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Multi-functional membranes with high permeance and selectivity that can mimic nature's designs have tremendous industrial and bio-medical applications. Here, we report a novel concept of a 3D nanometer (nm)-thin membrane that can overcome the shortcomings of conventional membrane structures. Our 3D membrane is composed of two three-dimensionally interwoven channels that are separated by a continuous nm-thin amorphous TiO 2 layer. This 3D architecture dramatically increases the surface area by 6000 times, coupled with an ultra-short diffusion distance through the 2 – 4 nm-thin selective layer that allows for ultrafast gas and water transport, ∼900 l m −2 h −1 bar −1 . The 3D membrane also exhibits a very high ion rejection ( R ∼ 100% for potassium ferricyanide) due to the combined size- and charge-based exclusion mechanisms. The combination of high ion rejection and ultrafast permeation makes our 3DM superior to the state-of-the-art high-flux membranes whose performances are limited by the flux-rejection tradeoff. Furthermore, its ultimate Li + selectivity over polysulfide or gas can potentially solve major technical challenges in energy storage applications, such as lithium – sulfur or lithium – O 2 batteries.more » « less
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The use of nanoporous metals as catalysts has attracted significant interest in recent years. Their high‐curvature, nanoscale ligaments provide not only high surface area but also a high density of undercoordinated step edge and kink sites. However, their long‐term stability, especially at higher temperatures, is often limited by thermal coarsening and the associated loss of surface area. Herein, it is demonstrated that the nanoscale morphology of nanoporous Cu can be regenerated by applying oxidation/reduction cycles at 250 °C. Specifically, the morphological evolution and H2dissociation activity of hierarchical nanoporous Cu catalysts doped with Ti during structural rearrangement triggered by oxidative and reductive atmospheres at elevated temperatures are studied. In addition to coarsening of the structure at elevated temperatures, oxidation at 400 °C causes an expansion of the ligaments. Subsequent reduction at 400 °C leads to the formation of particles and a drop in the H2dissociation activity compared the fresh catalyst. However, performing the redox cycle at 250 °C reverses coarsening and boosts the H2dissociation activity for the hydrogen–deuterium (H2–D2) reaction. Herein, the possibility to reverse coarsening is demonstrated, thereby mitigating the loss of activity frequently observed in nanoporous catalysts.