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US 8,297,449 B2Granted
Nanoporous semi-permeable membrane and methods for fabricating the same
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsAli Afzali-Ardakani, Stephen M. Rossnagel
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Abstract
A filter includes a membrane having a plurality of nanochannels formed therein. Functionalized nanoparticles are deposited through self assembly onto surfaces defining the nanochannels so as to decrease the final diameter of the membrane. Methods for making and using the filter are also provided.
Claims20
A filter, comprising:
- a porous membrane having a plurality of nanochannels formed therein, wherein the nanochannels include an oxide surface and have a first diameter extending from an inlet opening to an outlet opening;
- and
- a self assembled film of functionalized nanoparticles of a single monolayer extending from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, wherein the functionalized nanoparticles comprise a metal nanoparticle and an organic ligand disposed thereon having at least one functional group reactive with the oxide surface, wherein the self assembled film decreases the first diameter to a second diameter.
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 nanochannels formed therein, the nanochannels including a first diameter, and a self assembled monolayer of metal nanoparticles attached to a surface of the nanochannels and extending from an inlet opening to an outlet opening, wherein the self assembled monolayer provide the filter system with a second diameter, the second diameter being less than the first diameter, and wherein the second diameter is effective to prevent transport of ions in the electrolytic solution through the membrane.
A method for making a filter, comprising:
- narrowing a diameter of each nanochannel in a porous membrane material comprising attaching a self assembled monolayer of functionalized nanoparticles to an interior surface of each nanochannel and extending from an inlet opening to an outlet opening, wherein each of the functionalized nanoparticles comprise a metal nanoparticle and an organic ligand attached to the nanoparticles comprising at least one functional group effective to react with and form a self assembled monolayer of the nanoparticles on the interior surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.