This tuneable process provides an effective means to tailor the membrane's thickness and pore characteristics for specific applications, achieving maximum energy efficiency. Dr Zhang's method involves taming chaotic, free-floating, inorganic building-blocks in a liquid environment, coaxing them to self-assemble into the desired membrane. Such limitations of traditional membrane technologies served as the impetus for postdoctoral research fellow Dr Zhang Chen in Prof Ho's team to develop a new synthesis strategy for highly efficient inorganic membranes. Moreover, the membranes must be regenerated, while the filtered components usually require further treatment after separation, leading to additional energy demands and costs.
By promoting efficiency and sustainability in industrial processes, the NUS scientists' pioneering research has unveiled new possibilities for overcoming energy challenges in the face of climate change.Ĭonventional membrane technologies used in purification and separation processes are known to be energy-intensive and therefore expensive, often entailing a combination of pressure, heat, and sometimes chemicals to function effectively.
From energy conversion to catalysis and sensing, the membranes' versatility could transform various sectors and industries that depend on membrane technology. Highly customisable and simple to produce, the inorganic membranes - underpinned by a universal, facile synthesis strategy - have the potential to benefit applications beyond filtration and separation. These freestanding membranes can function without any supporting substrate - a significant advancement in membrane technology. In a ground-breaking achievement, a team of researchers from the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at the National University of Singapore, led by Professor Ho Ghim Wei from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has developed a revolutionary technique for producing ultrathin inorganic membranes.
Similar to how sieves separate smaller particles from larger ones, inorganic membranes, typically made of ceramics or metals, selectively separate molecules based on their size and properties. Inorganic membranes can be thought of as kitchen sieves.
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