Fabrication of Free-Standing Nanoporous Membranes for Biological Separations
Dr. H.-K. Jeong
Self-assembled nanoporous silica thin films with orthogonally aligned tunable nanochannels have great potential not only as excellent model systems for fundamental study
on the transport of ions and molecules through confined nano-spaces but also as novel
membranes for practical applications such as fuel cells and separation and detection of
chemical and biological agents. The size, connectivity, and surface functionality (for
instance, surface charge density) of the silica nanopores can be readily controlled.
Thanks to the recent efforts by several groups, the orientation of the nano-channels can
also be controlled such that the cylindrical nano-channels are aligned perpendicular to
the substrates. Besides, Dr. Jeong’s group has already demonstrated the ability to
fabricate free-standing nanoporous silica films on silicon wafers, a critical step to
develop as nanoporous membranes for practical applications.
The goal of the project is to systematically study molecular transport through
nanochannels of free-standing nanoporous silica films on silicon wafers.
Plane view
Cross-sectional view
SiO2
Mesoporous
silica film
Si wafer
20 nm
~ 2nm – 10nm