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.

Polymeric membranes are modified via SIS to promote membrane resilience, prolong membrane lifetime, and mitigate fouling. Modified membranes include an inorganic material within an outer portion of the modified membrane and a polymeric core that remains unmodified by the inorganic material. The polymer may be removed leaving an inorganic material patterned from an initial unmodified polymeric membrane.

The hydrogen separation filter includes a porous substrate and a super lattice layer on the porous substrate. The super lattice layer includes at least one lattice expansion layer containing a first material and at least two hydrogen dissociation and permeation layers containing a second material selected from the group consisting of Pd, V, Ta, Ti, Nb, and alloys thereof. The at least one lattice expansion layer and the at least two hydrogen dissociation and permeation layers are alternately stacked. The first material and the second material have a same crystalline structure. A lattice constant a.sub.1,bulk of a first bulk material haying a same composition and a same crystalline structure as the first material and a lattice constant a.sub.2,bulk of a second bulk material having a same composition and a same crystalline structure as the second material satisfy Formula (1):

1.03a.sub.2,bulka.sub.1,bulk1.15a.sub.2,bulk(1)

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for electrically conductive membrane separation from a mixture solution via membrane nanofiltration, electro-filtration, or electro-extraction by: generating an electric field at the membrane filter, holding the membrane filter at a constant electric potential, or driving a constant current through the membrane filter; feeding a mixture solution through the membrane nanofiltration system; and separating a component from the mixture solution into a permeate solution.

It can be difficult to remove atomically thin films, such as graphene, graphene-based material and other two-dimensional materials, from a growth substrate and then to transfer the thin films to a secondary substrate. Tearing and conformality issues can arise during the removal and transfer processes. Processes for forming a composite structure by manipulating a two-dimensional material, such as graphene or graphene-base material, can include: providing a two-dimensional material adhered to a growth substrate; depositing a supporting layer on the two-dimensional material while the two-dimensional material is adhered to the growth substrate; and releasing the two-dimensional material from the growth substrate, the two-dimensional material remaining in contact with the supporting layer following release of the two-dimensional material from the growth substrate.

Atomic layer deposition is utilized to deposit a coating on a membrane. The coated membrane exhibits a tightly bound hydration layer upon exposure to water. The resultant coated membrane is oleophobic.

In a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for forming a diamond membrane, comprising: providing a substrate having an amorphous dielectric layer thereon, the amorphous dielectric layer comprising an exposed surface, the exposed surface having an isoelectric point of less than 7, preferably at most 6; seeding diamond nanoparticles onto the exposed surface; growing a diamond layer from the seeded diamond nanoparticles; and removing a portion of the substrate from underneath the diamond layer, the removed portion extending at least up to the amorphous dielectric layer, thereby forming the diamond membrane over the removed portion.

Method for the manufacture of a hydrogen-permeable membrane having a thickness of not greater than 30 m. The method includes plasma spraying at least one dense layer on a porous substrate such that during the plasma spraying, one sweep of a process beam deposits material particles over the substrate in a form of individual splats which do not produce a cohesive layer and said material particles include a proton-conducting ceramic material and an electron-conducting metallic component. The plasma spraying is LPPS-TF that utilizes a spraying distance of between 200 mm and 2000 mm, a sprayable powder starting material having a particle size range between 1 and 80 m and containing the proton-conducting ceramic material and the electron-conducting metallic component and a process beam dispersing the sprayable powder starting material to a cloud.

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.

An osmotic power generator comprising an active membrane supported in a housing, at least a first chamber portion disposed on a first side of the active membrane for receiving a first electrolyte liquid and a second chamber portion disposed on a second side of the active membrane for receiving a second electrolyte liquid, a generator circuit comprising at least a first electrode electrically coupled to said first chamber, and at least a second electrode electrically coupled to said second chamber, the first and second electrodes configured to be connected together through a generator load receiving electrical power generated by a difference in potential and an ionic current between the first and second electrodes. The active membrane includes at least one pore allowing ions to pass between the first and second sides of the membrane under osmosis due to an osmotic gradient between the first and second electrolyte liquids to generate said difference in potential and ionic current between the first and second electrodes.