² > 0.999
Repeatability	RSD < 2.5% for four consecutive injections at the same concentration	Magnetically Coupled Impeller Pump	No electrical wiring inside the system, eliminating hydrogen-explosion risks and interference from electrolytic hydrogen evolution.
Between-System Reproducibility	Deviation < 5%, supporting high data consistency	Reactor Types	Multiple reactor configurations for diverse application scenarios
Sampling Mode	Patented sampling valve manifold with a fully automatic online sampling module integrated into the system rather than the chromatograph	Circulation Piping	All circulation lines are made of borosilicate glass. The narrow-line inner diameter is 3 mm, avoiding small-bore chromatographic tubing and minimizing gas-flow resistance.
Other Parameters
Reactor	Includes a temperature-measurement port for monitoring and recording the reaction temperature. Customizable configurations support gas–solid and gas–liquid–solid photocatalysis, photoelectrocatalysis, electrocatalysis, photothermal catalysis, and other applications. Suitable for experiments using trace quantities of catalyst or reaction liquid. An integrated temperature-control jacket and reaction chamber provide efficient heat transfer and precise temperature control, supporting experimental reproducibility.
Metal Protective Enclosure	Protects against damage to glass components, optical radiation, and potential reaction-gas leakage.	Light-Source Placement	Can be positioned in front of or behind the system to suit the laboratory-bench configuration.
Light Shield	Portable light shield effectively limits stray-light exposure.	Vacuum Pump	Compatible with multiple brands and models; pumping speed: 1 L/s; automatic start/stop during sampling; intermittent low-noise operation; one-way solenoid valve prevents pump-oil backflow.
Overall Dimensions	500 (L) × 540 (W) × 780 (H) mm

Operating Principle

μGAS1001 is an integrated closed-loop reaction system for photocatalytic water splitting, photocatalytic CO₂ reduction, and related reactions. As the reaction proceeds, product gases accumulate continuously within the system. During sampling, the sampling module withdraws a defined fraction of the product gas for gas-chromatographic analysis while the remaining gas stays in the reaction loop. A magnetically coupled impeller pump continuously circulates the internal gas throughout the experiment, maintaining a uniform gas concentration.

μGAS1001 closed-loop gas circulation diagram — **Figure 4-1.** μGAS1001 closed-loop gas-circulation diagram.

The intelligent touchscreen control unit manages the sampling module. The system uses self-aspirating sampling, with a calibrated sample loop as the core metering component. A sampling line connected to the module is incorporated directly into the circulation loop. Before sampling, the module evacuates the sample loop to a high-vacuum state. The loop is then connected to the circulation line, allowing part of the sample gas to enter under the resulting pressure differential.

After sampling, the loop is isolated from the circulation line and connected to the gas chromatograph's carrier-gas line. The carrier gas sweeps the sample into the detector for analysis. Because the loop is subsequently filled with high-pressure carrier gas, it is evacuated again before the next sampling cycle to prevent carrier gas from entering the reaction system.

μGAS1001 online sampling sequence: evacuate sample loop, sample, and inject — **Figure 4-2.** μGAS1001 fully automatic online sampling and injection sequence.

Representative Literature

Photocatalytic/photoelectrocatalytic CO₂ reduction
Photocatalytic apparent quantum yield measurement
Photocatalytic overall water splitting
Photocatalytic oxygen evolution rate measurement
Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
PEC water splitting
Electrocatalytic water splitting

[1]Jiang, W.; Wu, X.; Jing, H.; Tao, Y.; Han, C.; Liu, T.; Zhang, G.; Li, R.; Su, C.; Liu, B. Mimicking Natural Photosynthesis: Bromide-Mediated Photocatalysis for Spatially Decoupled Olefin Epoxidation and Hydrogen Evolution. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c08093.