Author: claimsbot

1. A system for multicasting a data payload through an optical network composed of a plurality of nodes interconnected by links wherein a given one of the nodes multicasts over two outgoing links, the data payload having a given format and protocol, the system comprising
a route generator for generating and storing a local routing look-up table in each of the nodes, each local look-up table listing local addresses for determining alternative local routes through each of the nodes,
an adder for adding two headers to the data payload with each of the headers being embedded in the same wavelength as the data payload prior to inputting the data payload at an input one of the nodes to produce an optical signal, each of the headers having a format and protocol and conveying multicast information indicative a local route through the given node for the data payload and the headers, the format and protocol of the data payload being independent of the format and protocol of the headers,
a detector for detecting the multicast information at the given one of the nodes to determine two switch control signals with reference to the multicast information as the data payload and the headers propagate through the optical network,
an optical splitter for splitting the optical signal into two split optical signals,
a selector for selecting two local routes through the given one of the nodes in correspondence to the two switch control signals,
an optical switch having input ports and output ports wherein one of the split optical signals couples to a first input port and the second of the split optical signals couples to a second input port, and wherein one of the outgoing links couples to a first output port and the second of the outgoing links couples to a second output port, and
a switch controller, coupled to the optical switch and responsive to the two switch control signals, for switching the optical switch in response to the multicast information to optically couple the first input port with the first output port and the second input port with the second output port,
wherein the headers are conveyed by a single-sideband signal occupying a given frequency band above the data payload,
the detector further comprising
an optical notch filter for filtering the optical signal with a transmission part of the notch filter to detect the headers and for filtering the optical signal with a reflective part of the notch filter to delete the headers and recover the data payload, and
a processor, coupled to the notch filter, for processing the headers to obtain the multicast information, and
the system further comprising means, coupled to the notch filter, for inserting new single-sideband headers at the given frequency band into the optical signal in place of the deleted headers.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the adder includes a generator for generating a plurality of baseband headers, each of the baseband headers conveying a subset of the multicast information and determining one of the switch control signals.
3. The system as recited in claim 2 further including
a plurality of local oscillators, and
a mixer for mixing the baseband headers with the corresponding plurality of local oscillators to produce frequency-shifted baseband signal.
4. The system as recited in claim 3 further including a combiner for combining the data payload at baseband with the frequency-shifted baseband signal to produce a composite baseband signal.
5. The system as recited in claim 4 further including
a laser source, and
an optical modulator for optically modulating the composite baseband signal with the laser source to produce the optical signal.
6. The system as recited in claim 5 wherein each of the headers is conveyed by a distinct sub-carrier frequency occupying a frequency band above the data payload, and the detector includes
means for detecting the headers to obtain the multicast information, and
a processor for processing the multicast information to obtain the switch control signals for routing the optical signal.
7. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the detector includes a header detector, coupled to the switch controller, for detecting the multicast information in the headers to produce the two switch control signals, in correspondence to the two split optical signals, for the switch controller to operate the optical switch.
8. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the optical signal arriving at the given one of the nodes is included in a composite optical signal, the system further comprising an optical demultiplexer for demultiplexing the composite optical signal to recover the optical signal.
9. A system for multicasting a data payload through an optical network composed of a plurality of nodes interconnected by links wherein a given one of the nodes multicasts over a plurality of outgoing links, the data payload having a given format and protocol, the system comprising
a route generator for generating and storing a local routing look-up table in each of the nodes, each local look-up table listing local addresses for determining alternative local routes through each of the nodes,
an adder for adding a plurality of headers to the data payload with the headers being embedded in the same wavelength as the data payload prior to inputting the data payload at an input one of the nodes to produce an optical signal, the headers having a format and protocol and conveying multicast information indicative of local routes through the given node for the data payload and the headers, the format and protocol of the data payload being independent of the format and protocol of the headers,
a detector for detecting the multicast information at the given one of the nodes to determine switch control signals with reference to the multicast information as the data payload and the headers propagate through the optical network,
an optical splitter for splitting the optical signal into a plurality of split optical signals,
a selector for selecting a plurality of local routes through the given one of the nodes in correspondence to the switch control signals,
an optical switch having input ports and output ports wherein each of the split optical signals couples to separate input ports, and wherein each of the outgoing links couples to correspondingly output ports, and
a switch controller, coupled to the optical switch and responsive to the switch control signals, for switching the optical switch in response to the multicast information to optically couple the separate input ports with the corresponding output ports,
wherein the headers are conveyed by a single-sideband signal occupying a given frequency band above the data payload,
the detector further comprising
an optical notch filter for filtering the optical signal with a transmission part of the notch filter to detect the headers and for filtering the optical signal with a reflective part of the notch filter to delete the headers and recover the data payload, and
a processor, coupled to the notch filter, for processing the headers to obtain the multicast information, and
the system further comprising means, coupled to the notch filter, for inserting new single-sideband headers at the given frequency band into the optical signal in place of the deleted headers.
10. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the adder includes a generator for generating a plurality of baseband headers, each of the baseband headers conveying a subset of the multicast information and determining one of the switch control signals.
11. The system as recited in claim 10 further including
a plurality of local oscillators, and
a mixer for mixing the baseband headers with the corresponding plurality of local oscillators to produce frequency-shifted baseband signal.
12. The system as recited in claim 11 further including a combiner for combining the data payload at baseband with the frequency-shifted baseband signal to produce a composite baseband signal.
13. The system as recited in claim 12 further including
a laser source, and
an optical modulator for optically modulating the composite baseband signal with the laser source to produce the optical signal.
14. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein each of the headers is conveyed by a distinct sub-carrier frequency occupying a frequency band above the data payload, and the detector includes
means for detecting the headers to obtain the multicast information, and
a processor for processing the multicast information to obtain the switch control signals for routing the optical signal.
15. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the detector includes a header detector, coupled to the switch controller, for detecting the multicast information in the headers to produce the two switch control signals, in correspondence to the two split optical signals, for the switch controller to operate the optical switch.
16. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the optical signal arriving at the given one of the nodes is included in a composite optical signal, the system further comprising an optical demultiplexer for demultiplexing the composite optical signal to recover the optical signal.
17. A system for multicasting a data payload through an optical network composed of a plurality of nodes interconnected by links wherein a given one of the nodes multicasts over a plurality of outgoing links, the data payload having a given format and protocol, the system comprising
a route generator for generating and storing a local routing look-up table in each of the nodes, each local look-up table listing local addresses for determining alternative local routes through each of the nodes,
an adder for adding a plurality of headers to the data payload with the headers being embedded in the same wavelength as the data payload prior to inputting the data payload at an input one of the nodes to produce an optical signal, the headers having a format and protocol and conveying multicast information indicative of local routes through the given node for the data payload and the headers, the format and protocol of the data payload being independent of the format and protocol of the headers,
a detector for detecting the multicast information at the nodes to determine switch control signals with reference to the multicast information as the data payload and the headers propagate through the optical network,
an optical splitter for splitting the optical signal into a number of split optical signals corresponding to number of outgoing links,
an optical switch having input ports and output ports wherein each of the split optical signals couples to a corresponding one of the input ports,
an optical combiner coupled to predetermined ones of the output ports,
a plurality of multiplexers for coupling the optical combiner with the outgoing links, and
a switch controller, coupled to the optical switch and responsive to the switch control signals, for switching the optical switch in response to the multicast information to optically couple the input ports with corresponding output ports,
wherein the headers are conveyed by a single-sideband signal occupying a given frequency band above the data payload,
the detector further comprising
an optical notch filter for filtering the optical signal with a transmission part of the notch filter to detect the headers and for filtering the optical signal with a reflective part of the notch filter to delete the headers and recover the data payload, and
a processor, coupled to the notch filter, for processing the headers to obtain the multicast information, and
the system further comprising means, coupled to the notch filter, for inserting new single-sideband headers at the given frequency band into the optical signal in place of the deleted headers.
18. A system for multicasting a data payload through an optical network composed of a plurality of nodes interconnected by links wherein a given one of the nodes multicasts over two outgoing links, the data payload having a given format and protocol, the system comprising
a route generator for generating and storing a local routing look-up table in each of the nodes, each local look-up table listing local addresses for determining alternative local routes through each of the nodes,
an adder for adding two headers to the data payload with the headers being embedded in the same wavelength as the data payload prior to inputting the data payload at an input one of the nodes to produce an optical signal, the headers having a format and protocol and conveying multicast information indicative of local routes through the given node for the data payload and the headers, the format and protocol of the data payload being independent of the format and protocol of the headers,
a detector for detecting the multicast information at the nodes to determine two switch control signals with reference to the multicast information as the data payload and the headers propagate through the optical network,
a one-by-two optical splitter for splitting the incoming optical signal into two split optical signals,
a four-by-four optical switch having four input ports and four output ports wherein the two split optical signals couple to the first and second input ports,
a first two-by-one optical combiner coupled to the first and second output ports,
a second two-by-one optical combiner coupled to the third and fourth output ports,
a first multiplexer coupled to the first optical combiner and the second optical combiner wherein the output of the first multiplexer is coupled to one of the two outgoing links,
a second multiplexer coupled to the first optical combiner and the second optical combiner wherein the output of the second multiplexer is coupled to the other of the two outgoing links, and
a switch controller, coupled to the optical switch and responsive to the switch control signals, for switching the optical switch in response to the multicast information to couple the first input port with the first output port and the second input port with the third output port,
wherein the headers are conveyed by a single-sideband signal occupying a given frequency band above the data payload,
the detector further comprising
an optical notch filter for filtering the optical signal with a transmission part of the notch filter to detect the headers and for filtering the optical signal with a reflective part of the notch filter to delete the headers and recover the data payload, and

a processor, coupled to the notch filter, for processing the headers to obtain the multicast information, and
the system further comprising means, coupled to the notch filter, for inserting new single-sideband headers at the given frequency band into the optical signal in place of the deleted headers.
19. The system as recited in claim 18 wherein the detector includes a header detector, coupled to the switch controller, for detecting the multicast information in the headers to produce the two switch control signals, in correspondence to the two split optical signals, for the switch controller to operate the optical switch.
20. The system as recited in claim 19 wherein the optical signal to the given one of the nodes is included in a composite optical signal, the system further comprising an optical demultiplexer for demultiplexing the composite optical signal to recover the optical signal.
21. The optical system as recited in claim 18 for multicasting a second incoming optical signal to the two outgoing links, the second incoming optical signal including a second set of two headers for conveying second multicasting information, the system further comprising
a second one-by-two optical splitter for splitting the second incoming optical signal into two split second optical signals,
wherein the second two-by-one optical combiner is coupled to the third and fourth output ports of the optical switch, and
wherein said switch controller, being responsive to the second header, switches the optical switch in response to the second multicast information to couple the third input port with the second output port and the fourth input port with the fourth output port.
22. A system for multicasting two data payloads through an optical network composed of a plurality of nodes interconnected by links wherein a given one of the nodes multicasts over two outgoing links, each data payload having a given format and protocol, the system comprising
a route generator for generating and storing a local routing look-up table in each of the nodes, each local look-up table listing local addresses for determining alternative local routes through each of the nodes,
an adder for adding two headers to each data payload with each set of two headers being embedded in the same wavelength as each corresponding data payload prior to inputting each data payload at an input one of the nodes to produce two optical signals, the headers having a format and protocol and conveying multicast information indicative of local routes through the given node for each data payload and each corresponding header, the format and protocol of each data payload being independent of the format and protocol of each corresponding header,
a first demultiplexer for detecting the first optical signal,
a second demultiplexer for detecting the second optical signal,
a first one-by-two optical splitter, coupled to the first demultiplexer, for splitting the first optical signal into two split first optical signals,
a second one-by-two optical splitter, coupled to the second demultiplexer, for splitting the second optical signal into two split second optical signals,
a detector for detecting the multicast information at the given one of the nodes to determine four switch control signals with reference to the multicast information each of the data payloads and the corresponding headers propagate through the optical network,
a first four-by-four optical switch having four input ports and four output ports wherein the first split optical signals couple to the first and second input ports,
a second four-by-four optical switch having four input ports and four output ports wherein the second split optical signals couple to the first and second input ports,
a first two-by-one optical combiner coupled to the first and second output ports of the first optical switch,
a second two-by-one optical combiner coupled to the third and fourth output ports of the first optical switch,
a third two-by-one optical combiner coupled to the first and second output ports of the second optical switch,
a fourth two-by-one optical combiner coupled to the third and fourth output ports of the second optical switch,
a first multiplexer coupled to the first optical combiner and the second optical combiner wherein the output of the first multiplexer is coupled to one of the two outgoing links,
a second multiplexer coupled to the first optical combiner and the second optical combiner wherein the output of the second multiplexer is coupled to the other of the two outgoing links, and
a switch controller, coupled to the first optical switch and the second optical switch and responsive to the switch control signals, for switching the first optical switch and second optical switch in response to the multicast information to couple the first input port with the first output port of the first optical switch, the second input port with the third output port of the first optical switch, the first input port with the first output port of the second optical switch, and the second input port with the third output port of the second optical switch,
wherein the headers are conveyed by a single-sideband signal occupying a given frequency band above the data payload,
the detector further comprising
an optical notch filter for filtering the optical signal with a transmission part of the notch filter to detect the headers and for filtering the optical signal with a reflective part of the notch filter to delete the headers and recover the data payload, and
a processor, coupled to the notch filter, for processing the headers to obtain the multicast information, and

the system further comprising means, coupled to the notch filter, for inserting new single-sideband headers at the given frequency band into the optical signal in place of the deleted headers.
23. A system for multicasting a data payload comprising at least two headers through an optical network composed of a plurality of nodes wherein a given one of the nodes multicasts over two outgoing links, the at least two headers comprising multicast information, the system comprising:
a detector for detecting the multicast information at a given one of the nodes to determine two switch control signals with reference to the multicast information as the data payload comprising the at least two headers propagates through the optical network in an optical signal;
an optical splitter for splitting the optical signal into two split optical signals; and
an optical switch having input ports and output ports wherein one of the split optical signals couples to a first input port and the second of the split optical signals couples to a second input port, and wherein one of the outgoing links couples to a first output port and the second of the outgoing links couples to a second output port;
wherein the at least two headers are conveyed by a single-sideband signal occupying a given frequency band above the data payload;
the detector further comprising an optical notch filter for filtering the optical signal with a transmission part of the notch filter to detect the at least two headers and for filtering the optical signal with a reflective part of the notch filter to delete the at least two headers and recover the data payload, and
a processor, coupled to the notch filter, for processing the at least two headers to obtain the multicast information, and
circuitry, coupled to the notch filter, for inserting new single-sideband headers at the given frequency band into the optical signal in place of the deleted headers.
24. The system of claim 23 comprising a route generator for generating and storing a local routing look-up table in each of the nodes, each local look-up table listing local addresses for determining alternative local routes through each of the nodes.
25. The system of claim 23 comprising a selector for selecting two local routes through the given one of the nodes in correspondence to the two switch control signals.
26. The system of claim 23 comprising a switch controller, coupled to the optical switch and responsive to the two switch control signals, for switching the optical switch in response to the multicast information to optically couple the first input port with the first output port and the second input port with the second output port.
27. A method for multicasting a data payload comprising at least two headers through an optical network composed of a plurality of nodes wherein a given one of the nodes multicasts over two outgoing links, the at least two headers comprising multicast information, the method comprising:
detecting the multicast information at a given one of the nodes to determine two switch control signals with reference to the multicast information as the data payload comprising the at least two headers propagates through the optical network in an optical signal;
splitting the optical signal into two split optical signals; and
coupling one of the split optical signals to a first output port and coupling the second of the split optical signals to a second output port;
wherein the at least two headers are conveyed by a single-sideband signal occupying a given frequency band above the data payload;
filtering the optical signal with a transmission part of a notch filter to detect the at least two headers and filtering the optical signal with a reflective part of the notch filter to delete the at least two headers and recover the data payload, and
inserting new single-sideband headers at the given frequency band into the optical signal in place of the deleted at least two headers.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A probe for examining an electrical characteristic of an examination object by contacting the examination object,
wherein said probe is positioned by insertion into a through-hole of another member, having an insertion portion to be inserted into said through-hole, and a taper portion that has a diameter gradually increasing from an insertion exit side of said through-hole towards an insertion entry side.
2. The probe according to claim 1, further comprising a perpendicular portion which contacts an examination object at a lower end, and a beam portion connected to an upper end of said perpendicular portion and formed in a horizontal direction;
wherein said perpendicular potion is the insertion portion to be inserted into said through-hole; and
said taper portion is formed on said perpendicular portion.
3. The probe according to claim 2, wherein said taper portion is formed on a face on an opposite side of the direction in which said beam portion is formed relative to said perpendicular portion.
4. The probe according to claim 2, further comprising a locking portion to be locked on an edge of an insertion entry side of said through-hole is formed on said perpendicular portion.
5. The probe according to claim 4, wherein said taper portion is formed in a way that an apex where the taper diameter is a maximum, is connected to said locking portion.
6. The probe according to claim 4, wherein the diameter of the apex of said taper portion is set equal to a diameter of said through-hole.
7. A probe for examining an electrical characteristic of an examination object by contacting the examination object, wherein said probe is positioned by insertion into a through-hole of another member; and
a taper portion is formed to increase a positioning accuracy.
8. The probe according to claim 7, further comprising a perpendicular portion which contacts an examination object at a lower end, and a beam portion connected to an upper end of said perpendicular portion and formed in a horizontal direction;
wherein said perpendicular potion is an insertion portion to be inserted into said through-hole; and
said taper portion is formed on said perpendicular portion.
9. The probe according to claim 8, wherein said taper portion is formed on a face on an opposite side of a direction in which said beam portion is formed relative to said perpendicular portion.
10. The probe according to claim 8, further comprising a locking portion to be locked on an edge of an insertion entry side of said through-hole is formed on said perpendicular portion.
11. The probe according to claim 10, wherein said taper portion is formed in a way that an apex where the taper diameter is maximum, is connected to said locking portion.
12. The probe according to claim 10, wherein the diameter of the apex of said taper portion is set equal to the diameter of said through-hole.
13. A probe card comprising a probe for examining an electrical characteristic of an examination object by contacting the examination object;
wherein said probe is positioned by insertion into a through-hole of a probe supporting plate, having a insertion portion inserted into said through-hole and having a lower end contacting the examination object;
wherein said insertion portion comprising a taper portion that has a diameter gradually increasing towards an insertion entry side from an insertion exit side of said through-hole, and a locking portion locked to an edge of the inserting entry side of said through-hole; and wherein said probe supporting plate comprising a plurality of grooves in a plurality of rows and a plurality of probes are locked to said grooves through said locking portion so as to face each other.

What is claimed is:

1. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material, comprising a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry.
2. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material, wherein pores of a diameter of less than about 34 contribute less than about 100 m2g to less than about 50 m2g to the specific surface area of the material.
3. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material, comprising coalesced porous inorganicorganic hybrid particles having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry.
4. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material, comprising coalesced porous inorganicorganic hybrid particles that have a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a surface modifier selected from the group consisting of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, a polymeric coating surface modifier, and combinations thereof,
5. The hybrid monolith material of claim 3, wherein said hybrid particles have been surface modified with a surface modifier having the formula Za(R)bSiR, where ZCl, Br, I, C1-C5 alkoxy, dialkylamino or trifluoromethanesulfonate; a and b are each an integer from 0 to 3 provided that ab3; R is a C1-C6 straight, cyclic or branched alkyl group, and R is a functionalizing group.
6. The hybrid monolith material of claim 3, wherein said hybrid particles have a specific surface area of about 50 to 800 m2g.
7. The hybrid monolith material of claim 3, wherein said hybrid particles have a specific surface area of about 75 to 600 m2g.
8. The hybrid monolith material of claim 3, wherein said hybrid particles have a specific surface area of about 100 to 350 m 2g.
9. The hybrid monolith material of claim 3, wherein said hybrid particles have specific pore volumes of about 0.25 to 1.5 cm3g.
10. The hybrid monolith material of claim 3, wherein said hybrid particles have specific pore volumes of about 0.4 to 1.2 cm3g.
11. The hybrid monolith material of claim 3, wherein said hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 110 m2g.
12. The hybrid monolith material of claim 11, wherein said hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 105 m2g.
13. The hybrid monolith material of claim 11, wherein said hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 80 m2g.
14. The hybrid monolith material of claim 11, wherein said hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 50 m2g.
15. The hybrid monolith material of claim 3, wherein said hybrid particles have an average pore diameter of about 50 to 500 .
16. The hybrid monolith material of claim 3, wherein said hybrid particles have an average pore diameter of about 100 to 300 .
17. The hybrid monolith material of claim 3, wherein said hybrid particles have a specific surface area of about 50 to 800 m2g, said hybrid particles have specific pore volumes of about 0.25 to 1.5 cm3g, and said hybrid particles have an average pore diameter of about 50 to 500 .
18. The hybrid monolith material of claim 3 or 4, wherein said hybrid particles have been surface modified by coating with a polymer.
19. The hybrid monolith material of claim 18, wherein said polymer is Sylgard.
20. The hybrid monolith material of claim 5, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl, sec-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, hexyl and cyclohexyl.
21. The hybrid monolith material of claim 5, wherein the functionalizing group R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, cyano, amino, diol, nitro, ester, a cation or anion exchange group, or an alkyl or aryl group containing an embedded polar functionality.
22. The hybrid monolith material of claim 21, wherein said functionalizing group R is a C1-C30 alkyl group.
23. The hybrid monolith material of claim 21, wherein said functionalizing group R is a C1-C20 alkyl group.
24. The hybrid monolith material of claim 4, wherein said surface modifier is selected from the group consisting of octyltrichlorosilane, octadecyltrichlorosilane, octyldimethylchlorosilane, and octadecyldimethylchlorosilane.
25. The hybrid monolith material of claim 24, wherein said surface modifier is selected from the group consisting of octyltrichlorosilane and octadecyltrichlorosilane.
26. The hybrid monolith material of claim 3 or 4 having the formula SiO2(R2pR4qSiOt)n or SiO2R6(R2rSiOt)mn wherein R2 and R4 are independently C1-C18 aliphatic, styryl, vinyl, propanol, or aromatic moieties, R6is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C18 alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene or arylene moiety bridging two or more silicon atoms, p and q are 0, 1 or 2, provided that pq1 or 2, and that when pq1, t1.5, and when pq2, t1; r is 0 or 1, provided that when r0, t1.5, and when r1, t1; m is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and n is a number from 0.03 to 1.
27. The hybrid monolith material of claim 26, wherein n is a number from 0.1 to 1.
28. The hybrid monolith material of claim 26 having average pore diameters of about 100 to 300 .
29. The hybrid monolith material of claim 26 wherein n is a number from 0.20 to 0.5.
30. The hybrid monolith material of claim 3 or 4 wherein said inorganic portion of said hybrid monolith material is selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, titanium or zirconium oxides, and ceramic materials.
31. The hybrid monolith material of claim 3 or 4 wherein said inorganic portion of said hybrid monolith material is silica.
32. The hybrid material of claim 3 or 4, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier and a silanol group surface modifier.
33. The hybrid material of claim 3 or 4, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
34. The hybrid material of claim 3 or 4, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a combination of a silanol group surface modifier and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
35. The hybrid material of claim 3 or 4, wherein said particles have been surface modified via formation of an organic covalent bond between an organic group of the particle and a surface modifier.
36. The hybrid material of claim 3 or 4, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
37. The hybrid material of claim 3 or 4, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a silanol group surface modifier.
38. A method of preparation of a porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material, comprising porous inorganicorganic hybrid particles having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry, comprising the steps of
a) forming porous inorganicorganic hybrid particles,
b) modifying the pore structure of said porous hybrid particles, and
c) coalescing said porous hybrid particles to form a monolith material.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein the porous hybrid particles are coalesced by sintering.
40. The method of claim 38, wherein the porous hybrid particles are mixed with a second material that is removed after coalescence of the porous hybrid particles.
41. The method of claim 40, wherein the second material is unbonded silica.
42. The method of claim 38, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a surface modifier selected from the group consisting of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, a polymeric coating surface modifier, and combinations thereof.
43. The method of claim 38, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a polymeric coating surface modifier.
44. The method of claim 38, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier and a silanol group surface modifier.
45. The method of claim 38, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
46. The method of claim 38, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a combination of a silanol group surface modifier and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
47. The method of claim 38, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
48. The method of claim 38, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a silanol group surface modifier.
49. The method of claim 38, wherein said particles have been surface modified via formation of an organic covalent bond between an organic group of the particle and a surface modifier.
50. The method of claim 38 wherein said porous hybrid particles are prepared by prepolymerizing one or more organoalkoxysilanes and a tetraalkoxysilane to produce a polyorganoalkoxysiloxane, and preparing an aqueous suspension of said polyorganoalkoxysiloxane, and gelling in the presence of a base catalyst so as to produce said porous hybrid particles.
51. The method of claim 38 wherein said porous hybrid particles are prepared by prepolymerizing one or more organotrialkoxysilanes and a tetraalkoxysilane to produce a polyalkyloxysiloxane, preparing an aqueous suspension of said polyalkyloxysiloxane, and gelling in the presence of a base catalyst so as to produce said porous hybrid particles.
52. The method of claim 50 or 51 wherein said pore structure of said porous hybrid particles is modified by further including a surfactant or combination of different surfactants in said suspension, and by subjecting said porous hybrid particles to hydrothermal treatment.
53. The method of claim 50 or 51 wherein said pore structure of said porous hybrid particles is modified by further including a combination of different surfactants in said suspension, and by subjecting said porous hybrid particles to hydrothermal treatment.
54. The method of claim 52 wherein said surfactant or combination of surfactants are selected from the group consisting of Triton X-45, sodium dodecylsulfate, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane lauryl sulfate, and any combination thereof.
55. The method of claim 38 wherein said method further comprises surface modifying said porous hybrid particles.
56. The method of claim 50 wherein said prepolymerization step comprises hydrolyzing and condensing a mixture of one or more organoalkoxysilanes and a tetraalkoxysilane in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce said polyalkyloxysiloxane.
57. The method of claim 51 wherein said prepolymerization step comprises hydrolyzing and condensing a mixture of one or more organotrialkoxysilanes and a tetraalkoxysilane in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce said polyalkyloxysiloxane.
58. A method of preparation of a porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material, comprising porous inorganicorganic hybrid particles that have a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry, comprising the steps of
a) forming porous inorganicorganic hybrid particles,
b) modifying the pore structure of said porous hybrid particles,
c) surface modifying said porous hybrid particles, and
d) coalescing said porous hybrid particles to form a monolith material,
wherein said particles have been surface modified by a surface modifier selected from the group consisting of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, a polymeric coating surface modifier, and combinations thereof.
59. The method of claim 58 wherein the surface modification step includes surface modifying said porous hybrid particles with a surface modifier having the formula Za(R)bSiR, where ZCl, Br, I, C1-C5 alkoxy, dialkylamino or trifluoromethanesulfonate; a and b are each an integer from 0 to 3 provided that ab3; R is a C1-C6 straight, cyclic or branched alkyl group, and R is a functionalizing group.
60. The method of claim 58, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a polymeric coating surface modifier.
61. The method of claim 58, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier and a silanol group surface modifier.
62. The method of claim 58, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
63. The method of claim 58, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a combination of a silanol group surface modifier and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
64. The method of claim 58, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
65. The method of claim 58, wherein said particles have been surface modified by a silanol group surface modifier.
66. The method of claim 58, wherein said particles have been surface modified via formation of an organic covalent bond between an organic group of the particle and a surface modifier.
67. The method of claim 58, wherein the porous hybrid particles are coalesced by sintering.
68. The method of claim 58, wherein the porous hybrid particles are mixed with a second material that is removed after coalescence of the porous hybrid particles.
69. The method of claim 68, wherein the second material is unbonded silica.
70. The method of claim 59 wherein R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl, sec-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, hexyl and cyclohexyl.
71. The method of claim 59 wherein said functionalizing group R is a C1-C30 alkyl group.
72. The method of claim 59 wherein said functionalizing group R is a C1-C20 alkyl group.
73. The method of claim 59 wherein said surface modifier is selected from the group consisting of octyltrichlorosilane, octadecyltrichlorosilane, octyldimethylchlorosilane, and octadecyldimethylchlorosilane.
74. The method of claim 73 wherein said surface modifier is selected from the group consisting of octyltrichlorosilane and octadecyltrichlorosilane.
75. The method of claim 59, wherein said functionalizing group R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, cyano, amino, diol, nitro, ester, a cation or anion exchange group, or an alkyl or aryl group containing an embedded polar functionality.
76. The method of claim 55 wherein any free silanol groups remaining from said surface modification procedure are endcapped.
77. The method of claim 50 wherein the molar ratio of said organoalkoxysilane and tetraalkoxysilane is from about 0.5:1 to 0.2:1.
78. The method of claim 50 wherein the molar ratio of said organotrialkoxysilane and tetraalkoxysilane is from about 0.5:1 to 0.2:1.
79. The method of claim 38 wherein said porous hybrid particles have a specific surface area of about 50 to 800 m2g.
80. The method of claim 38 wherein said porous hybrid particles have a specific surface area of about 100 to 350 m2g.
81. The method of claim 38 wherein said porous hybrid particles have specific pore volumes of about 0.25 to 1.5 cm3g.
82. The method of claim 38 wherein said porous hybrid particles have specific pore volumes of about 0.4 to 1.2 cm3g.
83. The method of claim 38 wherein said porous hybrid particles have an average pore diameter of about 50 to 500 .
84. The method of claim 38 wherein said porous hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 110 m2g.
85. The method of claim 38 wherein said porous hybrid particles have an average pore diameter of about 100 to 300 .
86. The method of claim 38, wherein said porous hybrid particles have a specific surface area of about 50 to 800 m2g, said porous hybrid particles have specific pore volumes of about 0.25 to 1.5 cm3g, and said porous hybrid particles have an average pore diameter of about 50 to 500 .
87. The method of claim 50 wherein said suspension further comprises a porogen.
88. The method of claim 87 wherein said porogen is toluene.
89. The method of claim 50 wherein said tetraalkoxysilane has the formula Si(OR1)4, where R1 is a C1-C3 alkyl moiety.
90. The method of claim 50 wherein said tetraalkoxysilane is selected from the group consisting of tetramethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane.
91. The method of claim 50 wherein said organoalkoxysilane has the formula R2Si(OR1)3 or R6Si(OR1)3m where R2 is a C1-C18 aliphatic, styryl, vinyl, propanol or aromatic moiety, R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl moiety, R6 is a C1-C18 alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene or arylene moiety bridging two or more silicon atoms, and m is an integer greater than or equal to two.
92. The method of claim 50 wherein said organotrialkoxysilane has the formula R2Si(OR1)3, where R2 is a C1-C18 aliphatic or aromatic moiety and R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl moiety.
93. The method of claim 50 wherein said base catalyst is free of alkali or alkaline earth metal cations.
94. The method of claim 93 wherein said base catalyst is ammonium hydroxide.
95. The method of claim 91 wherein R2 is methyl, ethyl, phenyl, vinyl, methacryloxypropyl, or styrylethyl and R1 is ethyl; or R6 is a bridging ethylene group, m2, and R1 is ethyl or methyl.
96. The method of claim 38 wherein said porous inorganicorganic hybrid particles have the formula SiO2(R2pR4qSiOt)n or SiO2R6(R2rSiOt)mn wherein R2 and R4 are independently C1-C18 aliphatic, styryl, vinyl, propanol, or aromatic moieties, R6is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C18 alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene or arylene moiety bridging two or more silicon atoms, p and q are 0, 1 or 2, provided that pq1 or 2, and that when pq1, t1.5, and when pq2, t1; r is 0 or 1, provided that when r0, t1.5, and when r1, t1; m is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and n is a number from 0.03 to 1.
97. The method of claim 96, wherein n is a number from 0.1 to 1
98. The method of claim 96 wherein said porous inorganicorganic hybrid particles have average pore diameters of about 100 to 300 .
99. The method of claim 96 wherein n is a number from 0.2 to 0.5.
100. A separations device comprising a porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry.
101. The separations device of claim 100, wherein the monolith material further comprises coalesced porous inorganicorganic hybrid particles having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry.
102. The separations device of claim 100, wherein said porous hybrid monolith material has a specific surface area of about 100 to 350 m2g.
103. The separations device of claim 100 wherein said porous hybrid monolith material has a micropore surface area of less than about 110 m2g.
104. The separations device of claim 101, wherein said porous hybrid monolith material has a specific pore volumes of about 0.4 to 1.2 cm3g.
105. The separations device of claim 101, wherein said porous hybrid monolith material has a micropore surface area of less than about 105 m2g.
106. The separations device of claim 101, wherein said porous hybrid monolith material has a micropore surface area of less than about 80 m2g.
107. The separations device of claim 101, said porous hybrid monolith material has a micropore surface area of less than about 50 m2g.
108. The separations device of claim 101, wherein said porous hybrid monolith material has average pore diameter of about 100 to 300 .
109. The separations device of claim 100 or 101, wherein said device is selected from the group consisting of chromatographic columns, thin layer plates, filtration membranes, sample cleanup devices, and microtiter plates.
110. The separations device of claim 101, wherein said porous hybrid particles have a specific surface area of about 100 to 350 m2g.
111. The separations device of claim 101 wherein said porous hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 110 m2g.
112. The separations device of claim 101, wherein said porous hybrid particles have specific pore volumes of about 0.4 to 1.2 cm3g.
113. The separations device of claim 101, wherein said porous hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 105 m2g.
114. The separations device of claim 101, wherein said porous hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 80 m2g.
115. The separations device of claim 101, said porous hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 50 m2g.
116. The separations device of claim 101, wherein said porous hybrid particles have an average pore diameter of about 100 to 300 .
117. A separations device comprising a porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material, wherein said monolith material is comprised of coalesced porous inorganicorganic hybrid particles, and wherein said particles have been surface modified by a surface modifier selected from the group consisting of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, a polymeric coating surface modifier, and combinations thereof.
118. The separations device of claim 117, wherein the porous hybrid particles have a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry and have been surface modified with a surface modifier having the formula Za(R)bSiR, where ZCl, Br, I, C1-C5 alkoxy, dialkylamino or trifluoromethanesulfonate; a and b are each an integer from 0 to 3 provided that ab3; R is a C1-C6 straight, cyclic or branched alkyl group and R is a functionalizing group.
119. The separations device of claim 118, wherein said surface modifier is selected from the group consisting of octyltrichlorosilane, octadecyltrichlorosilane, octyldimethylchlorosilane, and octadecyldimethylchlorosilane.
120. The separations device of claim 119, wherein said surface modifier is selected from the group consisting of octyltrichlorosilane and octadecyltrichlorosilane.
121. The separations device of claim 118, wherein said functionalizing group R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, cyano, amino, diol, nitro, ester, a cation or anion exchange group, or an alkyl or aryl group containing an embedded polar functionality.
122. The separations device of claim 118, wherein said functionalizing group R is a C1-C30 alkyl group.
123. The separations device of claim 118, wherein said functionalizing group R is a C1-C20 alkyl group.
124. The separations device of claim 101, wherein said porous hybrid particles have the formula SiO2(R2pR4qSiOt)n or SiO2R6(R2rSiOt)mn wherein R2 and R4 are independently C1-C18 aliphatic, styryl, vinyl, propanol, or aromatic moieties, R6is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C18 alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene or arylene moiety bridging two or more silicon atoms, p and q are 0, 1 or 2, provided that pq1 or 2, and that when pq1, t1.5, and when pq2, t1; r is 0 or 1, provided that when r0, t1.5, and when r1, t1; m is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and n is a number from 0.03 to 1.
125. The separations device of claim 124, wherein n is a number from 0.1 to 1.
126. The separations device of claim 124, wherein said porous hybrid particles have average pore diameters of about 100 to 300 .
127. The separation device of claim 124 wherein n is a number from 0.2 to 0.5.
128. The separations device of claim 101 wherein said inorganic portion of said hybrid monolith material is selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, titanium or zirconium oxides, and ceramic materials.
129. The separations device of claim 101 wherein said inorganic portion of said hybrid monolith material is silica.
130. A chromatographic column having improved lifetime, comprising
a) a column having a cylindrical interior for accepting a monolith material of porous inorganicorganic hybrid material, and
b) a chromatographic bed comprising a porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry of the formula SiO2(R2pR4qSiOt)n or SiO2R6(R2rSiOt)mn wherein R2 and R4 are independently C1-C18 aliphatic, styryl, vinyl, propanol, or aromatic moieties, R6is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C18 alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene or arylene moiety bridging two or more silicon atoms, p and q are 0, 1 or 2, provided that pq1 or 2, and that when pq1, t1.5, and when pq2, t1; r is 0 or 1, provided that when r0, t1.5, and when r1, t1; m is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and n is a number from 0.03 to 1.
131. A chromatographic column having improved lifetime, comprising
a) a column having a cylindrical interior for accepting a monolith material of porous inorganicorganic hybrid material, and
b) a chromatographic bed comprising a porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a surface modifier selected from the group consisting of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, a polymeric coating surface modifier, and combinations thereof.
132. The chromatographic column of claim 131 that has been surface modified with a surface modifier having the formula Za(R)bSiR, where ZCl, Br, I, C1-C5 alkoxy, dialkylamino or trifluoromethanesulfonate; a and b are each an integer from 0 to 3 provided that ab3; R is a C1-C6 straight, cyclic or branched alkyl group, and R is a functionalizing group.
133. The chromatographic column of claim 130 or 131, wherein the porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material is prepared from coalesced porous hybrid particles, wherein the porous hybrid particles have a chromatography-enhancing pore geometry and average pore diameters of about 100 to 300 , and said porous hybrid particles of hybrid silica have been surface modified
134. The chromatographic column of claim 130, wherein n is a number from 0.1 to 1.
135. A method of preparation of a porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material, comprising coalesced porous particles of hybrid silica having a chromatography-enhancing pore geometry, comprising the steps of
a) prepolymerizing a mixture of one or more organoalkoxysilanes and a tetraalkoxysilane in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce a polyorganoalkoxysiloxane;
b) preparing an aqueous suspension of said polyorganoalkoxysiloxane, said suspension further comprising a surfactant or combination of surfactants, and gelling in the presence of a base catalyst so as to produce porous hybrid particles;
c) modifying the pore structure of said porous hybrid particles by hydrothermal treatment; and
d) coalescing said porous hybrid particles to form a monolith material thereby preparing a porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material.
136. The method of claim 135 wherein the molar ratio of said organotrialkoxysilane and tetraalkoxysilane is from about 0.5:1 to 0.2:1.
137. The method of claim 135 wherein said porous hybrid particles have a specific surface area of about 75 to 600 m2g.
138. The method of claim 135 wherein said porous hybrid particles have a specific surface area of about 100 to 350 m2g.
139. The method of claim 135 wherein said porous hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 110 m2g.
140. The method of claim 135 wherein said porous hybrid particles have specific pore volumes of about 0.4 to 1.2 cm3g.
141. The method of claim 135, wherein said porous hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 105 m2g.
142. The method of claim 135, wherein said porous hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 80 m2g.
143. The method of claim 135, wherein said porous hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 50 m2g.
144. The method of claim 135 wherein said porous hybrid particles have an average pore diameter of about 50 to 500 .
145. The method of claim 135 wherein said porous hybrid particles have an average pore diameter of about 100 to 300 .
146. The method of claim 135 wherein said surfactant is an alkylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol.
147. The method of claim 135 wherein said suspension further comprises a porogen.
148. The method of claim 135 wherein said tetraalkoxysilane is selected from the group consisting of tetramethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane.
149. The method of claim 135, wherein said porous hybrid particles have the formula SiO2(R2pR4qSiOt)n or SiO2R (R2rSiOt)mn wherein R2 and R4 are independently C1-C18 aliphatic, styryl, vinyl, propanol, or aromatic moieties, R6is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C18 alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene or arylene moiety bridging two or more silicon atoms, p and q are 0, 1 or 2, provided that pq1 or 2, and that when pq1, t1.5, and when pq2, t1; r is 0 or 1, provided that when r0, t1.5, and when r1, t1; m is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and n is a number from 0.03 to 1.
150. The method of claim 135, wherein n is a number from 0.1 to 1.
151. The method of claim 149, wherein said porous hybrid particles have average pore diameters of about 100 to 300 .
152. The method of claim 149 wherein n is a number from 0.2 to 0.5.
153. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material comprising coalesced porous hybrid particles of hybrid silica having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry, produced by the process of
a) prepolymerizing a mixture of one or more organoalkoxysilanes and a tetraalkoxysilane in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce a polyorganoalkoxysiloxane;
b) preparing an aqueous suspension of said polyorganoalkoxysiloxane, said suspension further comprising a surfactant or a combination of surfactants, and gelling in the presence of a base catalyst so as to produce porous hybrid particles;
c) modifying the pore structure of said porous hybrid particles by hydrothermal treatment; and
d) coalescing said porous hybrid particles to form a monolith material.
154. The hybrid monolith material of claim 153 wherein the molar ratio of said organoalkoxysilane and tetraalkoxysilane is from about 0.5:1 to 0.2:1.
155. The hybrid monolith material of claim 153 wherein said porous hybrid particles have a specific surface area of about 75 to 600 m2g.
156. The hybrid monolith material of claim 153 wherein said porous hybrid particles have a specific surface area of about 100 to 350 m2g.
157. The hybrid monolith material of claim 153 wherein said porous hybrid particles have specific pore volumes of about 0.4 to 1.2 cm3g.
158. The hybrid monolith material of claim 153 wherein said porous hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 110 m2g.
159. The hybrid monolith material of claim 153, wherein said porous hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 105 m2g.
160. The hybrid monolith material of claim 153, wherein said porous hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 80 m2g.
161. The hybrid monolith material of claim 153, wherein said porous hybrid particles have a micropore surface area of less than about 50 m2g.
162. The hybrid monolith material of claim 153 wherein said porous hybrid particles have an average pore diameter of about 50 to 500 .
163. The hybrid monolith material of claim 153 wherein said porous hybrid particles have an average pore diameter of about 100 to 300 .
164. The hybrid monolith material of claim 153 wherein said surfactant is an alkylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol.
165. The hybrid monolith material of claim 153 wherein said suspension further comprises a porogen.
166. The hybrid monolith material of claim 153 wherein said tetraalkoxysilane is selected from the group consisting of tetramethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane.
167. The hybrid monolith material of claim 153, having the formula SiO2(R2pR4qSiOt)n or SiO2R6(R2rSiOt)mn wherein R2 and R4 are independently C1-C18 aliphatic, styryl, vinyl, propanol, or aromatic moieties, R6is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C18 alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene or arylene moiety bridging two or more silicon atoms, p and q are 0, 1 or 2, provided that pq1 or 2, and that when pq1, t1.5, and when pq2, t1; r is 0 or 1, provided that when r0, t1.5, and when r1, t1; m is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and n is a number from 0.03 to 1.
168. The hybrid monolith material of claim 167, wherein said porous hybrid particles have average pore diameters of about 100 to 300 .
169. The hybrid monolith material of claim 167 wherein n is a number from 0.20 to 0.5.
170. The hybrid monolith material of claim 167, wherein n is a number from 0.1 to 1.
171. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry, wherein said material contains a plurality of macropores sufficient to result in reduced backpressure at chromatographically-useful flow rates.
172. The hybrid monolith material of claim 171, wherein the macropores are pores with a pore diameter larger than about 0.05 m.
173. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material, having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a surface modifier selected from the group consisting of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, a polymeric coating surface modifier, and combinations thereof.
174. The hybrid monolith material of claim 173, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified with a surface modifier having the formula Za(R)bSiR, where ZCl, Br, I, C1-C5 alkoxy, dialkylamino or trifluoromethanesulfonate; a and b are each an integer from 0 to 3 provided that ab3; R is a C1-C6 straight, cyclic or branched alkyl group, and R is a functionalizing group.
175. The hybrid monolith material of claim 172 or 174, wherein said monolith has been surface modified by a polymeric coating surface modifier.
176. The hybrid monolith material of claim 174 wherein R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl, sec-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, hexyl and cyclohexyl.
177. The hybrid monolith material of claim 174, wherein the functionalizing group R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, cyano, amino, diol, nitro, ester, a cation or anion exchange group, or an alkyl or aryl group containing an embedded polar functionality.
178. The hybrid monolith material of claim 177, wherein said functionalizing group R is a C1-C30 alkyl group.
179. The hybrid monolith material of claim 177, wherein said functionalizing group R is a C1-C20 alkyl group.
180. The hybrid monolith material of claim 174, wherein said surface modifier is selected from the group consisting of octyltrichlorosilane, octadecyltrichlorosilane, octyldimethylchlorosilane, octadecyldimethylchlorosilane, and octadecyltrimethoxysilane.
181. The hybrid monolith material of claim 180, wherein said surface modifier is selected from the group consisting of octyltrichlorosilane and octadecyltrichlorosilane.
182. The hybrid monolith material of claim 180, wherein said surface modifier is octadecyltrichlorosilane.
183. The hybrid monolith material of claim 171 or 173 having the formula SiO2(R2pR4qSiOt)n or SiO2R6(R2rSiOt)mn wherein R2 and R4 are independently C1-C18 aliphatic, styryl, vinyl, propanol, or aromatic moieties, R6 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C18 alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene or arylene moiety bridging two or more silicon atoms, p and q are 0, 1 or 2, provided that pq1 or 2, and that when pq1, t1.5, and when pq2, t1; r is 0 or 1, provided that when r0, t1.5, and when r1, t1; m is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and n is a number from 0.03 to 1.
184. The hybrid monolith material of claim 183, wherein n is a number from 0.1 to 1
185. The hybrid monolith material of claim 183 wherein n is a number from 0.2 to 0.5.
186. The hybrid monolith material of claim 171 or 173 wherein said inorganic portion of said hybrid monolith material is selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, titanium or zirconium oxides, and ceramic materials.
187. The hybrid monolith material of claim 171 or 173 wherein said inorganic portion of said hybrid monolith material is silica.
188. The hybrid monolith material of claim 171 or 174, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier and a silanol group surface modifier.
189. The hybrid monolith material of claim 171 or 174, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
190. The hybrid monolith material of claim 171 or 174, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a combination of a silanol group surface modifier and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
191. The hybrid monolith material of claim 171 or 174, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
192. The hybrid monolith material of claim 171 or 174, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a silanol group surface modifier.
193. The hybrid monolith material of claim 171 or 174, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified via formation of an organic covalent bond between an organic group of the particle and a surface modifier.
194. A method of preparation of a porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry, comprising the steps of
a) forming a porous inorganicorganic monolith material and
b) modifying the pore structure of said porous monolith material.
195. The method of claim 194, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a surface modifier selected from the group consisting of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, a polymeric coating surface modifier, and combinations thereof.
196. The method of claim 195, wherein said monolith has been surface modified by a polymeric coating surface modifier.
197. The method of claim 195, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier and a silanol group surface modifier.
198. The method of claim 195, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
199. The method of claim 195, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a combination of a silanol group surface modifier and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
200. The method of claim 195, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
201. The method of claim 195, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a silanol group surface modifier.
202. The method of claim 195, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified via formation of an organic covalent bond between an organic group of the particle and a surface modifier.
203. The method of claim 194 wherein said monolith material is prepared by
a) preparing an aqueous solution of a mixture of one or more organoalkoxysilanes and a tetraalkoxysilane in the presence of an acid catalyst, and a surfactant or combination of surfactants to produce a polyorganoalkoxysiloxane;
b) incubating said solution, resulting in a three-dimensional gel having a continuous, interconnected pore structure,
c) aging the gel at a controlled pH and temperature to yield a solid monolith material, and
d) rinsing the monolith material with an aqueous basic solution at an elevated temperature.
204. The method of claim 194 wherein said monolith material are prepared by
a) preparing an aqueous solution of a mixture of one or more organotrialkoxysilanes and a tetraalkoxysilane in the presence of an acid catalyst, and a surfactant or combination of surfactants to produce a polyorganoalkoxysiloxane;
b) incubating said solution, resulting in a three-dimensional gel having a continuous, interconnected pore structure,
c) aging the gel at a controlled pH and temperature to yield a solid monolith material, and
d) rinsing the monolith material with an aqueous basic solution at an elevated temperature.
205. The method of claim 203 or 204, wherein said surfactant or combination of surfactants are selected from the group consisting of Pluronic P-105, Pluronic P-123, Triton 405, and Triton X-100, and any combination thereof.
206. The method of claim 203 wherein said pore structure of said monolith material is modified by hydrothermal treatment further, rinsed with water followed by a solvent exchange, dried at room temperature, and dried at elevated temperature under vacuum.
207. The method of claim 194 wherein said method further comprises surface modifying said porous monolith materials.
208. A method of preparation of a porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry, comprising the steps of
a) forming a porous inorganicorganic monolith material,
b) modifying the pore structure of said porous monolith material, and
c) modifying the surface of said porous monolith material,
wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a surface modifier selected from the group consisting of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, a polymeric coating surface modifier, and combinations thereof.
209. The method of claim 208, wherein the surface modification step includes surface modifying said porous monolith material with a surface modifier having the formula Za(R)bSiR, where ZCl, Br, I, C1-C5 alkoxy, dialkylamino or trifluoromethanesulfonate; a and b are each an integer from 0 to 3 provided that ab3; R is a C1-C6 straight, cyclic or branched alkyl group, and R is a functionalizing group.
210. The method of claim 209, wherein said monolith has been surface modified by a polymeric coating surface modifier.
211. The method of claim 209, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier and a silanol group surface modifier.
212. The method of claim 209, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
213. The method of claim 209, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a combination of a silanol group surface modifier and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
214. The method of claim 209, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a combination of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, and a polymeric coating surface modifier.
215. The method of claim 209, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a silanol group surface modifier.
216. The method of claim 209, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified via formation of an organic covalent bond between an organic group of the particle and a surface modifier.
217. The method of claim 209 wherein R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl, sec-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, hexyl and cyclohexyl.
218. The method of claim 209 wherein said functionalizing group R is a C1-C30 alkyl group.
219. The method of claim 209 wherein said functionalizing group R is a C1-C20 alkyl group.
220. The method of claim 209 wherein said surface modifier is selected from the group consisting of octyltrichlorosilane, octadecyltrichlorosilane, octyldimethylchlorosilane, octadecyldimethylchlorosilane, and octadecyltrimethoxysilane.
221. The method of claim 220 wherein said surface modifier is selected from the group consisting of octyltrichlorosilane and octadecyltrichlorosilane.
222. The method of claim 220 wherein said surface modifier is octadecyltrichlorosilane.
223. The method of claim 209, wherein said functionalizing group R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, cyano, amino, diol, nitro, ester, a cation or anion exchange group, or an alkyl or aryl group containing an embedded polar functionality.
224. The method of claim 207 wherein any free silanol groups remaining from said surface modification procedure are endcapped.
225. The method of claim 203 wherein the molar ratio of said organoalkoxysilane and tetraalkoxysilane is from about 0.5:1 to 0.2:1.
226. The method of claim 204 wherein the molar ratio of said organotrialkoxysilane and tetraalkoxysilane is from about 0.5:1 to 0.2:1.
227. The method of claim 203 or 204 wherein said tetraalkoxysilane has the formula Si(OR1)4, where R1 is a C1-C3 alkyl moiety.
228. The method of claim 203 or 204 wherein said tetraalkoxysilane is selected from the group consisting of tetramethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane.
229. The method of claim 203 wherein said organoalkoxysilane has the formula R2Si(OR1)3 or R6Si(OR1)3m where R2 is a C1-C18 aliphatic, styryl, vinyl, propanol, or aromatic moiety, R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl moiety, R6 is a C1-C18 alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene or arylene moiety bridging two or more silicon atoms, and m is an integer greater than or equal to two.
230. The method of claim 204 wherein said organotrialkoxysilane has the formula R2Si(OR1)3, where R2 is a C1-C18 aliphatic or aromatic moiety and R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl moiety.
231. The method of claim 203 or 204 wherein said aqueous basic solution is ammonium hydroxide.
232. The method of claim 229 wherein R2 is methyl, ethyl, phenyl, vinyl, methacryloxypropyl, or styrylethyl and R1 is ethyl; or R6 is a bridging ethylene group, m2, and R1 is ethyl.
233. The method of claim 194 wherein said porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material has the formula SiO2(R2pR4qSiOt)n or SiO2R6(R2rSiOt)mn wherein R2 and R4 are independently C1-C18 aliphatic, styryl, vinyl, propanol, or aromatic moieties, R6is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C18 alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene or arylene moiety bridging two or more silicon atoms, p and q are 0, 1 or 2, provided that pq1 or 2, and that when pq1, t1.5, and when pq2, t1; r is 0 or 1, provided that when r0, t1.5, and when r1, t1; m is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and n is a number from 0.03 to 1.
234. The method of claim 233, wherein n is a number from 0.1 to 1
235. The method of claim 233 wherein n is a number from 0.20 to 0.5.
236. A separations device comprising a porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified by a surface modifier selected from the group consisting of an organic group surface modifier, a silanol group surface modifier, a polymeric coating surface modifier, and combinations thereof.
237. The method of claim 236, wherein said monolith material has been surface modified with a surface modifier having the formula Za(R)bSiR, where ZCl, Br, I, C1-C5 alkoxy, dialkylamino or trifluoromethanesulfonate; a and b are each an integer from 0 to 3 provided that ab3; R is a C1-C6 straight, cyclic or branched alkyl group, and R is a functionalizing group.
238. A method of preparation of a porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry comprising
a) preparing an aqueous solution of a mixture of one or more organoalkoxysilanes and a tetraalkoxysilane in the presence of an acid catalyst, and a surfactant or combination of surfactants to produce a polyorganoalkoxysiloxane;
b) incubating said solution, resulting in a three-dimensional gel having a continuous, interconnected pore structure,
c) aging the gel at a controlled pH and temperature to yield a solid monolith material,
d) rinsing the monolith material with an aqueous basic solution at an elevated temperature,
e) modifying the pore structure of said monolith material by hydrothermal treatment,
f) rinsing the monolith material with water followed by a solvent exchange, and
g) drying the monolith material at room temperature drying and at an elevated temperature under vacuum.
thereby preparing a porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material.
239. The method of claim 238, wherein the solvent is exchanged to methanol
240. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry, produced by the process of
a) preparing an aqueous solution of a mixture of one or more organotrialkoxysilanes and a tetraalkoxysilane in the presence of an acid catalyst, and a surfactant or combination of surfactants to produce a polyorganoalkoxysiloxane;
b) incubating said solution, resulting in a three-dimensional gel having a continuous, interconnected pore structure,
c) aging the gel at a controlled pH and temperature to yield a solid monolith material, and
d) rinsing the monolith material with an aqueous basic solution at an elevated temperature
e) modifying the pore structure of said monolith material by hydrothermal treatment,
f) rinsing the monolith material with water followed by a solvent exchange, and
g) drying the monolith material at room temperature drying and at an elevated temperature under vacuum.
241. The hybrid monolith material of claim 240, wherein the solvent is exchanged to methanol, ethanol, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, or hexane and the elevated temperature is about 70 to 120 C.
242. The hybrid monolith material of claim 241, wherein the solvent is exchanged to methanol and the elevated temperature is about 100 C.
243. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the organoalkoxysilane is methyltrimethoxysilane and the tetraalkoxysilane is tetramethoxysilane.
244. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the organoalkoxysilane is 1,2-bis-(trimethoxysilyl)ethane and the tetraalkoxysilane is tetramethoxysilane.
245. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the organoalkoxysilane is methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and the tetraalkoxysilane is tetramethoxysilane.
246. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the acid catalyst is a solution of acetic acid.
247. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the acid catalyst is an aqueous solution of acetic acid.
248. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the acetic acid is about 0.1 mM to 500 mM.
249. The hybrid monolith material of claim 246, wherein the acetic acid is about 10 mM to 150 mM.
250. The hybrid monolith material of claim 246, wherein the acetic acid is about 50 mM to 120 mM.
251. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the surfactant is Pluronic P-105.
252. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the surfactant is Pluronic P-123.
253. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the surfactant is Triton X-100.
254. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the surfactant is Triton 405.
255. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the surfactant concentration is about 3% and 15% by weight.
256. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the surfactant concentration is about 7% to 12% by weight.
257. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the surfactant concentration is about 8% to 10% by weight.
258. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the total concentration of organoalkoxysilane and tetraalkoxysilane is about <5 gml.
259. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the total concentration of organoalkoxysilane and tetraalkoxysilane is about <2 gml.
260. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the total concentration of organoalkoxysilane and tetraalkoxysilane is about <1 gml.
261. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the incubation temperature is about 90 C. to the point at which the solution physically freezes.
262. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the incubation temperature is about 20 C. to 70 C.
263. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the incubation temperature is about 35 C. to 60 C.
264. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein gel is aged from about 5 hours to 10 days.
265. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein gel is aged from about 10 hours to 7 days.
266. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein gel is aged from about 2 days to 5 days.
267. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein gel is aged at pH of about 2-3.
268. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein gel is aged at about 20 C. to 70 C.
269. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein gel is aged at about 35 C. to 60 C.
270. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the aqueous basic solution is ammonium hydroxide.
271. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the concentration of aqueous basic solution is from about 105 N to 1 N.
272. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the concentration of aqueous basic solution is from about 104 N to 0.5 N.
273. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the concentration of aqueous basic solution is from about 103 N to 0.1 N.
274. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the elevated temperature of rinsing is from about 0 C. to 80 C.
275. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the elevated temperature of rinsing is from about 20 C. to 70 C.
276. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the elevated temperature of rinsing is from about 40 C. to 60 C.
277. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the rinsing time is from about 1 to 6 days.
278. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the rinsing time is from about 1.5 to 4.5 days.
279. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the rinsing time is from about 2 to 3 days.
280. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the hydrothermal treatment is at pH is from about 7.0 to 12.0.
281. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the hydrothermal treatment is at pH from about 7.3 to 11.0.
282. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the hydrothermal treatment is at pH from about 7.5 to 10.6.
283. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the hydrothermal treatment is at 110 C. to 180 C.
284. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the hydrothermal treatment is at 120 C. to 160 C.
285. The hybrid monolith material of claim 238, wherein the hydrothermal treatment is at 130 C. to 155 C.
286. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material, comprising coalesced porous inorganicorganic hybrid particles having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry and a formula SiO2C2H4(SiO1 5)20 25 wherein said hybrid particles have been surface modified with octadecyltrichlorosilane and wherein any free silanol groups remaining from said surface modification are endcapped with chlorotrimethylsilane.
287. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material comprising coalesced porous hybrid particles of hybrid silica having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry and a formula SiO2C2H4(SiO1 5)20 25 produced by the process of
a) prepolymerizing a 0.251.0 mole ratio mixture of bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane and tetraethoxysilane in the presence of 0.1 molar hydrochloric acid to produce a polyorganosiloxane;
b) preparing an aqueous suspension of said polyorganoalkoxysiloxane, said suspension further comprising the surfactant Triton X-100, and gelling said suspension in the presence of a ammonium hydroxide so as to produce porous hybrid parties;
c) modifying the pore structure of said porous hybrid particles by hydrothermal treatment at 155 C. for 20 h in 0.3 M tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, pH adjusted to 9.80;
d) sizing to a nominal 2 m particle diameter;
e) acid washing in a 1 molar hydrochloric acid solution;
f) further surface modifying with octadecyltrichlorosilane wherein any free silanol groups remaining from said surface modification are endcapped with chlorotrimethylsilane; and
g) coalescing said porous hybrid particles to form a monolith material.
288. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry and a formula SiO2CH3SiO1.50.5 wherein said hybrid material has been surface modified with octadecyltrichlorosilane and wherein any free silanol groups remaining from said surface modification procedure are endcapped with chlorotrimethylsilane and wherein said material contains a plurality of macropores sufficient to result in reduced backpressure at chromatographically-useful flow rates.
289. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry and a formula SiO2CH3SiO1 50 5, produced by the process of
a) preparing an aqueous solution of methyltrimethoxysilane and a tetramethoxysilane in the presence of a 0.07 molar acetic acid solution and the surfactant Pluronic P-105 or Trition X-100 to produce a polyorganoalkoxysiloxane;
a) incubating said solution for 3 days at 45 C., resulting in a three-dimensional gel having a continuous, interconnected pore structure;
b) aging the gel in 1 molar ammonium hydroxide at 60 C. for 3 days to yield a solid monolith material;
c) rinsing the monolith material with water;
d) modifying the pore structure of said monolith material by hydrothermal treatment at155 C. for 20 h in 0.1 molar tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, pH adjusted to 8.0;
e) rinsing the monolith material with water followed by a solvent exchange;
f) acid washing the monolith material in 1 molar hydrochloric acid for 24 hours at 98 C.;
g) rinsing the monolith material with water followed by a solvent exchange;
h) drying the monolith material at room temperature drying and at 80 C. under vacuum; and
i) further surface modifying with octadecyltrichlorosilane wherein any free silanol groups remaining from said surface modification are endcapped with chlorotrimethylsilane.
290. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry and a formula SiO2C2H4(SiO1.5)20 25 wherein said hybrid material has been surface modified with octadecyltrichlorosilane and wherein any free silanol groups remaining from said surface modification procedure are endcapped with chlorotrimethylsilane and wherein said material contains a plurality of macropores sufficient to result in reduced backpressure at chromatographically-useful flow rates.
291. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry and a formula SiO2C2H4(SiO1.5)20 25, produced by the process of
a) preparing an aqueous solution 1,2-bis(trimethoxysilyl)ethane and tetramethoxysilane in the presence of a 0.09 molar acetic acid solution and the surfactant Pluronic P-123 to produce a polyorganoalkoxysiloxane;
b) incubating said solution for 2 days at 45 C., resulting in a three-dimensional gel having a continuous, interconnected pore structure;
c) aging the gel in 1 molar ammonium hydroxide at 60 C. for 2 days to yield a solid monolith material;
d) rinsing the monolith material with water;
e) modifying the pore structure of said monolith material by hydrothermal treatment at 155 C. for 24 h in 0.1 M tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, pH adjusted to 10.6;
f) rinsing the monolith material with water followed by a solvent exchange;
g) acid washing the monolith material in 1 molar hydrochloric acid for 24 hours at 98 C.;
h) rinsing the monolith material with water followed by a solvent exchange;
i) drying the monolith material at room temperature drying and at 80 C. under vacuum, and
j) further surface modifying with octadecyltrichlorosilane wherein any free silanol groups remaining from said surface modification are endcapped with chlorotrimethylsilane.
292. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry and a formula SiO2HOC3H6SiO1 50 15 wherein said hybrid material has been surface modified with dodecylsiocyante and wherein said material contains a plurality of macropores sufficient to result in reduced backpressure at chromatographically-useful flow rates.
293. A porous inorganicorganic hybrid monolith material having a chromatographically-enhancing pore geometry and a formula SiO2HOC3H6SiO1.50 15, produced by the process of
a) preparing an aqueous solution methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and tetramethoxysilane in the presence of a 0.015 molar acetic acid solution and the surfactant Triton X-100 or Triton 405 to produce a polyorganoalkoxysiloxane;
b) incubating said solution for 3 days at 45 C., resulting in a three-dimensional gel having a continuous, interconnected pore structure;
c) aging the gel in 1 molar ammonium hydroxide at 60 C. for 3 days to yield a solid monolith material;
d) rinsing the monolith material with water;
e) modifying the pore structure of said monolith material by hydrothermal treatment at 155 C. for 24 h in 0.1 M tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, pH adjusted to 10.6;
f) rinsing the monolith material with water followed by a solvent exchange;
g) acid washing the monolith material in 1 molar hydrochloric acid for 24 hours at 98 C.;
h) rinsing the monolith material with water followed by a solvent exchange;
i) drying the monolith material at room temperature drying and at 80 C. under vacuum, and
j) further surface modifying with dodecylisocyanate.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method programmed for execution in a computing environment for providing a digital image to a first website that supports a first resolution format of the digital image and a second website that supports a second resolution format of the digital image, the method comprising:
receiving from the digital image to be stored to the first website;
storing the digital image in the first resolution format to the first website and associating therewith a unique first type identifier;
connecting to the second website;
storing the second resolution format of the digital image to the second website and associating therewith a unique second type identifier; and
storing in a related manner said first and second unique type identifiers, wherein the first resolution format of the digital image is linked to the second resolution format of the digital image.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second resolution format of the digital image is provided by accessing the first website, further comprising:
receiving a request for a copy of the digital image on the first website;
determining the unique first type identifier of the digital image;
utilizing the related storage to obtain the second type identifier of the requested digital image; and
connecting to the second website and employing the second type identifier to obtain the second resolution format of the digital image.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
manipulating the second resolution format of the digital image on said second website to make changes;
determining the unique second type identifier of the digital image;
utilizing the related storage to obtain the first type identifier of the digital image; and
connecting to the first website and employing the first type identifier to provide a first resolution format of the changed second resolution format of the digital image.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first resolution format is a low resolution digital image format and said second resolution format is a high resolution digital image format.
5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first website is a social network site and the second website is a photo service provider website.
6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the unique first type identifier is provided by the first website.
7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the unique first type identifier is provided by the first website and the unique second type identifier is provided by the second website.
8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the storing of the first and second type identifiers in a related manner is provided in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) manifest.
9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the XML manifest comprises rules for structure and content for the linking of the first resolution format of the digital image to the second resolution format of the digital image.
10. A method for execution in a computing environment for providing from a first website that supports a first resolution format of a digital image, a second resolution format of the digital image, the method comprising:
receiving from one of a plurality of users the digital image to be stored to the first website;
providing a unique first type identifier and storing the first resolution format of the digital image to the first website;
connecting to a second website, the second website providing support for the second resolution format;
providing a unique second type identifier and storing the second resolution format of the digital image to the second website;
storing in a related manner the first and second unique type identifiers, wherein the first resolution format of the digital image is linked to the second resolution format of the digital image;
receiving a request for a copy of the digital image on the first website;
determining the unique first type identifier of the digital image;
utilizing the related storage to obtain the second type identifier of the requested digital image; and
connecting to the second website and employing the second type identifier to obtain the second resolution format of the digital image.
11. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the first resolution format is a low resolution digital image format and the second resolution format is a high resolution digital image format.
12. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the first website is a social network site and the second website is a photo service provider website.
13. A method for execution in a computing environment for propagating updates of a first resolution of a digital image located on a first website to a second website having a second resolution of the digital image located thereon, the method comprising:
providing a unique first type identifier for the first resolution digital image;
providing a unique second type identifier for the second resolution digital image;
storing in a related manner the first and second unique type identifiers to thereby link the first resolution format of the digital image to the second resolution format of the digital image, wherein either resolution digital image may be identified given the other resolution digital image;
recognizing an update to the first resolution digital image, wherein the first resolution is a higher resolution format than the second resolution;
providing a second resolution format of said updated first resolution digital image; and
utilizing the related storage of the first and second unique type identifies to identify and replace the related second resolution digital image with the second resolution format of the updated first resolution digital image.
14. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the first resolution is a low resolution digital image format and the second resolution is a high resolution digital image format.
15. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the first website is a social network site and the second website is a photo service provider website.
16. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the update to the first resolution digital image is a cropping of the digital image.
17. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the update to the first resolution digital image comprises enhancements to the digital image.