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US 2012/0267249 A1Published application
Surface charge enabled nanoporous semi-permeable membrane for desalination
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJOHN M. COTTE, Christopher V. Jahnes, Hongbo Peng, Stephen M. Rossnagel
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Abstract
A filter includes a membrane having a plurality of nanochannels formed therein. A first surface charge material is deposited on an end portion of the nanochannels. The first surface charge material includes a surface charge to electrostatically influence ions in an electrolytic solution such that the nanochannels reflect ions back into the electrolytic solution while passing a fluid of the electrolytic solution. Methods for making and using the filter are also provided.
Claims24
A filter, comprising:
- a membrane having a plurality of parallel nanochannels formed in an aluminum substrate by anodic aluminum oxidation;
- and
- a first surface charge material deposited on at least one end portion of the nanochannels, the first surface charge material including a surface charge to electrostatically influence ions in an electrolytic solution such that the nanochannels reflect ions back into the electrolytic solution while passing a fluid of the electrolytic solution.
A filter system, comprising:
- a first volume configured to receive an electrolytic solution at a pressure;
- and
- a second volume separated from the first volume by a membrane having a plurality of parallel nanochannels formed in an aluminum substrate by anodic aluminum oxidation;
- and the nanochannels including a first surface charge material deposited on at least one end portion of the nanochannels, the first surface charge material including a surface charge to electrostatically influence ions in an electrolytic solution such that the nanochannels reflect ions back into the electrolytic solution while passing a fluid of the electrolytic solution.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.