Gas/ion species selective membrane supported by multi-stage nano-hole array metal structure
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a porous metallic membrane having opposite first and second surfaces;
wherein the membrane has a first pore size at the first surface and has a second pore size at the second surface;
wherein the second pore size is greater than the first pore size.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved two-step replication process for fabrication of porous metallic membranes is provided. A negative of a porous non-metallic template is made by infiltration of a liquid precursor into the template, curing the precursor to form a solid negative, and removing the template to expose the negative. Metal is deposited to surround the exposed negative. Removal of the negative provides a porous metallic membrane having pores which replicate the pores of the original template membrane. The negative is kept immersed in a liquid at all times between removing the template and depositing the metal. This immersion eliminates damage to the negative that would be incurred in drying the negative out between these processing steps. Another aspect of the invention is metallic membranes prepared according to the preceding method. For example, metallic membranes having pores smaller on one side than on the other side of the membrane are provided.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a porous metallic membrane having opposite first and second surfaces;
wherein the membrane has a first pore size at the first surface and has a second pore size at the second surface;
wherein the second pore size is greater than the first pore size. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A supported membrane assembly comprising:
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a) a porous metallic support membrane having opposite first and second surfaces;
wherein the support membrane has a first pore size at the first surface and has a second pore size at the second surface;
wherein the second pore size is greater than the first pore size; and
b) a gas or ion species selective membrane assembly in contact with the first surface. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of fabricating a metallic membrane, the method comprising:
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a) providing a porous non-metallic template membrane having opposing first and second surfaces;
b) first depositing a first metal layer on the first surface such that pores on the first surface are not blocked by the first metal layer;
c) providing a polymer negative of the template membrane and affixed to the first metal layer;
d) removing the non-metallic template membrane to expose pore-filling parts of the polymer negative;
e) second depositing a second metal onto the first metal layer such that the second metal makes contact with the pore-filling parts of the polymer negative, wherein the polymer negative is kept immersed in a liquid at all times between the removing the non-metallic template membrane and the depositing a second metal; and
f) removing the polymer negative. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification