Nano manufacturing of ultrathin membranes
Lead Research Organisation:
The University of Manchester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Going beyond the state-of-the-art, here we propose to make nanomembranes which are ultimately thin, comprising angstrom-scale pores/channels, with minimal defects. Angstrom channels have significance in many natural phenomena such as capillary rise in trees, gas condensation in rock sediments, in ion channels/pumps etc. To mimic the functioning of natural systems, several artificial pores/channels of similar sizes are being engineered synthetically. Such pores can be used in many technologies including filtration, molecular separation, desalination, DNA sequencing to name but a few. The key aim of the project is to develop methods to produce robust porous nanomembranes on a large scale by slicing porous and layered materials.
While there are several excellent porous and layered materials which have angstrom-scale channels, there are several bottlenecks to incorporate them into membranes to utilize their full potential in applications such as filtration, ion sieving, power generation etc. Moreover, when such porous materials are cast into membranes, the pore clogging, fragility, control on the channel length and leaky paths are also major issues. Here we address all these problems by using a simple and robust technique for manufacturing nanomembranes from slicing the pristine materials embedded in a resin matrix. We propose a robust, scalable technique to make ultrathin membranes with nanomaterials, which are useful for molecular separation, osmosis, fuel cells, supercapacitors etc.The research will be carried out in University of Manchester, and National graphene Institute. Training of personnel in precise nano-manufacturing which is acquired though this project, is of immense importance to many areas of academic and industrial by underpinning fundamentals concepts in physics, materials chemistry, and nanofluidics, catering to the continually growing need for well-trained research personnel with appropriate technical knowledge, skills and expertise. This cohesive and innovative approach will develop new tools essential for precise assembly of porous materials in membranes.
While there are several excellent porous and layered materials which have angstrom-scale channels, there are several bottlenecks to incorporate them into membranes to utilize their full potential in applications such as filtration, ion sieving, power generation etc. Moreover, when such porous materials are cast into membranes, the pore clogging, fragility, control on the channel length and leaky paths are also major issues. Here we address all these problems by using a simple and robust technique for manufacturing nanomembranes from slicing the pristine materials embedded in a resin matrix. We propose a robust, scalable technique to make ultrathin membranes with nanomaterials, which are useful for molecular separation, osmosis, fuel cells, supercapacitors etc.The research will be carried out in University of Manchester, and National graphene Institute. Training of personnel in precise nano-manufacturing which is acquired though this project, is of immense importance to many areas of academic and industrial by underpinning fundamentals concepts in physics, materials chemistry, and nanofluidics, catering to the continually growing need for well-trained research personnel with appropriate technical knowledge, skills and expertise. This cohesive and innovative approach will develop new tools essential for precise assembly of porous materials in membranes.
Publications
Bhardwaj A
(2024)
Ultramicrotomy-Assisted Fabrication of Nanochannels for Efficient Ion Transport and Energy Generation
in Advanced Functional Materials
Bhardwaj A
(2024)
Fabrication of angstrom-scale two-dimensional channels for mass transport.
in Nature protocols
Ismail A
(2024)
Mechano-ionic memristors for nanofluidic logic
in Nature Electronics
Qi R
(2024)
Versatile Method for Preparing Two-Dimensional Metal Dihalides.
in ACS nano
| Description | We developed an efficient method to create ultra-small channels using layered materials, similar to how a knife slices through a cake. These channels, only a few nanometers or even angstroms wide, allow water and ions to pass through in a highly controlled manner, making them useful for applications like water purification, energy generation, and advanced batteries. Utilize ultramicrotomy technique not only speeds up the process but also allows scientists to create multiple devices from a single structure and adjust the channel size with ease. One exciting application of these ultra-small channels is in energy generation. When saltwater flows through them, it creates an electrical charge, similar to how hydroelectric dams generate power but on a much smaller scale. The research demonstrated that these channels can convert salt concentration differences into electricity with high, upto 23.3% conversion efficiency |
| Exploitation Route | Further research could investigate proof of concept |
| Sectors | Energy |