Organic molecular sieve membranes for chemical separations.

Molecular separations that enable selective transport of target molecules from gas and liquid molecular mixtures, such as CO2 capture, olefin/paraffin separations, and organic solvent nanofiltration, represent the most energy sensitive and significant demands. Membranes are favored for molecular separations owing to the advantages of energy efficiency, simplicity, scalability, and small environmental footprint. A number of emerging microporous organic materials have displayed great potential as building blocks of molecular separation membranes, which not only integrate the rigid, engineered pore structures and desirable stability of inorganic molecular sieve membranes, but also exhibit a high degree of freedom to create chemically rich combinations/sequences.

Two-dimensional nanochannel membranes for molecular and ionic separations.

Two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets have emerged as promising functional materials owing to their atomic thickness and unique physical/chemical properties. By using 2D nanosheets as building blocks, diverse kinds of two-dimensional nanochannel membranes (2DNCMs) are being actively explored, in which mass transport occurs in the through-plane and interlayer channels of 2D nanosheets. The rational construction and physical/chemical microenvironment regulation of nanochannels are of vital significance for translating these 2D nanosheets into molecular separation membranes and ionic separation membranes.

Crackled nanocapsules: the "imperfect" structure for enzyme immobilization.

Herein, the first example of crackled organosilica nanocapsules (CONs) is reported to directly immobilize enzymes without any further chemical modification. Enzymes are adsorbed on both the exterior and interior surfaces of CONs, integrating the merits of adsorption and encapsulation. When used for Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) immobilization, the CONs displayed higher enzyme loading, lower enzyme leaching, and elevated enzyme activity, compared to the conventional non-crackled nanocapsules/particles.

Antifouling membranes for sustainable water purification: strategies and mechanisms.

One of the greatest challenges to the sustainability of modern society is an inadequate supply of clean water. Due to its energy-saving and cost-effective features, membrane technology has become an indispensable platform technology for water purification, including seawater and brackish water desalination as well as municipal or industrial wastewater treatment. However, membrane fouling, which arises from the nonspecific interaction between membrane surface and foulants, significantly impedes the efficient application of membrane technology.

A highly proton-conducting, methanol-blocking Nafion composite membrane enabled by surface-coating crosslinked sulfonated graphene oxide.

Coating an ultrathin crosslinked graphene oxide film onto a Nafion support enables the tradeoff effect to be successfully overcome by the resulting composite membrane: 93% decrease of methanol permeability while retaining the high proton conductivity of Nafion, owing to the synergistic modulation of methanol-transport and proton-transport channels within the graphene oxide film.