Perforated Monolayers for Enhanced Permselectivity in Chemical Biological Barrier Membranes

One of the Army’s primary research aims is to improve the survivability of soldiers in combat zones. One area of concern is the possibility of attack by chemical warfare agents. Current protective gear, while providing excellent protection, is heavy, bulky, and reduces the combat effectiveness of the wearer. Ideally, the next generation of protective gear will be no more cumbersome than the standard-issue Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) while maintaining its protective properties. One approach is to create a membrane that can be manufactured into a BDU, which would not allow chemical warfare agents to permeate while still allowing water (perspiration) to pass. With this goal in mind, we have been developing an ultra-thin membrane capable of blocking chemical agents, utilizing Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films. Here, we show how ionic cross-linking of multiply-charged surfactants (a process that we have termed, “gluing”) can yield LB films on the order of 6 nm thick having extraordinary barrier properties, high flux, and stability.