Science· 2012Q1
Unimpeded Permeation of Water Through Helium-Leak–Tight Graphene-Based Membranes
- 3,068citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2012year
Short summary
Graphene oxide membranes, impermeable to gases like helium, allow unimpeded water permeation at rates at least 10^10 times faster than helium.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Graphene oxide membranes can be engineered to be impermeable to gases like helium.
- These membranes allow unimpeded permeation of water.
- Water permeation is at least 10^10 times faster than helium permeation.
- This effect is due to low-friction water flow through 2D capillaries formed by graphene sheets.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Permeation through nanometer pores is important in the design of materials for filtration and separation techniques and because of unusual fundamental behavior arising at the molecular scale. We found that submicrometer-thick membranes made from graphene oxide can be completely impermeable to liquids, vapors, and gases, including helium, but these membranes allow unimpeded permeation of water (H(2)O permeates through the membranes at least 10(10) times faster than He). We attribute these seemingly incompatible observations to a low-friction flow of a monolayer of water through two-dimensional capillaries formed by closely spaced graphene sheets. Diffusion of other molecules is blocked by reversible narrowing of the capillaries in low humidity and/or by their clogging with water.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Science, 2012 · DOI ↗
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Field: Materials Chemistry
Materials ChemistryMaterials Science