Self-assembly of a silica-surfactant nanocomposite in a porous alumina membrane.
A mesoporous membrane composed of nanochannels with a uniform diameter has a potential use for precise size-exclusive separation of molecules. Here, we report a novel method to form a hybrid membrane composed of silica-surfactant nanocomposite and a porous alumina membrane, by which size-selective transport of molecules across the membrane becomes possible. The nanocomposite formed inside each columnar alumina pore was an assembly of surfactant-templated silica-nanochannels with a channel diameter of 3.4 nm; the channel direction being predominantly oriented along the wall of the columnar alumina pore. Molecules could be transported across the membrane including the silica-surfactant nanocomposite with a capability of nanometre-order size-exclusive separation. Our proposed membrane system has a potential use not only for separation science, but also catalysis and chip technologies.
Yamaguchi
Akira
A
Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan.
Uejo
Fumiaki
F
Yoda
Takashi
T
Uchida
Tatsuya
T
Tanamura
Yoshihiko
Y
Yamashita
Tomohisa
T
Teramae
Norio
N
D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D008420:Manufactured Materials; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008851:Micropore Filters; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D000537:Aluminum Oxide