A method of producing a silicalite membrane, which includes heating an aqueous solution that includes a dopant precursor and structure-directing template agents to form silicalite seeds incorporated with a dopant, depositing a buffer layer on a ceramic substrate prior to depositing the silicalite seeds on the buffer layer, contacting the ceramic substrate with a solution including the silicalite seeds to form a silicalite layer from the silicalite seeds on the ceramic substrate, and removing the structure-directing template agents to form the silicalite membrane, where the silicalite layer includes silicalite crystals incorporated with a dopant and each of the silicalite crystals has a hollow structure which forms the pores of the silicalite layer. The silicalite membrane includes a ceramic substrate having a buffer layer formed thereon, and a silicalite layer formed on the buffer layer, where the silicalite layer includes silicalite crystals incorporated with a dopant.

A polymer composition for producing gel extruded articles is described. The polymer composition contains polyethylene particles combined with a plasticizer and one or more surface tension reducing techniques. In one aspect, the surface tension reducing technique includes adding a filler or chemical component to the polyethylene polymer for increasing wettability. Alternatively, the surface tension reducing technique can be a surface treatment, such as a plasma treatment. Polymer articles made in accordance with the present disclosure can have dramatically increased wettability properties. In one embodiment, the polymer composition is used to form a porous membrane for use as a separator in electronic devices.

A method for in situ production of antimicrobial filtration membranes that uses self-assembly of surfactants such as block copolymers as a template. The mesophase structure (for example hexagonal or lamellar) can be determined, and membrane pore size can be controlled in the nanometer range, by changing the block copolymer and the amounts of the components such as the block copolymer, aqueous solution, monomer, crosslinker, and initiator. The monomer phase cures in the template and there is no need for organic solvents and coagulation bath or other post-modification. As-synthesized membranes were found to have pore sizes with a narrow size distribution in the range of 3-4 nm with a molecular weight cutoff of 1500 g/mol and displayed both excellent fouling resistance and high permeance of water, vastly outperforming a conventional NIPS UF membrane. The monomer can comprise a quaternary ammonium group so that the membrane is antibacterial. The block copolymer can comprise hydrophilic blocks which form the surfaces of the membrane pores, rendering them hydrophilic.

A method for in situ production of antimicrobial filtration membranes that uses self-assembly of surfactants such as block copolymers as a template. The mesophase structure (for example hexagonal or lamellar) can be determined, and membrane pore size can be controlled in the nanometer range, by changing the block copolymer and the amounts of the components such as the block copolymer, aqueous solution, monomer, crosslinker, and initiator. The monomer phase cures in the template and there is no need for organic solvents and coagulation bath or other post-modification. As-synthesized membranes were found to have pore sizes with a narrow size distribution in the range of 3-4 nm with a molecular weight cutoff of 1500 g/mol and displayed both excellent fouling resistance and high permeance of water, vastly outperforming a conventional NIPS UF membrane. The monomer can comprise a quaternary ammonium group so that the membrane is antibacterial. The block copolymer can comprise hydrophilic blocks which form the surfaces of the membrane pores, rendering them hydrophilic.

A monolayer membrane containing gelling polymer particles having at least one of a basic functional group and an acidic functional group, and having a thickness of less than 5 μm. A composite having a porous carrier and gelling polymer particles having at least any one of a basic functional group and an acidic functional group and filling up the surface pores of the porous carrier. The invention can provide a novel material capable of efficiently separating an acid gas from a mixed gas.

Described herein are crosslinked graphene oxide and polycarboxylic acid based composite membranes that provide selective resistance for gases while providing water vapor permeability. Such composite membranes have a high water/air selectivity in permeability. The methods for making such membranes, and using the membranes for dehydrating or removing water vapor from gases are also described.

A free standing liquid membrane is disclosed that can selectively separate objects based on the kinetic energy value of the objects such that either an object having a first kinetic energy value can pass through the free standing liquid membrane while retaining the membrane and/or an object having a second kinetic energy value is prevented from passing through the membrane while retaining the membrane. Advantageously, the free standing liquid membrane can remain intact for seconds to hours with multiple objects passing through the membrane.

Described herein is a composite comprising a graphene material and a sulfonated polymer material. The graphene/sulfonated polymer composite is coated onto a substrate to provide a selectively permeable membrane. The selectively permeable membranes of the present disclosure provide high moisture permeability and low gas permeability.

A free standing liquid membrane is disclosed that can selectively separate objects based on the kinetic energy value of the objects such that either an object having a first kinetic energy value can pass through the free standing liquid membrane while retaining the membrane and/or an object having a second kinetic energy value is prevented from passing through the membrane while retaining the membrane. Advantageously, the free standing liquid membrane can remain intact for seconds to hours with multiple objects passing through the membrane.

A monolayer membrane containing gelling polymer particles having at least one of a basic functional group and an acidic functional group, and having a thickness of less than 5 μm. A composite having a porous carrier and gelling polymer particles having at least any one of a basic functional group and an acidic functional group and filling up the surface pores of the porous carrier. The invention can provide a novel material capable of efficiently separating an acid gas from a mixed gas.