Phase engineering 2D materials for next-generation membrane technologies

2D材料膜允许对生命存在至关重要的过程进行研究，并为开发下一代纳米过滤、净化和保健技术提供了平台。这样的膜是通过将例如石墨烯氧化物或二硫化钼(MoS2)的薄片压紧成微米厚的膜来形成的，以形成细小的毛细血管网络。除了被用来控制水和其他液体的运输，正如我们最近所展示的那样，还可以使用跨膜施加的电场来极快地开启和关闭水的渗透。我们的早期工作表明，结构和化学在决定特定2D材料在特定应用中的行为方面发挥着重要作用。例如，氧化石墨烯薄膜中的碳/氧比对水的传输至关重要，尽管令人惊讶的是，人们对这一特性及其对渗透性的影响知之甚少。电场控制渗透的确切机制也缺乏知识，需要进行现场实验来监测材料和化学变化。对于MoS_2膜，水的传输可以通过调节pH在2H和1T‘结构相之间改变来可逆地控制，尽管原因尚不清楚。该项目将利用约克表面科学实验室的世界级设施，特别是电子光谱学和扫描探针显微镜，帮助解决这些问题。基于我们最近在新兴的2D材料膜领域的高调工作，我们将提供对基本纳滤过程的关键见解，这些过程将加速人工生物系统、组织工程、能量收集和过滤的智能膜技术的发展。我们还将通过研究纳米颗粒与二维膜的相互作用来扩大这一领域，这将打开环境修复方面的应用。

2D material membranes allow the investigation of processes vital to the existence of life and provide a platform for developing next-generation nano filtration, purification, and healthcare technologies. Such membranes are formed by compacting flakes of, for example, graphene oxide or molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) into micrometre-thick membranes to create a network of fine capillaries. In addition to being used to control the transportation of water and other liquids, as we have recently demonstrated, it is possible to use an electric field applied across the membrane to turn water permeation on and off extremely quickly. Our early work has shown the essential role that structure and chemistry play in determining the behaviour of a particular 2D material for a particular application. For example, the carbon/oxygen ratio in graphene oxide membranes is critical to the transport of water although surprisingly this property and its effect on permeability are poorly understood. Knowledge of the exact mechanism through which an electric field can control permeation is also lacking with in situ experiments needed to allow monitoring of material and chemical changes. For MoS2 membranes, water transport can be reversibly controlled by using pH to change between the 2H and 1T' structural phases although it is unclear why. This project will help resolve these issues using the world-class facilities in the York Surface Science Laboratory, in particular, electron spectroscopy and scanning probe microscopy. Building on our recent high-profile work in the burgeoning field of 2D material membranes, we will provide key insight into fundamental nanofiltration processes that will accelerate the development of smart membrane technologies for artificial biological systems, tissue engineering, energy harvesting, and filtration. We will also expand the field by investigating nanoparticle interaction with 2D membranes which will open up applications in environmental remediation.