Towards boosting photosynthesis using a plant nanobionic approach for energy harvest

By mimicking natural selective channels in cell membranes, this research project aims to develop next-generation membranes with vertically-aligned and chemically-tuneable transport nanochannels for high precision solute-solute separations. The project directly addresses the long-standing challenge in the membrane field, - how to construct high precision solute-solute separation membranes - to discriminate solutes (ions or small molecules) with similar size, valence state or charge. Although highly-selective channels exist in natural biological cell membranes, how to precisely construct artificial selective membranes using synthetic materials for practical applications still remains a challenge, due to the lack of in-depth understanding of solute transport in the confined channels of membranes, and the inability of current membranes in controlling pore geometries at angstrom scale and tailoring chemical functionalities at the molecular level.
Methodology: 1) Literature review of (a) 2D materials, including: properties, synthesis and fabrication method, chracterisation method, the use of substrate. (b) Separation target: desalination, active pharmaceutical ingredients, lithium brine mining.
2) Experimental works on synthesising and fabricating 2D materials on substrate followed by some characterisation.
3)Selection of separation target and experimental works on separating/purifying.
4) Rational discussion and analysis of the results followed by publication.