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'Swiss cheese' membrane with adjustable holes

Date:
October 31, 2014
Source:
University of Twente
Summary:
The pore size of the smart membranes can be adjusted from the outside, experts report. This is very attractive in applications such as biosensors or chemical analysis. The ‘Swiss cheese’ structure is characteristic of many polymer membranes and is now modified by introducing iron within the polymer. Using an electric signal or a chemical reaction, the pore size can be adjusted. The key to this is controlled adding or extracting of electrons to and from iron.
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The pore size of the smart membranes can be adjusted from the outside: this is very attractive in applications like biosensors or chemical analysis. The 'Swiss cheese' structure is characteristic of many polymer membranes and is now modified by introducing iron within the polymer. Using an electric signal or a chemical reaction, the pore size can be adjusted. The key to this is controlled adding or extracting of electrons to and from iron.

Cheap biosensor

Thanks to this adjustable pore size, the permeability and selectivity of the membrane can be tuned, for separation purposes or controlled release. The UT scientists see possibilities in analysis and separation of proteins, for example. An extra advantage of the new membranes is the change in colour that takes place. The process of protein detection and analysis becomes visible in an easy way, which may lead to a cheap type of biosensor.

Silver nanoparticles

Another application of the smart membrane is in catalysis. Here, it is possible to kill two birds with one stone. Whilst the pore size and permeabiliteit can be altered using a chemical reaction with silver salt, nanosize particles of silver are deposited on the membrane at the same time. Silver is an important catalyst in many applications.

The membrane research is conducted by the Materials Science and Technology of Polymers group, led by Prof. Julius Vancso. This group is part of the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology of the University of Twente.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Twente. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Kaihuan Zhang, Xueling Feng, Xiaofeng Sui, Mark A. Hempenius, G. Julius Vancso. Breathing Pores on Command: Redox-Responsive Spongy Membranes from Poly(ferrocenylsilane)s. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2014; DOI: 10.1002/anie.201408010

Cite This Page:

University of Twente. "'Swiss cheese' membrane with adjustable holes." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 31 October 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141031082028.htm>.
University of Twente. (2014, October 31). 'Swiss cheese' membrane with adjustable holes. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 29, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141031082028.htm
University of Twente. "'Swiss cheese' membrane with adjustable holes." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141031082028.htm (accessed March 29, 2024).

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