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Exponentially selective molecular sieving through angstrom pores

Author

Listed:
  • P. Z. Sun

    (University of Manchester
    University of Manchester)

  • M. Yagmurcukardes

    (University of Antwerp
    NANOlab Center of Excellence
    Izmir Institute of Technology)

  • R. Zhang

    (University of Manchester)

  • W. J. Kuang

    (University of Manchester)

  • M. Lozada-Hidalgo

    (University of Manchester)

  • B. L. Liu

    (Tsinghua University
    Tsinghua University)

  • H.-M. Cheng

    (Tsinghua University
    Tsinghua University)

  • F. C. Wang

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • F. M. Peeters

    (University of Antwerp
    NANOlab Center of Excellence)

  • I. V. Grigorieva

    (University of Manchester)

  • A. K. Geim

    (University of Manchester
    University of Manchester
    Tsinghua University
    Tsinghua University)

Abstract

Two-dimensional crystals with angstrom-scale pores are widely considered as candidates for a next generation of molecular separation technologies aiming to provide extreme, exponentially large selectivity combined with high flow rates. No such pores have been demonstrated experimentally. Here we study gas transport through individual graphene pores created by low intensity exposure to low kV electrons. Helium and hydrogen permeate easily through these pores whereas larger species such as xenon and methane are practically blocked. Permeating gases experience activation barriers that increase quadratically with molecules’ kinetic diameter, and the effective diameter of the created pores is estimated as ∼2 angstroms, about one missing carbon ring. Our work reveals stringent conditions for achieving the long sought-after exponential selectivity using porous two-dimensional membranes and suggests limits on their possible performance.

Suggested Citation

  • P. Z. Sun & M. Yagmurcukardes & R. Zhang & W. J. Kuang & M. Lozada-Hidalgo & B. L. Liu & H.-M. Cheng & F. C. Wang & F. M. Peeters & I. V. Grigorieva & A. K. Geim, 2021. "Exponentially selective molecular sieving through angstrom pores," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-27347-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27347-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter Schweizer & Christian Dolle & Daniela Dasler & Gonzalo Abellán & Frank Hauke & Andreas Hirsch & Erdmann Spiecker, 2020. "Mechanical cleaning of graphene using in situ electron microscopy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
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    4. Alex W. Robertson & Christopher S. Allen & Yimin A. Wu & Kuang He & Jaco Olivier & Jan Neethling & Angus I. Kirkland & Jamie H. Warner, 2012. "Spatial control of defect creation in graphene at the nanoscale," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 3(1), pages 1-7, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eli Hoenig & Yu Han & Kangli Xu & Jingyi Li & Mingzhan Wang & Chong Liu, 2024. "In situ generation of (sub) nanometer pores in MoS2 membranes for ion-selective transport," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Z. F. Wu & P. Z. Sun & O. J. Wahab & Y. T. Tan & D. Barry & D. Periyanagounder & P. B. Pillai & Q. Dai & W. Q. Xiong & L. F. Vega & K. Lulla & S. J. Yuan & R. R. Nair & E. Daviddi & P. R. Unwin & A. K, 2023. "Proton and molecular permeation through the basal plane of monolayer graphene oxide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Zhihua Zhou & Yongtao Tan & Qian Yang & Achintya Bera & Zecheng Xiong & Mehmet Yagmurcukardes & Minsoo Kim & Yichao Zou & Guanghua Wang & Artem Mishchenko & Ivan Timokhin & Canbin Wang & Hao Wang & Ch, 2022. "Gas permeation through graphdiyne-based nanoporous membranes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-6, December.

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