Recent advances in two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials offer unprecedented opportunities to fabricate a new class of filtration membranes that can potentially revolutionize the membrane-based water purification. In this talk, I discuss the promise of 2D nanomaterials as building blocks to ingeniously make new nanostructured membranes with exceptional mechanical, electrical, chemical, and biological properties, thereby significantly improving the separation efficiency of water purification membranes. In particular, I will present some of the exciting results from our ongoing research on graphene oxide (GO) and MoS<sub>2</sub> membranes made by layer-stacking and bonding of appropriately spaced 2D nanosheets. Compared with today’s widely used polymeric membranes, 2D-material membranes are fabricated by facile methods using inexpensive bulk materials and have a fundamentally different separation mechanism.  Most important, 2D-material membranes exhibit many appealing properties such as high water permeability, excellent selectivity, multifunctionality, and superior fouling resistance. Additionally, I will point out several outstanding challenges in manipulating the nanostructure of 2D-material membranes to maximize their separation capability.<br/>

Next generation of water purification membranes made of 2D nanomaterials: Promises and challenges

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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