Catalytic nanoporous membranes

Patent · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 2009

OSTI ID:1014016

Pellin, Michael J ^[1]; Hryn, John N ^[1]; Elam, Jeffrey W ^[2]

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1. Naperville, IL
2. Elmhurst, IL

A nanoporous catalytic membrane which displays several unique features including pores which can go through the entire thickness of the membrane. The membrane has a higher catalytic and product selectivity than conventional catalysts. Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes serve as the catalyst substrate. This substrate is then subjected to Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), which allows the controlled narrowing of the pores from 40 nm to 10 nm in the substrate by deposition of a preparatory material. Subsequent deposition of a catalytic layer on the inner surfaces of the pores reduces pore sizes to less than 10 nm and allows for a higher degree of reaction selectivity. The small pore sizes allow control over which molecules enter the pores, and the flow-through feature can allow for partial oxidation of reactant species as opposed to complete oxidation. A nanoporous separation membrane, produced by ALD is also provided for use in gaseous and liquid separations. The membrane has a high flow rate of material with 100% selectivity.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC. (Chicago, IL)
• Patent Number(s): 7,625,840
• Application Number: US Patent Application 10/941,800
• OSTI ID: 1014016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE