EAGER: Tunable Gas Separation Membrane Fabrication via Paramagnetically-induced Arrangement of 2D Nanomaterials

气体分离工艺在化学品和燃料制造以及减少大气排放方面发挥着至关重要的作用。基于纳米材料的膜在实现更有效和可持续的气体分离方面具有巨大的潜力。这些膜由原子级薄（2维或2D）层组成，允许所需的气体分子以最小的阻力和高选择性通过，同时阻止其他分子通过。膜层内颗粒间距和纳米通道路径的排列决定了分子在其中的运动，不幸的是，使用现有的大规模膜制造方法控制这些层间结构是困难的，阻碍了最有前途的二维纳米材料基膜的有效商业化。该研究项目通过开发一种利用可变磁场来操纵纳米通道形成的膜制造创新方法来解决控制分子分离和纳米级夹层结构的挑战。该项目的预期成果包括具有上级分子传输性能的功能性2D纳米材料膜和膜制造的新技术，为新型混合基质膜填料材料开辟了新的途径。除了技术贡献外，该项目还将支持两名博士的成长和发展。学生和两名本科研究人员。通过参与该项目，这些学生将获得宝贵的技术和专业技能，为STEM领域的未来职业生涯做好准备。此外，该项目将通过服务和体验式学习活动以及与K-12学校的合作积极参与社区。该项目旨在通过创造知识共享机会和激励下一代科学家和工程师来促进社会福祉。该项目解决了对可扩展的二维（2D）层状膜制造方法的需求，以可靠地控制纳米通道的形成，赋予上级选择性和气体传输特性。研究人员预计，在层状膜制造过程中向顺磁性2D纳米材料组装体施加受控磁场将导致具有可调选择性纳米通道的膜，其中施加的场强调节纳米通道形成机制。为了确定这种膜制造概念的可行性，将通过离子嵌入将室温顺磁性引入2D纳米材料。将施加均匀的磁场以实现均匀的纳米颗粒沉积，并且将评估通过施加的场强控制纳米通道尺寸的能力。在高纳米颗粒负载下使用磁场诱导组装时，将评估团聚趋势。最后，将考虑在混合基质膜制造过程中原位纳米粒子迁移形成空隙的影响。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Gas separation processes play a crucial role in chemical and fuel manufacturing and in reducing atmospheric emissions. Nanomaterial-based membranes hold immense potential to achieve more efficient and sustainable gas separations. These membranes, composed of atomically thin (2-dimensional or 2D) layers, allow the desired gas molecules to pass through with minimal resistance and high selectivity while blocking the passage of others. The arrangement of interparticle spacing and nanochannel pathways within the membrane layers determines the movement of molecules across it. Unfortunately, controlling these interlayer structures using existing large-scale membrane fabrication methods is difficult, hindering the effective commercialization of the most promising 2D nanomaterial-based membranes. This research project addresses the challenge of controlling molecular separations and nanoscale interlayer structures by developing an innovative approach to membrane fabrication that utilizes variable magnetic fields to manipulate the formation of nanochannels. The anticipated outcomes of this project include a functional 2D nanomaterial-based membrane with superior molecular transport properties and a novel technique for membrane fabrication, opening up new avenues for novel mixed-matrix-membrane filler materials. In addition to its technical contributions, this project will support the growth and development of two Ph.D. students and two undergraduate researchers. By engaging in this project, these students will acquire valuable technical and professional skills, positioning themselves for future careers in STEM fields. Furthermore, the project will actively involve the community through service and experiential learning activities and collaborations with K-12 schools. This engagement aims to foster societal well-being by creating knowledge-sharing opportunities and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.This project addresses the need for a scalable two-dimensional (2D) lamellar membrane fabrication method to control nanochannel formation reliably, imparting superior selectivity and gas transport properties. The investigator anticipates that applying a controlled magnetic field to a paramagnetic 2D nanomaterials assembly during lamellar membrane fabrication will result in membranes with tunable selective nanochannels, where the applied field strength modulates the nanochannel formation mechanism. To determine the feasibility of this membrane fabrication concept, room temperature paramagnetization will be introduced into 2D nanomaterials through ion intercalation. A uniform magnetic field will be applied to achieve homogenous nanoparticle deposition, and the ability to control nanochannel size via the applied field strength will be evaluated. The agglomeration tendency will be assessed while using a magnetic field-induced assembly at high nanoparticle loading. Finally, the effect of void formation by in-situ nanoparticle migration during mixed-matrix membrane fabrication will be considered.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.