Research Intrests

Ultra-thin membranes for gas separation represent a rapidly evolving field, with ongoing research aimed at improving the efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness of these membranes for practical applications in H2 production, and CO2 capture. However, as system size is reduced, there is increasing influence of end effects and associated interfacial resistance, whose relative significance varies inversely with system size, reducing the effective transport coefficient by orders of magnitude,  thereby severely restricting efficiency enhancement. Understanding the source of the interfacial resistance and unraveling the underlying mechanisms are therefore critical to the success of the quest for improved efficiency through the reduction of system size to nanoscale dimensions. This understanding will also explain some of the complexities of transport in biological systems, occurring in membrane nanopores of length of the order of a nanometer,  such as in aquaporins, and potentially facilitate advances in medicine.