| Description | The Clean Energy Institute Interdisciplinary Seminar Series was established to bring distinguished leaders in the field of clean energy to campus to present their research and meet students, postdocs, and faculty from departments across the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Engineering, and the Environment.
Lecture Title:
Pushing the limits of membrane separations
Summary:
Membrane technology is a cornerstone in water purification, clean energy, and resource recovery, providing efficient solutions for some of the most pressing global challenges. Yet, conventional membranes often face limitations, particularly the trade-off between selectivity and permeability. In this talk, we will explore cutting-edge advancements in membrane materials and design that push beyond these traditional boundaries. From nanostructured isoporous membranes that hint at near-perfect size selectivity to phyllosilicate-based membranes with tunable ion transport properties, we are reimagining how membranes can be optimized for high-performance separations. By controlling pore structure, chemistry, and charge at the molecular and nanoscopic levels and harnessing new fabrication techniques, we are advancing the field toward unprecedented precision and efficiency. Join us as we dive into these innovations and consider their implications for future technologies in water treatment, clean energy, and beyond.
About the Speaker:
Seth B. Darling is the Chief Science & Technology Officer for the Advanced Energy Technologies Directorate. He also serves as Senior Scientist in the Chemical Sciences & Engineering Division and Director of the Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems (AMEWS) Energy Frontier Research Center. He received his PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Chicago. His group’s research centers around molecular engineering with a current emphasis on advanced materials for cleaning water, having made previous contributions in fields ranging from self-assembly to advanced lithography to solar energy. |
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