Ceramic thin-film composite membranes with tunable subnanometer pores for molecular sieving

Zhou, Xuechen; Shevate, Rahul; Huang, Dahong; Cao, Tianchi; Shen, Xin; Hu, Shu; Mane, Anil U.; Elam, Jeffrey W.; Kim, Jae-Hong; Elimelech, Menachem

doi:10.1038/s41467-023-42495-w

Title: Ceramic thin-film composite membranes with tunable subnanometer pores for molecular sieving

Journal Article · 09 November 2023 · Nature Communications

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42495-w · OSTI ID:2205380

Zhou, Xuechen ^[1]; Shevate, Rahul ^[2]; Huang, Dahong ^[1]; Cao, Tianchi ^[1]; Shen, Xin ^[1];

^[1]; Mane, Anil U. ^[2];

^[2];

^[1];

^[1]

Yale Univ., New Haven, CT (United States)
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Ceramic membranes are a promising alternative to polymeric membranes for selective separations, given their ability to operate under harsh chemical conditions. However, current fabrication technologies fail to construct ceramic membranes suitable for selective molecular separations. Herein, we demonstrate a molecular-level design of ceramic thin-film composite membranes with tunable subnanometer pores for precise molecular sieving. Through burning off the distributed carbonaceous species of varied dimensions within hybrid aluminum oxide films, we created membranes with tunable molecular sieving. Specifically, the membranes created with methanol showed exceptional selectivity toward monovalent and divalent salts. We attribute this observed selectivity to the dehydration of the large divalent ions within the subnanometer pores. As a comparison, smaller monovalent ions can rapidly permeate with an intact hydration shell. Lastly, the flux of neutral solutes through each fabricated aluminum oxide membrane was measured for the demonstration of tunable separation capability. Overall, our work provides the scientific basis for the design of ceramic membranes with subnanometer pores for molecular sieving using atomic layer deposition.

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Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-06CH11357; SC0019112

OSTI ID:: 2205380

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2447367

Journal Information:: Nature Communications, Vol. 14, Issue 1; ISSN 2041-1723

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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