title: Diffusion and filtration properties of self-assembled gold nanocrystal membranes.
abstract: Close-packed nanoparticle monolayers have recently been shown to form mechanically robust, free-standing membranes. We report the first measurements of molecular transport through such ultrathin sheets, self-assembled from dodecanethiol-ligated gold nanocrystals. For aqueous solutions we find filtration coefficients 2 orders of magnitude larger than those observed in polymer-based filters, sieving of large solutes, and for smaller solutes a pronounced dependence of rejection on being charged. These results open up new possibilities for controlled delivery and separation of nano-objects.
authors.affiliation: James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States.
authors.forename: Jinbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xiao-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Lela
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vuković
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Král
authors.forename: Heinrich M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Jaeger
mesh_terms: D004058:Diffusion; D005374:Filtration; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D006046:Gold