Materials

Porous nanocrystalline silicon (pnc-Si) is the nanoporous membrane that started it all, but NRG scientists now make a variety of materials including microporous, organic, and composite membranes. The common characteristics of our materials are that they are free-standing and porous with a nanoscale thickness.

Properties

Utrathin porous membranes are exceptionally permeable to gases, fluids, and diffusing species. They are also transparent to light and electrons giving unique opportunities for metrology. Nanomembranes are surprisingly robust, scalable in manufacturing, and readily integrated into devices.

Applications

Our membranes have been used as cell culture substrates, as chemical sensors, and as separation tools. We routinely integrate membranes into devices that combine microfluidics and electronics to create multifunctional platforms. We have also developed high area membranes for applications in dialysis and microarrays.