Graphene-based membranes

Membranes containing functionalized or pristine graphene offer remarkable potential for selective uptake and transport of molecular or ionic species. For example, research at the University of Manchester (UoM) has shown that graphene oxide (GO) laminate membranes exhibit unimpeded water permeation while being impermeable to organic liquids, vapours and gases. Building on UoM expertise in graphene and novel membrane materials, a range of membranes will be developed for application in the areas of:
(1) Molecular separations. Cost-effective and energy-efficient processes for separation of liquid (e.g. recovery of bioalcohols) or gaseous (e.g. CO2 capture from flue gas) mixtures.
(2) Selective barriers. In defence, protection from toxic agents for personnel and installations. In food packaging, maintaining food quality.
(3) Ionic conductors. Better and more economic membranes for fuel cells and other electrochemical applications.
(4) Sensors. Sensitization layers in photonic sensors for disease detection (e.g., renal disease, diabetes) and biomimetic membranes in electronic sensors for detecting the action of agricultural pests.

The research programme is driven by the engineering requirements for economic processing into membranes on a variety of substrates, including flat-sheet, tubular, hollow-fibre and monolith supports. Filtration, casting, dip-coating and spray-coating methods will be applied and scaled-up for deposition from aqueous or organic dispersions. Chemical vapour deposition will be used where necessary. Polymer/graphene mixed matrix membranes will also be prepared, utilising a range of high performance membrane polymers invented at UoM (polymers of intrinsic microporosity, PIMs). Membranes will be fully characterized using state-of-the-art techniques, including Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and relationships will be established between structure at the nano-scale and performance under conditions of use. Computer simulation methods will be established to provide a fundamental insight into the formation, structure and performance of graphene-based membranes, and to guide membrane development for specific applications. Company partners will contribute to the management of the project and will assist in assessing membrane performance in identified application areas. The most promising materials and applications will be selected for intensive development in the final two years of the five year programme. Intellectual property arising from the programme will be exploited as appropriate through UoM's technology transfer company and with suitable partners.

The most immediate benefits will be to the commercial and public sector partners who have agreed to participate in the proposed programme of research, as they will be first to see the research results and to assess their importance for their own activities. These partners include a membrane manufacturer, and end-user companies in a variety of application areas, as well as the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and an Institute dedicated to Membrane Research and Development. It is anticipated that additional partners will become involved as results are disseminated more widely. The researchers involved in the programme will themselves benefit from the interactions with these partners, which will enhance their skills, experience and knowledge base.

The primary purpose of the research programme is to take graphene-based membranes from the status of laboratory curiosity as far towards commercialisation as is possible within a five-year project. The research is expected to generate intellectual property (IP), which will be protected and exploited as appropriate.

The application areas that are the specific focus of the research are in areas which affect everybody's daily life: energy, sustainability, defence, food and health. In the long-term, the successful development of a product in any one of these areas will bring significant benefits to the public at large. The programme is seeking to develop processes that will make biofuel production more economically viable and carbon dioxide recovery more energy-efficient; materials that will give cheaper, better fuel cells; ways of keeping defence personnel safe from toxic agents and ways of keeping foodstuffs safe for consumption; and sensors for detecting diseases and agricultural pests.