Cross-Linked Self-Standing Graphene Oxide Membranes: A Pathway to Scalable Applications in Separation Technologies

The large-scale implementation of 2D material-based membranes is hindered by mechanical stability and mass transport control challenges. This work describes the fabrication, characterisation, and testing of self-standing graphene oxide (GO) membranes cross-linked with oxides such as Fe<sub>2&l...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Juan A. G. Carrio, Vssl Prasad Talluri, Swamy T. Toolahalli, Sergio G. Echeverrigaray, Antonio H. Castro Neto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Membranes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/1/31
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832587995802238976
author Juan A. G. Carrio
Vssl Prasad Talluri
Swamy T. Toolahalli
Sergio G. Echeverrigaray
Antonio H. Castro Neto
author_facet Juan A. G. Carrio
Vssl Prasad Talluri
Swamy T. Toolahalli
Sergio G. Echeverrigaray
Antonio H. Castro Neto
author_sort Juan A. G. Carrio
collection DOAJ
description The large-scale implementation of 2D material-based membranes is hindered by mechanical stability and mass transport control challenges. This work describes the fabrication, characterisation, and testing of self-standing graphene oxide (GO) membranes cross-linked with oxides such as Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, CaSO<sub>4</sub>, Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>, and a carbide, SiC. These cross-linking agents enhance the mechanical stability of the membranes and modulate their mass transport properties. The membranes were prepared by casting aqueous suspensions of GO and SiC or oxide powders onto substrates, followed by drying and detachment to yield self-standing films. This method enabled precise control over membrane thickness and the formation of laminated microstructures with interlayer spacings ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 nm. The resulting self-standing membranes, with areas between 0.002 m<sup>2</sup> and 0.090 m<sup>2</sup> and thicknesses from 0.6 μm to 20 μm, exhibit excellent flexibility and retain their chemical and physical integrity during prolonged testing in direct contact with ethanol/water and methanol/water mixtures in both liquid and vapour phases, with stability demonstrated over 24 h and up to three months. Gas permeation and chemical characterisation tests evidence their suitability for gas separation applications. The interactions promoted by the oxides and carbide with the functional groups of GO confer great stability and unique mass transport properties—the Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> cross-linked membranes present distinct performance characteristics—creating the potential for scalable advancements in cross-linked 2D material membranes for separation technologies.
format Article
id doaj-art-665386db1f434181b264d41c906c87f4
institution Kabale University
issn 2077-0375
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Membranes
spelling doaj-art-665386db1f434181b264d41c906c87f42025-01-24T13:41:05ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752025-01-011513110.3390/membranes15010031Cross-Linked Self-Standing Graphene Oxide Membranes: A Pathway to Scalable Applications in Separation TechnologiesJuan A. G. Carrio0Vssl Prasad Talluri1Swamy T. Toolahalli2Sergio G. Echeverrigaray3Antonio H. Castro Neto4Centre for Advanced 2D Materials, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117546, SingaporeCentre for Advanced 2D Materials, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117546, SingaporeCentre for Advanced 2D Materials, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117546, SingaporeCentre for Advanced 2D Materials, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117546, SingaporeCentre for Advanced 2D Materials, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117546, SingaporeThe large-scale implementation of 2D material-based membranes is hindered by mechanical stability and mass transport control challenges. This work describes the fabrication, characterisation, and testing of self-standing graphene oxide (GO) membranes cross-linked with oxides such as Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, CaSO<sub>4</sub>, Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>, and a carbide, SiC. These cross-linking agents enhance the mechanical stability of the membranes and modulate their mass transport properties. The membranes were prepared by casting aqueous suspensions of GO and SiC or oxide powders onto substrates, followed by drying and detachment to yield self-standing films. This method enabled precise control over membrane thickness and the formation of laminated microstructures with interlayer spacings ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 nm. The resulting self-standing membranes, with areas between 0.002 m<sup>2</sup> and 0.090 m<sup>2</sup> and thicknesses from 0.6 μm to 20 μm, exhibit excellent flexibility and retain their chemical and physical integrity during prolonged testing in direct contact with ethanol/water and methanol/water mixtures in both liquid and vapour phases, with stability demonstrated over 24 h and up to three months. Gas permeation and chemical characterisation tests evidence their suitability for gas separation applications. The interactions promoted by the oxides and carbide with the functional groups of GO confer great stability and unique mass transport properties—the Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> cross-linked membranes present distinct performance characteristics—creating the potential for scalable advancements in cross-linked 2D material membranes for separation technologies.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/1/31graphenemetal oxide cross-linkingcarbide cross-linkingmembrane
spellingShingle Juan A. G. Carrio
Vssl Prasad Talluri
Swamy T. Toolahalli
Sergio G. Echeverrigaray
Antonio H. Castro Neto
Cross-Linked Self-Standing Graphene Oxide Membranes: A Pathway to Scalable Applications in Separation Technologies
Membranes
graphene
metal oxide cross-linking
carbide cross-linking
membrane
title Cross-Linked Self-Standing Graphene Oxide Membranes: A Pathway to Scalable Applications in Separation Technologies
title_full Cross-Linked Self-Standing Graphene Oxide Membranes: A Pathway to Scalable Applications in Separation Technologies
title_fullStr Cross-Linked Self-Standing Graphene Oxide Membranes: A Pathway to Scalable Applications in Separation Technologies
title_full_unstemmed Cross-Linked Self-Standing Graphene Oxide Membranes: A Pathway to Scalable Applications in Separation Technologies
title_short Cross-Linked Self-Standing Graphene Oxide Membranes: A Pathway to Scalable Applications in Separation Technologies
title_sort cross linked self standing graphene oxide membranes a pathway to scalable applications in separation technologies
topic graphene
metal oxide cross-linking
carbide cross-linking
membrane
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/1/31
work_keys_str_mv AT juanagcarrio crosslinkedselfstandinggrapheneoxidemembranesapathwaytoscalableapplicationsinseparationtechnologies
AT vsslprasadtalluri crosslinkedselfstandinggrapheneoxidemembranesapathwaytoscalableapplicationsinseparationtechnologies
AT swamyttoolahalli crosslinkedselfstandinggrapheneoxidemembranesapathwaytoscalableapplicationsinseparationtechnologies
AT sergiogecheverrigaray crosslinkedselfstandinggrapheneoxidemembranesapathwaytoscalableapplicationsinseparationtechnologies
AT antoniohcastroneto crosslinkedselfstandinggrapheneoxidemembranesapathwaytoscalableapplicationsinseparationtechnologies