A zeolite membrane complex includes a porous support and a zeolite membrane formed on the support. The zeolite membrane contains Al, P, and a tetravalent element. The composition of the zeolite membrane measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is such that the molar ratio of the tetravalent element to Al is higher than or equal to 0.01 and lower than or equal to 0.5, the molar ratio of P to Al is higher than or equal to 0.5 and lower than 1.0, and the total molar ratio of P and the tetravalent element to Al is higher than or equal to 0.9 and lower than or equal to 1.3. The zeolite membrane contains a zeolite crystal with an accessible volume higher than or equal to 450 Å.sup.3.

Disclosed is a hollow fiber membrane having hexagonal voids, suitable for use in high throughput filtration applications. Thus, the membrane includes (i) an inner surface; (ii) an outer surface; and (iii) a porous bulk disposed therebetween, wherein the porous bulk comprises at least a first region including: a) a first set of pores having a first controlled pore size and having outer rims; b) a second set of pores connecting the outer rims of the first set of pores, wherein the pore size of the first set of pores is greater than the pore size of the second set of pores; and c) a polymer matrix supporting the first set of pores. Also disclosed is a method for preparing such hollow fiber membranes, which involves coating a filament with a coating composition that includes a membrane-forming polymer and dissolvable nanoparticles, followed by phase invention, and dissolving of the nanoparticles. The filament is removed to obtain the hollow fiber membrane.

A semipermeable ultrathin polymer membrane is a microfluidic device that comprises a substantially optically transparent polymer film having a surface area to thickness ratio of at least 1,000,000:1, and an array of precisely spatially ordered pores of a user-selected diameter defined therethrough. Such membranes can be fabricated by providing a mold having a patterned array of nanoholes femtosecond laser ablated in a surface thereof; applying a first polymer solution onto the mold surface so that the first polymer solution infiltrates the nanoholes; allowing the first polymer solution to dry and form a replica of the mold having a plurality of freestanding nanoneedles extending from a surface of the replica; removing the replica from the mold; coating the replica surface with a second polymer solution; drying the second polymer solution to form a porous polymer film; and dissolving the replica in a solvent to release the film from the replica as a semipermeable ultrathin polymer membrane. Also disclosed are multi-chambered microfluidic devices for studying cell biology in vitro that incorporate one or more such semipermeable ultrathin polymer membranes.

Membranes comprising first and second microporous surfaces, and, a porous bulk between the surfaces, the bulk comprising first and second regions; the first region comprising a first set of pores having outer rims, and having controlled pore size, and a second set of pores connecting the outer rims of the first set of pores, the second set of pores having a controlled pore size, and a polymer matrix supporting the first set of pores; the second region comprising a third set of pores having outer rims, and having a controlled pore size, and a fourth set of pores connecting the outer rims of the third set of pores, the fourth set of pores having a controlled pore size, and a polymer matrix supporting the third set of pores; and methods of making and using the membranes, are disclosed.

In production of a zeolite membrane complex, a starting material solution containing at least a structure-directing agent and FAU-type zeolite particles having an average particle diameter of 50 to 500 nm is prepared. Then, a support is immersed in the starting material solution to form a zeolite membrane on the support by hydrothermal synthesis, the zeolite membrane being composed of AFX-type zeolite. After that, the structure-directing agent in the zeolite membrane is removed.

Porous liquid-filtering membranes are provided having a boundary region substantially surrounding the pore region and having greater tear resistance than the pore region.

A peak intensity of a (002) plane is greater than or equal to 0.5 times a peak intensity of a (100) plane in an X-ray diffraction pattern obtained by irradiation of X-rays to a membrane surface of the ERI membrane.

Provided herein are methods of forming and optimizing cured features on a surface including controlling the surface upon which the cured features are applied. Additionally, a system for forming and processing the topographical features on the membrane is also described, along with mechanical features at specific system stations. More particularly, provided herein are methods of forming and optimizing topographical features applied to a membrane surface by controlling the membrane surface and by controlling the direction and magnitude of pressure applied to the membrane (substrate), as well as initially partially curing the topographical features, followed by fully curing of the topographical features to form the membrane having topographical spacing features formed thereon.

A crystalline material contains oxygen, aluminum and phosphorus, and has powder X-ray diffraction peaks shown below. When the peak at 2θ=14.17±0.2° is used as the reference peak and the intensity of the reference peak is set to 100, for example, the relative intensity of the peak at 2θ=8.65±0.2° is 1 to 15. The relative intensity of the peak at 2θ=9.99±0.2° is 1 to 15. The relative intensity of the peak at 2θ=16.52±0.2° is 5 to 80. The relative intensity of the peak at 2θ=17.37±0.2° is 1 to 15. The relative intensity of the peak at 2θ=21.81±0.2° is 10 to 80.

A method for making a filter membrane includes: forming a polymer layer; applying a plurality of nanoparticles on the polymer layer, the nanoparticles being self-assembled to form a closed pack arrangement on the polymer layer; heating the nanoparticles such that a portion of the polymer layer contacting the nanoparticles is softened so that the nanoparticles are sunk into the polymer layer; and removing the nanoparticles from the polymer layer so that the polymer layer is formed with a plurality of pores penetrating the polymer layer and being arranged in a honeycomb pattern.