A composite membrane for selectively separating (e.g., pervaporating) a first fluid (e.g., first liquid) from a mixture comprising the first fluid (e.g., first liquid) and a second fluid (e.g., second liquid). The composite membrane includes a porous substrate comprising opposite first and second major surfaces, and a plurality of pores. A pore-filling polymer is disposed in at least some of the pores so as to form a layer having a thickness within the porous substrate. The composite membrane further includes at least one of: (a) an ionic liquid mixed with the pore-filling polymer; or (b) an amorphous fluorochemical film disposed on the composite membrane.

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.

A composite membrane for selectively separating (e.g., pervaporating) a first fluid (e.g., first liquid such as a high octane compound) from a mixture comprising the first fluid (e.g., first liquid such as a high octane compound) and a second fluid (e.g., second liquid such as gasoline). The composite membrane includes a porous substrate comprising opposite first and second major surfaces, and a plurality of pores. A pore-filling polymer is disposed in at least some of the pores so as to form a layer having a thickness within the porous substrate. The composite membrane further includes at least one of: (a) an ionic liquid mixed with the pore-filling polymer; or (b) an amorphous fluorochemical film disposed on the composite membrane.

Disclosed are methods of preparing a porous ceramic support for an ultra-thin enzyme-assisted membrane, and a new membrane that can be used for gas filtration purposes to remove/separate carbon dioxide or other gases from a gas mixture such as those from power production or enhanced oil recovery or fuel production or air, and recycle/collect/utilize carbon dioxide. In some embodiments, a method may include blocking the pores of a porous substrate with a removable medium, and polishing the surface, coating a silica sol-gel solution onto the support, and removing the blocking medium and sol-gel surfactant to leave a well-confined porous structure.

A pore-filled ion exchange polyelectrolyte composite membrane from which the surface ion exchange polyelectrolyte has been removed and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The ion exchange polyelectrolyte composite membrane exhibits low film resistance and low in-plane-direction swelling degree, and has a smaller film-thickness than a commercial film, and thus, can be used for various purposes. In addition, since the pore-filled ion exchange polyelectrolyte composite membrane is continuously manufactured through a roll-to-roll process, the manufacturing process is simple, and manufacturing costs can be greatly reduced.

The invention is directed to preparation of hollow fiber membrane devices that exhibit improved durability and mechanical strength in air separation operations such as generation of nitrogen enriched air on board aircraft. In particular the invention provides for preparation of hollow fiber membrane modules with terminal tubesheets of superior mechanical properties and improved long term durability in air separation operations.

Disclosed herein are an apparatus for heat-treating an inner side surface of a braid for a hollow fiber membrane reinforcement for a water treatment and a braid for a hollow fiber membrane reinforcement manufactured using the heat-treatment apparatus, wherein a fiber tissue forming an inner side surface of a braid becomes dense, and the inner diameter of the braid can be expanded, and the circularity of the inner and outer diameters can be accurate, and a compressive strength can be increased, whereby the physical property of a reinforcement membrane of a hollow fiber can be enhanced, and a filtration reliability and water penetration can be improved, thus obtaining an increased service life of a product and an economical saving effect.

A method for the repair of defects in a graphene or other two-dimensional material through interfacial polymerization.

A method for making a composite membrane includes the steps of coating a first layer of ionomer on an intermediate support, laminating a dry porous support into the wet first layer of ionomer, impregnating the porous support with ionomer from the coated ionomer layer, optionally drying the impregnated porous support and the first layer of ionomer, coating a second layer of ionomer on the impregnated porous support, drying the second layer of ionomer until most of the solvent is evaporated, and delaminating the composite membrane from the intermediate support. The composite membrane thus obtained includes a porous support impregnated with the ionomer and on each side of the impregnated support a dense ionomer layer.