A gas separation membrane comprising the following layers: (i) a support layer; (ii) a buffer layer; (iii) a discriminating layer; (iv) optionally a fluorinated polymer layer; and (v) optionally a protective layer; wherein: (a) the buffer layer (ii) and the discriminating layer (iii) each independently comprise groups of Formula (1): M(O).sub.x Formula (1) wherein: each M independently is a metal or metalloid atom; O is an oxygen atom; and each x independently has a value of at least 4; (b) the buffer layer (ii) comprises a surface comprising 4 to 10 atomic % of M of Formula (1) groups, wherein M is as hereinbefore defined; (c) the discriminating layer (iii) comprises a surface comprising more than 10 atomic % of M of Formula (1) groups, wherein M is as hereinbefore defined; and (d) layer (ii) is located between layers (i) and (iii).

Described herein are facile, one-step initiated plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (iPECVD) methods of synthesizing hyper-thin (e.g., sub-100 nm) and flexible metal organic covalent network (MOCN) layers. As an example, the MOCN may be made from zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) building units. When deposited on a membrane support, the MOCN layers demonstrate gas separation exceeding the upper bounds for multiple gas pairs while reducing the flux as compared to the support alone.

Bioartificial ultrafiltration devices comprising a scaffold comprising a population of cells enclosed in a matrix and disposed adjacent a plurality of channels are provided. The population of cells provides molecules such as therapeutic molecules to a subject in need thereof and is supported by the nutrients filtered in an ultrafiltrate from the blood of the subject. The plurality of channels in the scaffold facilitate the transportation of the ultrafiltrate and exchange of molecules between the ultrafiltrate and the population of cells.

A microporous structure includes an array of nano wires and a coating about the nano wires of the array. The coating defines pores between the nano wires.

A platinum-carbon electrocatalyst material comprising a carbon support having a minimum BET surface area of 1000 m.sup.2/g, a nitrogen content of at least 2.5 weight percent, which is present in the form of pyridine, pyridone or pyrrole, a phosphorous content of at least 3 weight percent, which is present in the form of phosphate and phosphonate, and a plurality of platinum nanoparticles dispersed on the carbon support having a maximum average particle diameter of 1.5 nm.

A filtration device containing a porous polyparaxylylene (PPX) filtration article is provided. The PPX filtration article includes at least one PPX polymer membrane layer and one or more substrate. Optionally, the PPX filtration article may include one or more support layer(s). The PPX polymer membrane has a pore size from about 1 nm to about 100 nm. The filtration article has a PVA_20 less than about 0.6 cm.sup.3/m.sup.2 and/or a mass/area (MPA) less than about 30 g/m.sup.2. The PPX filtration article separates and retains nanoparticles from a feed fluid with high permeability. In use, the PPX filtration article filters nanoparticles from a feed flow by passing the feed fluid through at least one PPX polymer membrane within the filtration article where the nanoparticles are separated and removed from the feed fluid. The PPX polymer membranes may be resistant to chemical attack, gamma radiation, and are thermally stable, biocompatible, and strong.

In one embodiment, a product includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a fill material in interstitial spaces between the carbon nanotubes for limiting or preventing fluidic transfer between opposite sides of the product except through interiors of the carbon nanotubes. Moreover, the longitudinal axes of the carbon nanotubes are substantially parallel, where an average inner diameter of the carbon nanotubes is about 20 nanometers or less. In addition, the ends of the carbon nanotubes are open and the fill material is impermeable or having an average porosity that is less than the average inner diameter of the carbon nanotubes.

Provided are nanoporous silicon nitride membranes and methods of making such membranes. The membranes can be part of a monolithic structure or free-standing. The membranes can be made by transfer of the nanoporous structure of a nanoporous silicon or silicon oxide film by, for example, reactive ion etching. The membranes can be used in, for example, filtration applications, hemodialysis applications, hemodialysis devices, laboratory separation devices, multi-well cell culture devices, electronic biosensors, optical biosensors, active pre-concentration filters for microfluidic devices.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composite membrane using a selective layer prepared through the interfacial polymerization (support-free interfacial polymerization) on a free interface without a support and, more specifically, to a method for manufacturing a composite membrane comprising a reverse osmotic membrane, which is obtained by preparing a selective layer through a spontaneous reaction of two organic monomers on an interface between two immiscible solutions and allowing the selective layer to adhere to a support. By employing the method for manufacturing a composite membrane having a selective layer prepared through the support-free interfacial polymerization according to the present invention, a high-functional reverse osmotic membrane can be prepared using various supports other than a conventional polysulfone support, thereby extending the application range of the reverse osmotic membrane, which has been restricted due to low chemical resistance of polysulfone. In addition, the preparation method for the selective layer can be controlled more precisely than a conventional method, and the analysis of components (selective layer, support, and interface) of the composite membrane is easy.

A method for creating a functional coating on a substrate in vacuum from a deposited monomer material in absence of oxygen and/or radiation from a radiation source. The substrate may be preliminarily activated with inert gas to form an activated layer thereon. The method may include depositing a fluorine containing monomer having a first CF.sub.3:CF.sub.2 ratio, and forming, on the substrate, the self-assembled polymer coating that has a second CF.sub.3:CF.sub.2 ratio, where the first and second CF.sub.3:CF.sub.2 ratios are equal.