Described herein is a technology for the creation of “smooth” metal oxide films or coatings using organic cross-linking agents to enable low-temperature sintering. These metal oxide films can be used in conjunction with low-melting temperature substrates, such as plastics, metal, metal oxide, and glass, providing exquisite control over surface roughness.

The invention concerns biocompatible polymer systems comprising at least one polymer with a plurality of pores, said polymer comprising either polyol or zwitterionic groups designed to adsorb endotoxins and other inflammatory mediator molecules. The inventions are in the field of porous polymeric sorbents, also in the field of broadly reducing endotoxins in blood and blood products that can cause endotoxemia, additionally, in the field of broadly removing endotoxins by perfusion or hemoperfusion.

The invention relates to strong hydrogen-bond acidic sorbents. The sorbents may be provided in a form that limits or eliminates intramolecular bonding of the hydrogen-bond acidic site between neighboring sorbent molecules, for example, by providing steric groups adjacent to the hydrogen-bond acidic site. The hydrogen bond site may be a phenolic structure based on a bisphenol architecture. The sorbents of the invention may be used in methods for trapping or detecting hazardous chemicals or explosives.

The invention relates to strong hydrogen-bond acidic sorbents. The sorbents may be provided in a form that limits or eliminates intramolecular bonding of the hydrogen-bond acidic site between neighboring sorbent molecules, for example, by providing steric groups adjacent to the hydrogen-bond acidic site. The hydrogen bond site may be a phenolic structure based on a bisphenol architecture. The sorbents of the invention may be used in methods for trapping or detecting hazardous chemicals or explosives.

Provided herein are electret-MOF filter embedded with particles derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOF) and their methods of manufacturing. The methods of manufacturing the electret-MOF filter can include suspending MOF particles in a solvent to form a MOF particle mixture, contacting a charged polymeric fibrous web with the MOF particle mixture, and coating the charged polymeric fibrous web with the MOF particles by flowing the MOF particle mixture through an inverse side of the polymeric fibrous web. The disclosed coating method can deposit MOF particles uniformly, without formation of films at interstitial spaces between fibers. The electret-MOF filter can simultaneously remove fine particulate matters (PMs) and hazardous gaseous pollutants (including volatile organic compounds (VOCs)) with high particle holding and gas adsorption capacities, and with very low air resistance.

The invention relates to strong hydrogen-bond acidic sorbents. The sorbents may be provided in a form that limits or eliminates intramolecular bonding of the hydrogen-bond acidic site between neighboring sorbent molecules, for example, by providing steric groups adjacent to the hydrogen-bond acidic site. The hydrogen bond site may be a phenolic structure based on a bisphenol architecture. The sorbents of the invention may be used in methods for trapping or detecting hazardous chemicals or explosives.

A device that retains high moisture capacity in the presence of certain contaminants. The device can include a substrate and a desiccant. The device can be configured in relation to an enclosure such that the device absorbs and desorbs moisture from the enclosure.

The invention relates to strong hydrogen-bond acidic sorbents. The sorbents may be provided in a form that limits or eliminates intramolecular bonding of the hydrogen-bond acidic site between neighboring sorbent molecules, for example, by providing steric groups adjacent to the hydrogen-bond acidic site. The hydrogen bond site may be a phenolic structure based on a bisphenol architecture. The sorbents of the invention may be used in methods for trapping or detecting hazardous chemicals or explosives.

Open tubular capillary columns for liquid and ion chromatography, based upon an ionically impermeable polyolefin capillary having a bore with a sulfonate-group- or amine-group-functionalized internal surface. The capillary columns may include a coating of ion exchanging nanoparticles electrostatically bound to the functionalized internal surface. The capillary columns may be made by exposing the interior surface to a sulfonating reagent comprising chlorosulfonic acid (ClSO.sub.3H), preferably from 85 wt % to 95 wt % chlorosulfonic acid at a process temperature of 20 to 25° C. The interior surface may be subsequently exposed to an asymmetrical diamine to form a sulfonic mid-linkage to the diamine, i.e., to form a sulfonamide-linked, amine-group-functionalized internal surface. The coating may be provided by subsequently exposing the interior surface to an aqueous suspension of ion exchanging nanoparticles to electrostatically bond the ion exchanging nanoparticles to the functionalized internal surface.

An apparatus for fabricating a graphene membrane includes a first section having a first fluid chamber for housing a suspension of graphene platelets in a fluid. A second section is positionable adjacent the first section. The second section has a second fluid chamber and a porous support housed in the second fluid chamber for supporting a porous substrate. When the first section is positioned adjacent to the second section and the porous substrate is supported by the porous support, the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber are in fluid communication via the porous substrate. The apparatus further includes a pressurizer for creating a pressure differential between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber and thereby forcing the fluid through the porous substrate and into the second fluid chamber and lodging the graphene platelets in the pores of the porous substrate.