Kyoto University · Materials Science
Professor Easan Sivaniah's research lab specializes in advanced materials for separation and functional thin films, with a focus on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), porous organic cages, and block copolymer nanostructures. The lab investigates molecular-sieving membranes for selective gas separation, particularly using Zr-based MOFs and organic cage molecules, while also exploring the influence of substrate topography and interfacial engineering on self-assembled nanostructures. A key theme is the design of materials with tailored free volume and pore architecture to enhance transport properties in membranes and responsive gels.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
As synthesised ZIF-8 nanoparticles (size ∼ 60 nm and specific surface area ∼ 1300–1600 m2 g−1) were directly incorporated into a model polymer matrix (Matrimid® 5218) by solution mixing. This produces flexible transparent membranes with excellent dispersion of nanoparticles (up to loadings of 30 wt%) with good adhesion within the polymer matrix, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and gas sorption studies. Pure gas (H2, CO2, O2, N2 and CH4) permeatio
Porous organic cage molecules are fabricated into thin films and molecular-sieving membranes. Cage molecules are solution cast on various substrates to form amorphous thin films, with the structures tuned by tailoring the cage chemistry and processing conditions. For the first time, uniform and pinhole-free microporous cage thin films are formed and demonstrated as molecular-sieving membranes for selective gas separation.
The effect of organic ligands on the separation performance of Zr based metal-organic framework (Zr-MOF) membranes was investigated. A series of Zr-MOF membranes with different ligand chemistry and functionality were synthesized by an in situ solvothermal method and a coordination modulation technique. The thin supported MOF layers (ca. 1 μm) showed the crystallographic orientation and pore structure of original MOF structures. The MOF membranes show excellent selectivity towards hydrogen owing
The effect of substrate roughness on the orientation of lamellar microdomains of symmetric poly(styrene)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) [PS-b-PMMA] was investigated. Thin films of three molecular weights of PS-b-PMMA were prepared on organic polyimide and inorganic indium tin oxide substrates whose surfaces were characterized for roughness and surface energy. It was shown, through cross-section transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic secondary ion mass spectroscopy (dSIMS), that abov
Polyacrylamide gels are cast upon a stiff support with controlled topography, resulting in a thin gel layer of variable height. The topographical profiles project a stiffness map onto the gel, resulting in controlled linear and non-linear 2D stiffness gradients. Fibroblasts, which migrate towards stiffer substrates, accumulate in areas with a gel thickness below 15 μm.
ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVCommunication to the...Communication to the EditorNEXTObservation of Perpendicular Orientation in Symmetric Diblock Copolymer Thin Films on Rough SubstratesE. Sivaniah, Y. Hayashi, M. Iino, T. Hashimoto, and K. FukunagaView Author Information Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan UBE Industries, Ltd., 8-1 Goi-minamikaigan, Ichihara, Chiba 290-0045, Japan Cite this: Macromolecules 2003, 36, 16, 589
Incorporating nanofillers into thermal-oxidatively crosslinked polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) generates highly permeable and selective molecular sieves for gas separations.
We generate crosslinked PU membranes that retain high separation performance and provide enhanced plasticization resistance under realistic industrial separation conditions.
The development of thin film composite (TFC) membranes offers an opportunity to achieve the permeability/selectivity requirements for optimum CO<sub>2</sub> separation performance. However, the durability and performance of thin film gas separation membranes are mostly challenged by weak mechanical properties and high CO<sub>2</sub> plasticization. Here, we designed new polyurethane (PU) structures with bulky aromatic chain extenders that afford preferred mechanical properties for ultra-thin-fil
Open papers in the app to read, cite, and organize with AI.