Graphene-like Membranes: From Impermeable to Selective Sieves

Impermeable atomic membranes from graphene sheets.

We demonstrate that a monolayer graphene membrane is impermeable to standard gases including helium. By applying a pressure difference across the membrane, we measure both the elastic constants and the mass of a single layer of graphene. This pressurized graphene membrane is the world's thinnest balloon and provides a unique separation barrier between 2 distinct regions that is only one atom th...

Membranes for Ultrafiltration, of Graduated Fineness down to Molecular Sieves

The use of cellophane in ultrafiltration is recommended. It is shown that after it has been swollen in water it does not hold back molecules such as sucrose but that it holds back all but the finest colloidal particles. Two methods are given for progressively decreasing the size of the pores until the cellophane becomes a very fine molecular sieve. A sieve structure as the chief factor seems mo...

Spray-evaporation assembled graphene oxide membranes for selective hydrogen transport

Selective gas transport through few-layered graphene and graphene oxide membranes.

Graphene is a distinct two-dimensional material that offers a wide range of opportunities for membrane applications because of ultimate thinness, flexibility, chemical stability, and mechanical strength. We demonstrate that few- and several-layered graphene and graphene oxide (GO) sheets can be engineered to exhibit the desired gas separation characteristics. Selective gas diffusion can be achi...

Molecular mechanism of water permeation in a helium impermeable graphene and graphene oxide membrane.

Layers of graphene oxide (GO) are found to be good for the permeation of water but not for helium (Science, 2012, 335(6067), 442-444) suggesting that the GO layers are dynamic in the formation of a permeation route depending on the environment they are in (i.e., water or helium). To probe the microscopic origin of this observation we calculate the potential of mean force (PMF) of GO sheets (wit...