Embodiments include methods of fabricating a zeolite-like metal-organic framework with an ana-topology (ana-ZMOF) thin film membrane, the methods comprising: (1) modifying a substrate with ana-ZMOF crystal precursors in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone; and (2) intergrowing the ana-ZMOF crystal precursors in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone to form a continuous defect-free thin film of an ana-ZMOF intergrown on the substrate. Embodiments further include methods of separating chemical species comprising contacting an ana-ZMOF thin film membrane with a fluid composition containing one or more chemical species and separating at least one of the chemical species.

Titanium dioxide/sulfonated graphene oxide/silver nanoparticle composite membrane and its preparation method and application are disclosed. Mixing graphene oxide, sodium chloroethanesulfonate, and sodium hydroxide uniformly in the water, and then adding concentrated nitric acid to obtain sulfonated graphene oxide; mixing the aqueous solution of said sulfonated graphene oxide with the aqueous solution of silver nitrate, stirring in the dark, then adding ascorbic acid, and continuing to stir to obtain a silver nanoparticle/sulfonated graphene oxide composite material; dispersing said silver nanoparticle/sulfonated graphene oxide composite material in water, and then deposited on said titanium dioxide nanorods arrays by vacuum deposition, and vacuum dried to obtain titanium dioxide/sulfonated graphene oxide/silver nanoparticle composite membrane. The membrane possessed photocatalytic effect under UV light and special wettability: super-hydrophobic oil under water/super-hydrophobic under oil, which could in situ separation and degradation of oil/water emulsion.

Prepare a carbon molecular sieve membrane from a polyimide (e.g., a 6FDA/BPDA-DAM polyimide) that has a glass transition temperature of at least 400? C. and includes a bridged phenyl compound for separation of hydrogen and ethylene from one another whether present as a pure mixture of hydrogen and ethylene or as components of a cracked gas. Preparation comprises two sequential steps a) and b). In step a), place a membrane fabricated from defect-free fibers of the polyimide in contact with an oxygen-containing atmosphere under conditions of time and temperature sufficient to produce a pre-oxidized and pre-carbonized polymeric membrane that is insoluble in hot (110 C) n-methylpyrolidone and at least substantially free of substructure collapse. In step b) pyrolyze the pre-oxidized and pre-carbonized membrane in the presence of a purge gas under conditions of time and temperature sufficient to yield a carbon molecular sieve membrane that has at least one of a hydrogen permeance and a hydrogen/ethylene selectivity greater than that of a carbon molecular sieve membrane prepared from the same membrane using only pyrolysis as in step b).

The present invention relates to a chabazite zeolite membrane with a controlled pore size and a production method thereof, wherein the sizes of pore space and pore mouth of the chabazite zeolite membrane are finely controlled through chemical vapor deposition. Through the chemical vapor deposition, defects present in the chabazite zeolite membrane are eliminated, and the pore size is effectively controlled. Thus, unlike hydrophilic membranes showing excellent CO.sub.2/N.sub.2 separation performance under a dry condition, the chabazite zeolite membrane with a controlled pore size according to the present invention has a hydrophobic surface, and thus can maintain excellent CO.sub.2/N.sub.2 separation performance even under a wet condition. Accordingly, the chabazite zeolite membrane of the present invention can effectively capture carbon dioxide from nitrogen under various environmental conditions.

Disclosed herein are ceramic selective membranes and methods of forming the ceramic selective membranes by forming a selective silica ceramic on a porous membrane substrate. Representative ceramic selective membranes include ion-conductive membranes (e.g., proton-conducting membranes) and gas selective membranes. Representative uses for the membranes include incorporation into fuel cells and redox flow batteries (RFB) as ion-conducting membranes.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing a perm-selective porous membrane and a method of separating gases using the prepared porous membrane. According to the present invention, a membrane is synthesized using a hierarchically structured alumina porous support by a counter diffusion method. During this synthesis, the diffusion rate of metal ions loaded on the porous support is controlled by controlling the pore size of the porous support, and the position at which the membrane is synthesized is controlled by synthesizing the membrane inside the support. This can increase the physical stability of the membrane and make the membrane thicker so as to ensure higher H.sub.2/CO.sub.2 separation factors.

Oxide materials, thin films, coatings, and methods of preparing the same are disclosed herein. In certain embodiments the oxide material can have an MWW type framework or an MFI type framework. In one embodiment, the method includes: providing a suspension of an exfoliated layered oxide material in a solvent; and filtering the suspension through a porous support to provide a film of the oxide material, optionally directly on the porous support. Secondary grown films of the oxide material and methods of preparing the same are also provided. Thin zeolite films are attractive for a wide range of applications including molecular sieve membranes and catalytic membrane reactors, permeation barriers, low dielectric constant materials for microelectronics and sensor components for selective sensing.

Disclosed herein are ceramic selective membranes and methods of forming the ceramic selective membranes by forming a selective silica ceramic on a porous membrane substrate. Representative ceramic selective membranes include ion-conductive membranes (e.g., proton-conducting membranes) and gas selective membranes. Representative uses for the membranes include incorporation into fuel cells and redox flow batteries (RFB) as ion-conducting membranes.

Disclosed herein are ceramic selective membranes and methods of forming the ceramic selective membranes by forming a selective silica ceramic on a porous membrane substrate. Representative ceramic selective membranes include ion-conductive membranes (e.g., proton-conducting membranes) and gas selective membranes. Representative uses for the membranes include incorporation into fuel cells and redox flow batteries (RFB) as ion-conducting membranes.

Disclosed herein are ceramic selective membranes and methods of forming the ceramic selective membranes by forming a selective silica ceramic on a porous membrane substrate. Representative ceramic selective membranes include ion-conductive membranes (e.g., proton-conducting membranes) and gas selective membranes. Representative uses for the membranes include incorporation into fuel cells and redox flow batteries (RFB) as ion-conducting membranes.