Research Projects

Separation of mixtures is crucial in chemical industries, accounting for 40-70% of operating and capital costs. Membrane separation is an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technique that can be operated continuously. However, membranes often trade permeability for selectivity. Traditional membrane materials and empirical design methods have limitations, leading to inadequately fine-tuned selectivity and poor molecular specificity. The global water crisis calls for membrane-based nanotechnologies for water desalination and purification. Ultrafiltration UF and Nanofiltration NF are viable solutions to this problem. This project focuses on molecular-level design of high-performance UF and NF membranes with precise and rapid separation properties. Ultrathin two-dimensional materials (2DMs) with nanoporous structures are emerging as desirable building blocks for membrane design. This proposal explores the potential of restacking 2DMs to form thin layered laminates with controllable interlayer channels for high-performance UF and NF membranes. By precisely regulating interlayer spacing between nanosheets, high selectivity and permeability can be achieved.