I/UCRC: Efficient Molecular Separation Using Polymeric Membranes Integrated with Novel Structure-Tunable Organic Nanocages

项目主任膜应用科学与技术中心(MAST)建议#1230142张该提案寻求为科罗拉多大学膜应用科学与技术中心(MAST)提供资金。基础研究的资金申请是由NSF批准的申请授权的，NSF 11-570。征集邀请研究所/大学合作研究中心提交支持行业定义的基础研究的建议。膜技术是包括超滤(UF)、反渗透(RO)、渗透汽化(PV)和气体分离在内的多种分离过程中最有效、最节能的方法之一。膜材料在决定工艺效果方面起着关键作用。因此，开发具有优异分离性能的新型膜材料，对于维持和扩大膜分离技术的发展至关重要。为了响应这一研究机遇，提出了一种新型的聚合物膜的制备，该膜具有结构可调、三维(3D)定义良好、形状恒定的分子笼。这些笼状集成的多孔膜不仅有望显著提高某些目标分子的渗透性，而且能够有效地编码维度(孔径/分布)和功能信息(客体识别、传感、催化等)。以模块化的方式进入最终的膜中。考察了这些膜在二氧化碳/氮气、水/醇和烯烃/烷烃分离中的性能。所提出的笼式集成膜将为制备新型无缺陷的复合聚合物膜开辟全新的方向，这些膜可用于许多工业和环境重要的分离，如二氧化碳/氮气、水/乙醇或烷烃/烯烃。拟议的工作将成为在多个层面上为外联、教育和少数群体参与提供新机会的平台。这项跨学科研究将为所有学生，包括研究生和本科生，提供这两个领域的机会。超过五名本科生将参与研究计划，同时将特别关注招收少数族裔和代表性不足群体的学生。拟议工作的成果将通过互动网站在专业会议和期刊上传播，并纳入本科生和研究生课程。

Program Director's Recommendation Center for Membrane Applied Science and Technology (MAST) Proposal # 1230142 Zhang This proposal seeks funding for the Center for Membrane Applied Science and Technology (MAST) at the University of Colorado site. Funding Requests for Fundamental Research are authorized by an NSF approved solicitation, NSF 11-570. The solicitation invites I/UCRCs to submit proposals for support of industry-defined fundamental research. Membrane technology represents one of the most effective, energy-saving approaches for several separation processes, including ultra-filtration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), pervaporation (PV), and gas separation. Membrane materials play a pivotal role in determining process effectiveness. Therefore, development of new membrane materials with outstanding separation characteristics is vital to sustain and expand the growth of membrane separation technology. In response to this research opportunity, preparation of a novel class of polymeric membranes integrated with structure-tunable, three dimensional (3-D) well-defined, shape-persistent molecular cages is proposed. These cage-integrated porous membranes are expected to not only significantly enhance the permeability of certain target molecules, but also enable efficiently encoding both dimensional (pore size/distribution) and functional information (guest recognition, sensing, catalysis, etc.) into the final membranes in a modular fashion. The performance of these membranes in separation of CO2/N2, water/alcohol, and olefin/paraffin will be investigated. The proposed cage-integrated membranes will open completely new directions for fabricating novel defect-free, composite polymeric membranes that can be used for a number of industrially and environmentally important separations, such as CO2/N2, water/ethanol or paraffin/olefin. The proposed work will be a platform for providing new opportunities for outreach, education, and minority involvement on multiple levels. This interdisciplinary research will provide all students, both graduate and undergraduate, exposure to both fields. More than five undergraduate students will be involved in the research plan while special attention will be given to recruit students from minorities and underrepresented groups. The results from the proposed work will be disseminated in professional conferences and journals, via an interactive website, and also integrated into both undergraduate and graduate courses.