The invention relates in general to porous graphene-based films. In particular, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of a porous graphene-based films comprising reduced graphene oxide. The invention also relates to porous graphene-based films prepared by the process and to uses of such porous graphene-based films, in particular, in filtration applications. The invention further relates to porous multi-zone graphene-based films comprising different zones of different porosity.

Processes for surface treatment of a workpiece are provided. In one example implementation, a method can include performing an organic radical based surface treatment process on a workpiece. The organic radical based surface treatment process can include generating one or more species in a first chamber. The surface treatment process can include mixing one or more hydrocarbon molecules with the species to create a mixture. The mixture can include one or more organic radicals. The surface treatment process can include exposing a semiconductor material on the workpiece to the mixture in a second chamber.

Surface treatment processes for treating a workpiece with organic radicals are provided. In one example implementation, a method for processing a workpiece having a semiconductor material and a carbon containing layer (e.g., photoresist) can include a surface treatment process on the workpiece. The surface treatment process can include generating one or more species in a first chamber (e.g., a plasma chamber). The surface treatment process can include mixing one or more hydrocarbon radicals with the species to create a mixture. The surface treatment process can include exposing the carbon containing layer to the mixture in a second chamber (e.g., a processing chamber).

Durable asymmetric composite membranes consisting of a film of cross-linked poly(ether ether ketone) adhered to a sheet of hydrophilic microporous poly(ethylene) are disclosed. The membranes are suitable for use in the recovery or removal of water from feed streams where repeated clean-in-place protocols are required such as in the processing of dairy products.

Disclosed are a superhydrophobic microfiltration membrane capable of facilitating higher permeate flux without separation performance deterioration when performing a water treatment based on a membrane distillation method, a filtration module for membrane distillation comprising the same, and a method for manufacturing the same. The superhydrophobic microfiltration membrane of the present invention comprises a porous member having a plurality of fine pores having an average pore size of 1 m to 100 m and has a pure water contact angle of 130 or more.

Disclosed are polyimide blends and methods of making and using same. The disclosed polyimide blends are prepared by first blending an ionic polymer and a poly(amic acid) to form a poly(amic acid) precursor, followed by cyclization. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

A copolymer has blood compatibility and antithrombotic properties of greatly suppressing protein adhesion to be usable even when in contact with a biological component such as blood for a long period of time, and a medical device uses the copolymer. The copolymer is characterized by including a hydrophilic unit and a hydrophobic unit, wherein the hydrophobic unit contains at least one type of a carboxylic acid vinyl unit, and the number of carbon atoms at the terminal of a side chain of the carboxylic acid vinyl unit is 2-7.

A polymer film obtainable from curing a composition comprising: (a) a curable ionic compound comprising a bis(sulfonyl)imide group; and (b) a curable non-ionic compound comprising at least 4 vinyl groups.

The present invention relates to a hollow fiber membrane in which the thickness L of a spherical structure layer is 60-500 ?m (inclusive), the spherical structure layer has a first surface and a second surface, the average diameter Da.sub.1 of the spherical structure in a region Sa.sub.1 10 ?m or less from the first surface and the average diameter db.sub.2 of the spherical structure in a region Sb.sub.2 10-20 ?m from the second surface satisfy the relational expression Da.sub.1>db.sub.2, and the spherical structure satisfies certain parameters.

An electrochemical system utilizes an anion conducting layer disposed between an anode and a cathode for transporting a working fluid. The working fluid may include carbon dioxide that is dissolved in water and is partially converted to carbonic acid that is equilibrium with bicarbonate anion. An electrical potential across the anode and cathode creates a pH gradient that drives the bicarbonate anion across the anion conducting layer to the cathode, wherein it is reformed into carbon dioxide. Therefore, carbon dioxide is pumped across the anion conducting layer.