Prof. Piran Kidambi : Atomically Thin Membranes: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly—from Synthesis to Integration and Applications
Abstract : Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials offer fundamentally new opportunities to study and control mass transport at sub-atomic and molecular length scales. Their atomic thickness enables transport phenomena such as quantum tunneling, while atomically precise defects can function as nanopores for highly size-selective ionic and molecular sieving. Together, these unique characteristics open new frontiers in membrane science and molecular separations.
In this talk, I will discuss our recent advances in 2D material synthesis, fundamental transport characterization, nanopore creation, scalable processing, support-resistance matching, and device integration for separation applications spanning energy, environment, and healthcare. I will highlight emerging applications such as next-generation proton exchange membranes for fuel cells and redox flow batteries, where atomically thin selective layers offer a pathway to overcome the long-standing permeability–selectivity trade-off that limits conventional membranes. I will also discuss the challenges that emerge when moving from idealized nanoscale materials to practical membranes—including defects, mechanical stability, integration, and scale-up.
Finally, I will present emerging opportunities for 2D materials to enable entirely new separation processes, including highly energy-efficient hydrogen isotope separation. Together, these examples illustrate both the promise and the challenges of atomically thin membranes—from the good, to the bad, and the ugly.
Bio : Piran R. Kidambi is an Associate Professor at the University of Florida. After receiving his PhD from the University of Cambridge, he pursued postdoctoral research at MIT through a Lindemann Trust Fellowship. Kidambi's research leverages the intersection between (i) nanomaterial synthesis, (ii) process engineering, and (iii) in situ metrology, to enable bottom-up materials design and synthesis for energy, separations, and healthcare applications. His research has been recognized via several awards and honors.
In this talk, I will discuss our recent advances in 2D material synthesis, fundamental transport characterization, nanopore creation, scalable processing, support-resistance matching, and device integration for separation applications spanning energy, environment, and healthcare. I will highlight emerging applications such as next-generation proton exchange membranes for fuel cells and redox flow batteries, where atomically thin selective layers offer a pathway to overcome the long-standing permeability–selectivity trade-off that limits conventional membranes. I will also discuss the challenges that emerge when moving from idealized nanoscale materials to practical membranes—including defects, mechanical stability, integration, and scale-up.
Finally, I will present emerging opportunities for 2D materials to enable entirely new separation processes, including highly energy-efficient hydrogen isotope separation. Together, these examples illustrate both the promise and the challenges of atomically thin membranes—from the good, to the bad, and the ugly.
Bio : Piran R. Kidambi is an Associate Professor at the University of Florida. After receiving his PhD from the University of Cambridge, he pursued postdoctoral research at MIT through a Lindemann Trust Fellowship. Kidambi's research leverages the intersection between (i) nanomaterial synthesis, (ii) process engineering, and (iii) in situ metrology, to enable bottom-up materials design and synthesis for energy, separations, and healthcare applications. His research has been recognized via several awards and honors.
Practical information
- Informed public
- Free
Organizer
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering
Contact
- Wendy Queen
[email protected]