Unlocking the Potential of Nanoporous Membranes: A Breakthrough in Water Treatment and Energy Generation
When it comes to decontaminating polluted water, extracting valuable metal ions, or powering osmotic generators, nanoporous membranes with atomic-scale holes smaller than one-billionth of a meter hold immense promise.
However, the potential of these membranes has been held back by the laborious process of tunneling individual sub-nanometer pores one by one.
“Scaling up 2D material membranes for real-world applications requires a more efficient approach than the current ‘one pore at a time’ method,” explained Eli Hoenig, a recent graduate from the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME).
In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications, Hoenig and his team, under the guidance of PME Asst. Prof. Chong Liu, introduced a novel method for generating nanoscale pores in materials.
By intentionally creating weak spots in the material and applying a remote electric field, the researchers were able to generate multiple nanoscale pores simultaneously, overcoming the limitations of the traditional approach.
A New Frontier in Material Design
Through the strategic overlapping of polycrystalline molybdenum disulfide layers, the team could precisely control the location and concentration of the pores within the material.
“By pre-patterning the grain boundaries where the crystals meet, we can engineer the size and distribution of pores with unprecedented accuracy,” Liu explained.
This innovative technique allows for the customization of pore sizes ranging from 4 nanometers to less than 1 nanometer, offering a wide range of applications in water treatment, fuel cells, and beyond.
“Our method enables the creation of high-density pores while maintaining control over each pore’s precision and size,” Liu added.
One of the most thrilling aspects of this breakthrough, according to Hoenig, is its potential for environmental applications such as water decontamination and resource recovery, including the extraction of critical materials like lithium for grid-scale batteries.
“This research represents a convergence of disciplines, with collaborations extending into the realms of quantum mechanics and material synthesis to achieve precision control over material properties,” Liu noted.
As the world seeks innovative solutions for water treatment and sustainable energy generation, nanoporous membranes created through this advanced method offer a path towards a cleaner, more efficient future.