210 results about "Nanoporous membrane" patented technology

The present invention relates to ultrafiltration. In particular, the present invention provides nanoporous membranes having pores for generating in vitro and in vivo ultrafiltrate, devices and bioartificial organs utilizing such nanoporous membranes, and related methods (e.g., diagnostic methods, research methods, drug screening). The present invention further provides nanoporous membranes configured to avoid protein fouling with, for example, a polyethylene glycol surface coating.

Provided herein composition and methods for nanoporous membranes comprising single walled, double walled, or multi-walled carbon nanotubes embedded in a matrix material. Average pore size of the carbon nanotube can be 6 nm or less. These membranes are a robust platform for the study of confined molecular transport, with applications in liquid and gas separations and chemical sensing including desalination, dialysis, and fabric formation.

Nanoparticles having a mean particle size of less than about 25 nanometers and a mean pore size of less than 10 nanometers, and a mean surface area of at least 500 m2 / g; nanoporous films of such nanoparticles; and composites and devices containing such nanoparticles and nanoporous films.

A method for making a nanoporous membrane is disclosed. The method provides a composite film comprising an atomically thin material layer and a polymer layer, and then bombarding the composite film with energetic particles to form a plurality of pores through at least the atomically thin material layer. The nanoporous membrane also has a atomically thin material layer with a plurality of apertures therethrough and a polymer film layer adjacent one side of the graphene layer. The polymer film layer has a plurality of enlarged pores therethrough, which are aligned with the plurality of apertures. All of the enlarged pores may be concentrically aligned with all the apertures. In one embodiment the atomically thin material layer is graphene.

A method of fabricating a nanoporous membrane filter having a uniform array of nanopores etch-formed in a thin film structure (e.g. (100)-oriented single crystal silicon) having a predetermined thickness, by (a) using interferometric lithography to create an etch pattern comprising a plurality array of unit patterns having a predetermined width / diameter, (b) using the etch pattern to etch frustum-shaped cavities or pits in the thin film structure such that the dimension of the frustum floors of the cavities are substantially equal to a desired pore size based on the predetermined thickness of the thin film structure and the predetermined width / diameter of the unit patterns, and (c) removing the frustum floors at a boundary plane of the thin film structure to expose, open, and thereby create the nanopores substantially having the desired pore size.

A photoelectrocatalytic oxidizing device having a photoanode being constructed from an anatase or rutile polymorph of Ti as the support electrode. Alternatively, the photoanode is a composite electrode comprising an anatase or rutile polymorph of Ti as the support electrode coated with a thin film of sintered nanoporous TiO2 derived from a stable, dispersed suspension of nanoparticulate TiO2. The device being useful for removing ammonia, protein and other contaminants from water in aquariums and aquacultures thereof. The device being cylindrical in shape and having a flow-through configuration. The method being directed at reducing the amount and concentration of ammonia in an aquarium or aquaculture system comprising providing an aqueous solution comprising water, NH3, NH4+ and 1 ppb to 200 g / L NaCl, and, photoelectrocatalytically oxidizing the NH3 and NH4+ to produce N2 gas, NO2− and NO3−, wherein the NH3 and NH4+ are oxidized on the surface of a photoanode constructed from an anatase polymorph of Ti, a rutile polymorph of Ti, or a nanoporous film of TiO2.

Provided is a carbon nanostructure-metal composite nanoporous film in which a carbon nanostructure-metal composite is coated on one surface or both surfaces of a membrane support having micro- or nano-sized pores. A method for manufacturing a carbon nanostructure-metal composite nanoporous film, includes: dispersing a carbon nanostructure-metal composite in a solvent at the presence of a surfactant and coating the carbon nanostructure-metal composite on one surface or both surfaces of a membrane support; and fusing the metal on the membrane support by heating the coated membrane support. The metal in carbon nanostructure-metal composite nanoporous film melts at a low temperature since a size of a metal of the carbon nanostructure-metal composite is several nm to several-hundred nm.

A photoelectrocatalytic oxidizing device having a photoanode being constructed from a conducting metal such as Ti as the support electrode. Alternatively, the photoanode is a composite electrode comprising a conducting metal such as Ti as the support electrode coated with a thin film of sintered nanoporous TiO2. The device is useful in methods for treating an aqueous solution such as groundwater, wastewater, drinking water, ballast water, aquarium water, and aquaculture water to reduce amounts of a contaminant. The method being directed at reducing the amount and concentration of contaminants in an aqueous solution comprising providing an aqueous solution comprising at least one contaminant, and, photoelectrocatalytically oxidizing the contaminant, wherein the contaminant is oxidized by a free radical produced by a photoanode constructed from an anatase polymorph of Ti, a rutile polymorph of Ti, or a nanoporous film of TiO2.

The invention is directed to a composite polymer / nanoporous film system and methods of fabrication of tunable nanoporous coatings on flexible polymer substrates. The porosity of the nanoporous film can be tuned during fabrication to a desired value by adjusting the deposition conditions. Experiments show that SiO2 coatings with tunable porosity fabricated by oblique-angle electron beam deposition can be deposited on polymer substrates. These conformable coatings have many applications, including in the field of optics where the ability to fabricate tunable refractive index coatings on a variety of materials and shapes is of great importance.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a silicon nanoporous membrane for oxygenating blood. The nanoporous membrane includes a first major surface, a second major surface, and a plurality of pores extending between the first and second major surfaces. The first major surface is for contacting a gas. The second major surface is for contacting blood and is oppositely disposed from said first major surface. The first and second major surfaces define a membrane thickness. Each of the pores is defined by a length, a width, and a height. Each of the pores is separated by a uniform interpore distance.

Devices and methods for cutaneous delivery of a composition are provided, wherein the composition is passed through an ordered nanoporous membrane in fluid communication with a reservoir. The nanoporous membrane includes a plurality of aligned hollow nanotubules coated with a continuous polymer matrix, and etched to open the plurality of hollow nanotubules and form pores. In one embodiment, the etching step oxidizes an end of the nanotubules to form carboxylate groups. The ordered nanoporous membrane further includes at least one additional functional unit bound to the carboxylate groups. The at least one additional functional unit selectively exposes or at least partially occludes the pore of an adjacent nanotubule, thereby controlling flux rate through the membrane. In one embodiment, application of an electrical impulse to the membrane causes the at least one additional functional unit to selectively expose or at least partially occlude the pore.

A nanoporous catalytic membrane which displays several unique features including pores which can go through the entire thickness of the membrane. The membrane has a higher catalytic and product selectivity than conventional catalysts. Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes serve as the catalyst substrate. This substrate is then subjected to Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), which allows the controlled narrowing of the pores from 40 nm to 10 nm in the substrate by deposition of a preparatory material. Subsequent deposition of a catalytic layer on the inner surfaces of the pores reduces pore sizes to less than 10 nm and allows for a higher degree of reaction selectivity. The small pore sizes allow control over which molecules enter the pores, and the flow-through feature can allow for partial oxidation of reactant species as opposed to complete oxidation. A nanoporous separation membrane, produced by ALD is also provided for use in gaseous and liquid separations. The membrane has a high flow rate of material with 100% selectivity.

Anisotropic hydrophobic / hydrophilic nanoporous membranes and methods of forming anisotropic hydrophobic / hydrophilic nanoporous membranes are disclosed. The method of forming the nanoporous membrane includes growing a nanoporous oxide film on a substrate. A nanoporous membrane having a top side and a bottom side can then be formed by partially separating the nanoporous oxide film from the substrate. A fluorocarbon film can be deposited on the top side of the nanoporous membrane by plasma polymerization. The disclosed anisotropic hydrophobic / hydrophilic nanoporous membranes can have extremely different hydrophobicity between the top side and the bottom side of the nanoporous membrane.

Provided are a nanoporous membrane and a method of fabricating the same. The nanoporous membrane includes a support, and a separation layer including a plurality of nano-sized pores at a density of 1010 / cm2 or greater and a matrix. The nanoporous membrane has a high flux and a high selectivity.

A method of forming a nanoporous film is disclosed. The method comprises forming a coating solution including clusters, surfactant molecules, a solvent, and one of an acid catalyst and a base catalyst. The clusters comprise inorganic groups. The method further comprises aging the coating solution for a time period to select a predetermined phase that will self-assemble and applying the coating solution on a substrate. The method further comprises evaporating the solvent from the coating solution and removing the surfactant molecules to yield the nanoporous film.

A method for making a nanoporous membrane is disclosed. The method provides a composite film comprising an atomically thin material layer and a polymer layer, and then bombarding the composite film with energetic particles to form a plurality of pores through at least the atomically thin material layer. The nanoporous membrane also has a atomically thin material layer with a plurality of apertures therethrough and a polymer film layer adjacent one side of the graphene layer. The polymer film layer has a plurality of enlarged pores therethrough, which are aligned with the plurality of apertures. All of the enlarged pores may be concentrically aligned with all the apertures. In one embodiment the atomically thin material layer is graphene.

The invention is a nanoporous membrane exchanger.

The invention provides a carbon nano-structure-metal complex nano porous film coating on both sides of a membrane support having micro or nano-porous carbon and a manufacturing method thereof. The method comprises dispersing the carbon nano-structure-metal complex and coating on both sides of a separated membrane support in the presence of surface active agent; performing thermal treatment to the coated separated membrane support and welding the melt to the separated membrane support. According to the carbon nano-structure-metal complex nano porous film, the metal of the carbon nano-structure-metal complex is nanometer to hundreds of nanometer level, thus can be melted at low temperature.

Anisotropic hydrophobic / hydrophilic nanoporous membranes and methods of forming anisotropic hydrophobic / hydrophilic nanoporous membranes are disclosed. The method of forming the nanoporous membrane includes growing a nanoporous oxide film on a substrate. A nanoporous membrane having a top side and a bottom side can then be formed by partially separating the nanoporous oxide film from the substrate. A fluorocarbon film can be deposited on the top side of the nanoporous membrane by plasma polymerization. The disclosed anisotropic hydrophobic / hydrophilic nanoporous membranes can have extremely different hydrophobicity between the top side and the bottom side of the nanoporous membrane.

Provided are a nanoporous membrane including a support; a first separation layer with a plurality of first nano-sized pores and a first matrix; and a second separation layer having a plurality of second pores respectively corresponding to the plurality of first pores of the first separation layer and a second matrix, and formed on the first separation layer, wherein a density of the plurality of the first pores and the second pores is equal to or greater than 1010 / cm2, and a diameter of each of the second pores is less than that of the corresponding first pore, a process of fabricating the same, and a device for a controlled release of biopharmaceuticals including the nanoporous membrane. The device for a controlled release of biopharmaceuticals including the nanoporous membrane can release biopharmaceuticals at a constant rate for a long period of time regardless of the concentration of the biopharmaceuticals including in pharmaceuticals, and high flex and selectivity.

Improved methods for detecting active tuberculosis are disclosed. A method comprises enriching at least one M. tuberculosis-specific biomolecule from a sample by contacting the sample with a nanoporous film; and detecting the presence of the M. tuberculosis-specific biomolecule or fragment(s) thereof. The method may further comprise digesting the enriched M. tuberculosis-specific biomolecule with an enzyme to produce a digestion product comprising at least one fragment of the M. tuberculosis-specific biomolecule. Improved sensitivity and speed achieved.

The invention discloses a method for making a photoelectric hydrogen production electrode and the photoelectric hydrogen production electrode made by the same. The method for making the photoelectric hydrogen production electrode comprises the following steps of: 1, providing an anodic oxidation substrate; 2, preparing pulp used for forming an oxide nanoporous membrane, wherein the oxide contained in the pulp is the oxide of the precursor metal of the anodic oxidation substrate; 3, coating the pulp on the anodic oxidation substrate to make the pulp form a membrane on the anodic oxidation substrate; and 4, sintering the anodic oxidation substrate on which the membrane is formed. In the method, a low-cost oxide nanoporous membrane, such as a WO3 (tungsten trioxide) film structure, is made on a anodic oxidation substrate, such as an anodic oxidation WO3 substrate by a simple blade coating method. The electrode made by the method has the advantages of high stability, tight combination, high photo current response and high degree of crystallization of the WO3.

A microbial fuel cell includes a bio-compatible body having a micro-pillar structure defining an anode compartment adapted to contain a catalyst that metabolizes glucose to generate electrons and protons. A nano-porous membrane prevents loss of the catalyst from the anode compartment, while providing fluid access for ingress of glucose fuel and egress of waste.

The invention relates to the production of nanoporous silica dielectric films and to semiconductor devices and integrated circuits comprising these improved films. The nanoporous films of the invention are prepared using silicon containing pre-polymers and are prepared by a process that allows crosslinking at lowered gel temperatures by means of a metal-ion-free onium or nucleophile catalyst.

The invention relates to the production of nanoporous silica dielectric films and to semiconductor devices and integrated circuits comprising these improved films. The nanoporous films of the invention are prepared using silicon containing pre-polymers and are prepared by a process that allows crosslinking at lowered gel temperatures by means of a metal-ion-free onium or nucleophile catalyst.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of forming a film of nanocomposites of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and platinum (Pt) nanoparticles. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of (a) providing a first solution that contains a plurality of CNTs, (b) providing a second solution that contains a plurality of Pt nanoparticles, (c) combining the first solution and the second solution to form a third solution, and (d) filtering the third solution through a nanoporous membrane using vacuum filtration to obtain a film of nanocomposites of CNTs and Pt nanoparticles.

The invention relates to a microarray design of hybrid upconversion nanoparticles on a nanoporous anodized alumina membrane heterogeneous assay for simultaneous detection of multiple oligonucleotides, for example, oligonucleotides from different types of viruses.

The present invention relates to design and manufacture of multilayer sintered membranes made from metals and inorganic compounds (ceramics, silicate, clay, zeolites, phosphates, etc.). The membranes are designated for separation of water. They comprise at least one layer having nanopores commensurable with the size of water molecules. The membranes comprise: (a) supporting metallic layer having pore size 1-500 microns, (b) metallic interlayer having pore size <2 micron, (c) sublayer with local regular protrusions of the interlayer into the supporting layer to increase service life of the membrane, and (d) one nanoporous ceramic or metallic top layer having pore size in the range of 1-15 angstroms. The invented design and method allow the manufacture of cost-effective multilayer membranes containing nanoporous layer with controlled pore sizes in each layer and optimal morphology of pores that provides selective transport of molecules during filtration and separation of liquids.