“These methods are not new,” says Sengupta, “however the manner in which we apply them is, and that is the key to creating our new nanoporous membranes.” The second technique is interfacial polymerization, which is a method of combining chemicals that is commonly used to create fuel cells, chemical sensors and other electronics. The first is molecular layer deposition, which involves layering thin films of materials and is most often associated with semiconductor production. To create the membrane, the research team took inspiration from two common, but unrelated, manufacturing techniques. The study’s first authors are Bratin Sengupta, a PhD student in Yu’s lab, and Qiaobei Dong, who studied under Yu and now works at GTI Energy. “What we have developed is a technique to easily fabricate defect-free, strong membranes that have rigid nanopores that can be precisely controlled to allow different-sized molecules to pass through,” adds Yu, a core faculty member in the UB RENEW Institute. “The processes of separating molecules - whether for water desalination, the production of medicine or fertilizers - use an incredible amount of energy,” says corresponding author Miao Yu, SUNY Empire Innovation Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Made from an inorganic material called carbon-doped metal oxide, it is described in a study published Sept. To solve this problem, a UB-led research team has created a new, sturdier membrane that can withstand harsh environments - high temperatures, high pressure and complex chemical solvents - associated with industrial separation processes. Unfortunately, most membranes are made from polymers that degrade during use, making them impractical. In recent decades, there has been a push to supplant these processes with membranes, which are potentially a lower-cost and eco-friendly alternative. Industry has long relied upon energy-intensive processes, such as distillation and crystallization, to separate molecules that ultimately serve as ingredients in medicine, chemicals and other products.
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