Stabilized surfactant-based membranes and methods of manufacture thereof. Membranes comprising a stabilized surfactant mesostructure on a porous support may be used for various separations, including reverse osmosis and forward osmosis. The membranes are stabilized after evaporation of solvents; in some embodiments no removal of the surfactant is required. The surfactant solution may or may not comprise a hydrophilic compound such as an acid or base. The surface of the porous support is preferably modified prior to formation of the stabilized surfactant mesostructure. The membrane is sufficiently stable to be utilized in commercial separations devices such as spiral wound modules. Also a stabilized surfactant mesostructure coating for a porous material and filters made therefrom. The coating can simultaneously improve both the permeability and the filtration characteristics of the porous material.

An array of discrete nanofiber films that are physically separated from one another are described. Techniques for forming the nanofiber film array are also described. Techniques for forming these structures include placing a suspension of nanofibers and/or nanoparticles on a patterned substrate. A pressure differential is applied, drawing the solvent of the suspension through holes in a mask. The nanofibers collect on an impermeable layer on the mask in a pattern corresponding to the negative features (grooves, holes, trenches) of the mask as the solvent is flowed through the holes.