US 12,257,553 B2
Separation membrane and methods of preparation thereof
Mark D. Fokema, Northborough, MA (US); and Decio Coutinho, Marlborough,, MA (US)
Assigned to Aspen Products Group, Inc., Marlborough, MA (US)
Filed by Aspen Products Group, Inc., Marlborough, MA (US)
Filed on May 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/303,363.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/057,939, filed on Jul. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0032240 A1, Feb. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B01D 67/00 (2006.01); B01D 61/36 (2006.01); B01D 69/02 (2006.01); B01D 69/12 (2006.01); B01D 69/14 (2006.01); B01D 71/02 (2006.01); B01D 71/48 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 67/0039 (2013.01) [B01D 61/363 (2022.08); B01D 67/00791 (2022.08); B01D 67/0088 (2013.01); B01D 67/0095 (2013.01); B01D 69/02 (2013.01); B01D 69/12 (2013.01); B01D 69/125 (2013.01); B01D 69/148 (2013.01); B01D 71/02 (2013.01); B01D 71/0211 (2022.08); B01D 71/024 (2013.01); B01D 71/48 (2013.01); B01D 2323/04 (2013.01); B01D 2323/081 (2022.08); B01D 2323/14 (2013.01); B01D 2323/28 (2013.01); B01D 2323/36 (2013.01); B01D 2323/46 (2013.01); B01D 2325/04 (2013.01); B01D 2325/20 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for fabricating a membrane, the method comprising:
contacting a porous substrate that defines open surface pores with a liquid solution to fill or wet the open surface pores of the porous substrate, wherein the liquid solution comprises a solvent and a solute dissolved in the solvent; then
removing the solvent from the liquid solution to modify the surface charge of the open surface pores with a solute from the liquid solution so as to produce open surface-modified pores with dimensions of at least about 2 microns; then
depositing a 2-D-material-flake solution comprising 2-D-material flakes on the porous substrate with the open surface-modified pores and without a support layer between the otherwise open surface-modified pores of the porous substrate and the selective-transport layer to form a 2-D-material-flake-solution layer with a thickness of less than 40 microns, wherein the solute promotes aggregation of the 2-D-material flakes to inhibit penetration of the 2-D-material flakes into the otherwise open surface-modified pores; and then
evaporating solvent from the 2-D-material-flake-solution layer to form a selective-transport layer comprising 2-D-material flakes on the porous substrate, wherein the selective-transport layer coats the porous substrate and spans across the otherwise open surface-modified pores.