Disclosed herein are hybrid membranes comprising: a microporous polymer, the microporous polymer comprising a continuous polymer phase permeated by a continuous pore phase; and an atomic scale inorganic material dispersed throughout the microporous polymer within the continuous pore phase. Methods of making and use of the hybrid membranes are also disclosed.

Membranes are described that may include aligned carbon nanotubes coated with an inorganic support layer and a polymeric matrix. Methods of membrane fabrication are described that may include coating an aligned carbon nanotube array with an inorganic support layer followed by infiltration with a polymeric solvent or solution. The support carbon nanotube membrane may have improved performance for separations such as desalination, drug delivery, or pharmaceuticals.

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.

According to one embodiment, a composition of matter includes: a first system of continuous voids arranged in a three-dimensional matrix; a second system of continuous voids arranged in the three-dimensional matrix; and a nanoporous barrier separating the first system of continuous voids and the second system of continuous voids. The first system of continuous voids and the second system of continuous voids are interwoven but independent so as to form a plurality of channels through the three-dimensional matrix. Corresponding methods for forming the composition of matter are also disclosed.

A method of forming a membrane is described. A graphenic-based membrane is formed on a growth substrate, where the graphenic-based membrane have one or more layers of graphenic-based material. The graphenic-based membrane is removed from the growth substrate. A region of the graphenic-based membrane having intrinsic or native defects is identified. The region of the graphenic-based membrane is irradiated with charged particles while introducing carbonaceous material on a surface of the one or more layers of graphenic-based material to heal the intrinsic or native defects.

Two-dimensional materials, particularly graphene-based materials, having a plurality of apertures thereon can be formed into enclosures for various substances and introduced to an environment, particularly a biological environment (in vivo or in vitro). One or more selected substances can be released into the environment, one or more selected substances from the environment can enter the enclosure, one or more selected substances from the environment can be prevented from entering the enclosure, one or more selected substances can be retained within the enclosure, or combinations thereof. The enclosure can for example allow a sense-response paradigm to be realized. The enclosure can for example provide immunoisolation for materials, such as living cells, retained therein.

A method for manufacturing a porous device (10) is described. The method comprises creating (340) a carbon nanomembrane (40) on a top surface (22) of a base material (20) having latent pores (23) and etching (360) the latent pores (23) in the base material (20) to form open pores (24). The porous device (10) can be used as a filtration device.

A porous membrane material comprising a porous membrane substrate coated with a thin, uniform coating of a metal or metal alloy. The membrane material can have high electrical conductivity. The membrane material can exhibit a very high ratio of electrical conductivity to thermal conductivity. The porous membrane substrate may be removed to form the membrane.

A reverse osmosis membrane of the present invention includes a porous support substrate (2) and a separation active layer (3) formed on a surface of the porous support substrate (2) and formed of a carbon film containing organized carbon.

This invention discloses a method for preparing an antibacterial and dust-removal membrane. The method comprises the following steps: depositing a layer of nano-ZnO on the immersed membrane surface as the seed crystal with the atomic layer deposition instrument (ALD instrument); vertically immersing the membrane covered with nano-ZnO layer in a hydrothermal reactor filled with crystal growth solution, heating it for a period of time, taking the membrane out and cooling it to the room temperate, and removing it from the substrate; finally, heating this membrane in a drier, and purging it with nitrogen to remove the paraffin within the membrane pore to obtain the porous membrane with nano-ZnO arrays growing on the surface.