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

项目主任推荐膜应用科学与技术中心（MAST）提案# 1230142 Zhang该提案旨在为科罗拉多大学的膜应用科学与技术中心（MAST）提供资金。基础研究的资金申请由NSF批准的招标（NSF 11-570）授权。征集邀请I/UCRC提交支持行业定义的基础研究的提案。膜技术代表了几种分离过程中最有效的节能方法之一，包括超滤（UF），反渗透（RO），渗透蒸发（PV）和气体分离。膜材料在确定工艺有效性方面起着关键作用。因此，开发具有优异分离性能的新型膜材料对维持和扩大膜分离技术的发展至关重要。针对这一研究机会，提出了一类新型聚合物膜的制备，该膜集成了结构可调的、三维（3-D）定义明确的、形状持久的分子笼。这些笼集成的多孔膜预计不仅显著增强某些靶分子的渗透性，而且还能够有效地编码尺寸（孔径/分布）和功能信息（客体识别、传感、催化等）。以模块化的方式形成最终的膜。将研究这些膜在分离CO2/N2、水/醇和烯烃/石蜡中的性能。所提出的笼集成膜将为制造新型无缺陷复合聚合物膜开辟全新的方向，该复合聚合物膜可用于许多工业和环境重要的分离，如CO2/N2，水/乙醇或石蜡/烯烃。拟议的工作将成为一个平台，为外联、教育和少数群体在多个层面的参与提供新的机会。这种跨学科的研究将提供所有的学生，研究生和本科生，接触到这两个领域。五名以上的本科生将参与研究计划，同时将特别注意招收少数民族和代表性不足的群体的学生。拟议工作的结果将通过一个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.