The present invention relates to a composite semipermeable membrane including: a support membrane including a base and a porous support layer; and a separation functional layer disposed on the porous support layer and including a crosslinked aromatic polyamide, in which the separation functional layer contains sulfo groups in an amount of 7.0×10.sup.−5 to 5.0×10.sup.−2 g/m.sup.2 and includes a structure represented by the formula 1.

Method for making a porous graphene layer of a thickness of less than 100 nm with pores having an average size in the range of 5-900 nm, includes the following steps: providing a catalytically active substrate catalyzing graphene formation under chemical vapor deposition conditions, the catalytically active substrate in or on its surface being provided with a plurality of catalytically inactive domains having a size essentially corresponding to the size of the pores in the resultant porous graphene layer; chemical vapor deposition using a carbon source in the gas phase and formation of the porous graphene layer on the surface of the catalytically active substrate. The pores in the graphene layer are in situ formed due to the presence of the catalytically inactive domains.

Method for making a porous graphene layer of a thickness of less than 100 nm with pores having an average size in the range of 5-900 nm, includes the following steps: providing a catalytically active substrate catalyzing graphene formation under chemical vapor deposition conditions, the catalytically active substrate in or on its surface being provided with a plurality of catalytically inactive domains having a size essentially corresponding to the size of the pores in the resultant porous graphene layer; chemical vapor deposition using a carbon source in the gas phase and formation of the porous graphene layer on the surface of the catalytically active substrate. The pores in the graphene layer are in situ formed due to the presence of the catalytically inactive domains.

A device for exchange of water molecule and temperature between two fluids. The device comprises thin molecular sieve membrane sheets that allow water molecules to permeate through while blocking cross-over of the exchanging fluids. The device provides two sets of flow channels having a hydraulic diameter ranged from 0.5 to 2.0 mm for respective process and sweep fluid flows. The two sets of the channels are separated by a membrane sheet having a thickness less than 200 μm. The thin molecule sieve membrane may be prepared by forming an ultra-thin zeolite membrane layer on a porous metal-based support sheet which provides very high water permeance so that the exchange can be conducted in a compact membrane module at high throughput. The device can be used to remove water from a process stream of higher water content by use of a sweep fluid of lower water content or higher water affinity. For example, the device can be used to condition outdoor fresh air close to the temperature and humidity of indoor air by conducting humidity and heat exchange between the fresh air flow drawn from outdoors and waste air discharged indoors.

A device for exchange of water molecule and temperature between two fluids. The device comprises thin molecular sieve membrane sheets that allow water molecules to permeate through while blocking cross-over of the exchanging fluids. The device provides two sets of flow channels having a hydraulic diameter ranged from 0.5 to 2.0 mm for respective process and sweep fluid flows. The two sets of the channels are separated by a membrane sheet having a thickness less than 200 μm. The thin molecule sieve membrane may be prepared by forming an ultra-thin zeolite membrane layer on a porous metal-based support sheet which provides very high water permeance so that the exchange can be conducted in a compact membrane module at high throughput. The device can be used to remove water from a process stream of higher water content by use of a sweep fluid of lower water content or higher water affinity. For example, the device can be used to condition outdoor fresh air close to the temperature and humidity of indoor air by conducting humidity and heat exchange between the fresh air flow drawn from outdoors and waste air discharged indoors.

An electrochemical sensor with an ion-selective membrane that comprises a crosslinked alkyl methacrylate homopolymer or copolymer of two or more alkyl methacrylates 1. with a covalently attached electrically neutral or electrically charged ionophore that is selective for a target cation or anion, or 2. with a covalently attached cationic or anionic ionic site, or 3. with a covalently attached cationic or anionic ionic site and covalently attached electrically neutral or electrically charged ionophore.

An electrochemical sensor with an ion-selective membrane that comprises a crosslinked alkyl methacrylate homopolymer or copolymer of two or more alkyl methacrylates 1. with a covalently attached electrically neutral or electrically charged ionophore that is selective for a target cation or anion, or 2. with a covalently attached cationic or anionic ionic site, or 3. with a covalently attached cationic or anionic ionic site and covalently attached electrically neutral or electrically charged ionophore.

A porous membrane obtainable by a process comprising curing a composition comprising: (i) cross-linking agent(s) comprising at least one ligand group; (ii) inert solvent(s); (iii) polymerization initiator(s); and (vi) optionally monomer(s) other than component (i) which are reactive with component (i); wherein the composition satisfies the following equation: Z=wt(i)/(wt(i)+wt(iii)+wt(iv)) wherein: Z has a value of at least 0.6; wt(i) is the number of grammes of component (i) present in the composition; wt(iii) is the number of grammes of component (iii) present in the composition; and wt(iv) is the number of grammes of component (iv) present in the composition.

A porous membrane obtainable by a process comprising curing a composition comprising: (i) cross-linking agent(s) comprising at least one ligand group; (ii) inert solvent(s); (iii) polymerization initiator(s); and (vi) optionally monomer(s) other than component (i) which are reactive with component (i); wherein the composition satisfies the following equation: Z=wt(i)/(wt(i)+wt(iii)+wt(iv)) wherein: Z has a value of at least 0.6; wt(i) is the number of grammes of component (i) present in the composition; wt(iii) is the number of grammes of component (iii) present in the composition; and wt(iv) is the number of grammes of component (iv) present in the composition.

The disclosure provides a method for producing a gas separation article, said gas separation article comprising: a gas separation membrane, optionally a support, and optionally an additional support said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a matrix comprising: a matrix material having a viscosity from 1 cP to 40000 cP, particles, said particles being free from functionalized carbon nanotubes, and optionally a solvent, b) contacting the matrix of step a) with a support comprising at least one side, said at least one side facing said matrix, thereby forming (i) a matrix side in contact with the support and (ii) a matrix side opposite the side in contact with the support, c) optionally contacting the matrix side opposite the side contacting the support with an additional support, d) subjecting said matrix being in contact with said support to one or more electric fields whereby the particles form particle groups in a plurality of substantially parallel planes, said particle groups in each of said plurality of substantially parallel planes being aligned substantially parallel with the one or more electric fields, e) fixating the matrix material so as to fixate the particle groups thereby forming a gas separation membrane, and f) optionally removing the support and/or the additional support.

The disclosure also provides a gas separation membrane obtainable by the aforementioned method as well as use thereof for separation of gases in a gas mixture.