Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Graphene Membranes (Ultrapermeable Atomically-Thin Membranes for Molecular Separations)
Teaser
Graphene membranes can provide extremely fast permeation due to their atomically-thin structure, promising very high energy efficiencies for many industrial separation processes, from gas separation to water desalination. However, technical problems regarding their scalability...
Summary
Graphene membranes can provide extremely fast permeation due to their atomically-thin structure, promising very high energy efficiencies for many industrial separation processes, from gas separation to water desalination. However, technical problems regarding their scalability and controlled pore sizes at nm-scale hindered their applications. This project addresses these two particular problems and aims at obtaining cm-scale graphene membranes, as well as demonstrating controllable molecular sieving.
Work performed
In brief, the project was aimed at demonstrating both scalability (cm-scale) and functionality (molecular sieving). The experimental setups and methods developed from scratch at the host institution, yielding graphene membranes with 10-nm pores at sub-mm2 areas scattered around a cm-scale substrate, as well as 5-nm-pores at smaller membrane areas.
Final results
1. A new transfer method based on photoresist sacrificial layers has been developed, enabling easy removal of the sacrificial layer, compared to the conventional PMMA layers.
2. A new technique based on e-beam-induced deposition of Pt around the pore rims has been developed, reducing the pore diameters down to 5 nm.
Website & more info
More info: http://unam.bilkent.edu.tr.