The further advancement of membrane separation processes requires the development of more selective membranes. In this study, membranes that take inspiration from biological systems and use multiple functionalities of unique chemical design to control solute transport through chemical factors in addition to steric factors are detailed. Specifically, copolymer materials tailor-made for the generation of nanofilters that possess a high density of well-defined pores lined by azido moieties allowed for the generation of chemically-patterned mosaic membranes in a rapid manner through the use of printing devices. By engineering the composition of the reactive ink solutions used for chemical functionalization, large areas of patterned membranes were generated in seconds rather than hours. Charge mosaic membranes were used as an example of this novel platform.

A molded article consisting of an organic compound, preferably cellulose fibers having a glass transition point above 200 C and melt blended with thermoplastic polymers of different melt temperatures, whereby, a 3 or 4 Dimensional printer that may consist of an additional 5 or 6 axis, has cellulose fiber particles that are layered and compressible in a semi solid state. These layers having non oriented cellulose fiber particles will help produce a buoyant molded article with a surface texture that can absorb moisture and attract gases for coatings.

The disclosure describes a porous membrane including the following: at least one polymeric feature on a surface of a porous membrane wherein the at least one polymeric features are bonded to the membrane using a nanoscale injecting molding device. Another aspect of the disclosure includes a porous membrane including the following: a first film layer; a second film layer; at least one polymeric feature between the first film layer and second film layer, wherein the at least one polymeric feature is bonded to at least the first film layer.

A nanoporous membrane fabrication method is formed using an array of sacrificial nanopillars of removable materials are printed onto a substrate. After serial deposition of overlayers of even dissimilar nature, the sacrificial nanostructures are dissolved, leaving nanoporous membrane with nanopores, channels and cavities of nanoscale dimension and geometry designed, enabling untapped and unique functions in different technological areas such as biological artificial organs, nanoelectronics, bioelectronics, molecular sensors, and biomedical applications.

The disclosure describes a porous membrane including the following: at least one polymeric feature on a surface of a porous membrane wherein the at least one polymeric features are bonded to the membrane using a nanoscale injecting molding device. Another aspect of the disclosure includes a porous membrane including the following: a first film layer; a second film layer; at least one polymeric feature between the first film layer and second film layer, wherein the at least one polymeric feature is bonded to at least the first film layer.

The technology disclosed relates to a method for manufacturing a membrane distillation arrangement made of at least one plate including a structure having at least one depression or cavity. A membrane is an integral/integrated part of the plate structure or is joined to surface portions of a first side of the structure of the at least one plate. The joined membrane may then be substantially parallel with and is facing a relatively thin wall constituting at least some of the more central portions of the plate structure. The surface portions of the membrane may be directly joined to the surface portions of the plate structure to form a compartment configured for condensing gas into liquid. Two plates may be directly joined to each other to form a compartment for a warm-liquid channel and/or two plates may be joined to each other to form a compartment for a cooling channel.

The present disclosure relates to a method for forming a transport mechanism for transporting at least one of a gas or a liquid. The method may comprise using a 3D printing operation to form the mechanism with an inlet and an outlet, and controlling the 3D printing operation to create the mechanism as an engineered surface structure formed in a layer-by-layer process. The method may further comprise controlling the 3D printing operation such that the engineered surface structure includes a plurality of cells propagating periodically in three dimensions, with non-intersecting, non-flat, continuously curving wall portions which form two non-intersecting domains, and where the wall portions have openings forming a plurality of flow paths extending in three orthogonal dimensions throughout from the inlet to the outlet, and such that the engineered surface structure has wall portions having a mean curvature other than zero.

Disclosed herein are rolled-membrane microfluidic diffusion devices and corresponding methods of manufacture. Also disclosed herein are three-dimensionally printed microfluidic devices and corresponding methods of manufacture. Optionally, the disclosed microfluidic devices can function as artificial lung devices.

Material processing composites, devices, methods of use, and methods of manufacturing using composites having three-dimensional interpenetrating channels separated by porous walls. Such composites include composites having a first flow channel and a second flow channel defined and separated by porous (e.g., nanoporous) walls, wherein the first flow channel and the second flow channels have a three-dimensional interpenetrating structure. The first flow channel and the second flow channel may have a triply periodic minimal surface structure, such as a gyroid or Schwartz surface structure. In some embodiments, the composite is configured for use in hemofiltration, molecular filtration, gas purification, energy storage, or chemical conversion.

Disclosed herein are rolled-membrane microfluidic diffusion devices and corresponding methods of manufacture. Also disclosed herein are three-dimensionally printed microfluidic devices and corresponding methods of manufacture. Optionally, the disclosed microfluidic devices can function as artificial lung devices.