Nanoparticle Composite Membranes for Gas Separation and Catalysis

We are exploring and developing new nanocomposite membranes with a polymer matrix and active nanoparticles (NPs) that synergistically enhance the membrane's gas separation and catalytic capabilities. We are focussing on preparation of previously synthetically inaccessible, tailor-made NPs, dispersing them into polymers and characterizing the influence of these novel particles on permeation, transport, and catalytic reaction of gas molecules in the nanocomposites. We employ a synergistic combination of both theoretical and experimental components: 1) developing the theory and numerical models describing molecular binding and dissociation on alloy NP surfaces to guide the selection of suitable alloy materials, and 2) designing monomer and polymer "hooks" into the matrices to assist in NP dispersion, thereby increasing the membrane's separation and catalytic properties. A key feature of the project is understanding the conformation of monomer and polymer molecules on the NP surface and how the structures are assembled into membranes.

This is a multidisciplinary project performed in collaboration with the Keto, Becker, Freeman and Henkelman research groups at the University of Texas at Austin.

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under CBET 0708779.

Publications in this Area

  1. K.L. Gleason, J.W. Keto, D. Kovar, M.F. Becker, "Metal and Metal-Oxide Nanoparticle Synthesis by Laser Ablation of Aqueous Aerosols," Laser Material Interactions at Micro/Nanoscales, Proceedings of the MRS Spring Meeting, Symposium TT, San Francisco, CA, April 25-29, 2011. DOI: 10.1557/opl.2011.1385. mrss11-1365-tt03-02
  2. M. Nahar, I.F. Gallardo, K.L. Gleason, M.F. Becker, J.W. Keto, and D. Kovar, "Metal-on-Oxide Nanoparticles Produced Using Laser Ablation of Microparticle Aerosols," J. Nanopart. Res. 13 3455-3464 (2011).
  3. M. Nahar and D. Kovar, “Morphological Stability of Gold Nanoparticles on Titania Nanoparticles,” Ceramic Transactions vol. 223 – Proceedings of the International Symposium on Controlled Processing of Nanoparticle Structures and Composites, pg. 23-30, Ed. by K. Lu, C. Li, E. Medvedovski, and E.A. Olevsky, MS&T’09, Pittsburgh, PA, October 25 – 29, 2009.
  4. G. Malyavantham, D.T. O’Brien, M.F. Becker, J.W. Keto, and D. Kovar, "Au-Cu Nanoparticles Produced by Laser Ablation of Mixtures of Au and Cu Microparticles," J. Nanoparticle Res., 6 [6] 661-664 (2004).
  5. D.E. Henneke, G. Malyavanatham, D. Kovar, W.T. Nichols, J.W. Keto, D.T. O'Brien, and M.F. Becker, "Stabilization of Silver Nanoparticles in Nonanoic Acid: A Temperature Activated Conformation Reaction Observed with Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy," J. Chem. Phys., 119 [13] 6802-6809 (2003).
  6. J.W. Keto, W. Nichols, D. O'Brien, M.F. Becker, and D. Kovar, “Nanoparticles: Building Blocks for Nanostructured Materials,” From the Atomic to the Nano-scale, Proceedings of the International Workshop, C. T. Whelan and J. H. McGuire, Eds. (Old Dominion, 2003) pp. 54-62.