The proposed research program is a collaboration between the University of New Mexico, Air Products, and Sandia National Laboratories. It is aimed at the development of a new class of ceramic membranes based on inorganic silicate polymers synthesized be sol-gel processing. Using concepts of polymer physics, fractal geometry, and drying theory, the project develops strategies to tailor the membrane pore diameters within the range 0.2 - 3.0 nm appropriate for ultrafiltration and molecular separation of gaseous and liquid mixtures. Because the membranes are amorphous polymers rather than polycrystalline solids, the pore size is not limited by particle size as in normal ceramics. Moreover, phase transitions and grain growth are avoided. The gels and gel- derived films are characterized by surface acoustic wave methods, by imaging ellipsometry, and NMR proton spin relaxation. Such ceramic membranes have excellent thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability and can be used in gas separations and industrial waste treatment. This proposal is jointly supported by NSF and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), following a special NSF-EPRI research initiative on polymeric materials.
