Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite membrane comprising at least one 2D material and an inorganic porous material. The composite membrane described herein may be housed within a separation device which may be used for selective permeation of one or more gaseous compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanocomposite coating comprising: a two-dimensional material; and a polymer, wherein the nanocomposite coating is semi-permeable and is for providing on porous material to improve selectivity towards one phase over others thereby enabling separation of that phase by mass transfer. There is also provided a phase transformation and mass transfer unit comprising porous material coated with the nanocomposite coating, and a low temperature liquid phase separation method comprising flowing liquid mixture through a phase transformation and mass transfer unit comprising porous material coated with the nanocomposite coating.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing bulk BSCCO-based material, the method comprising: mixing a first solution with a second solution at a pre-determined temperature to form a gel, wherein the first solution comprises salts of at least bismuth, strontium, calcium and copper and the second solution comprises a precipitating agent; drying the gel to form a xerogel; grinding the xerogel to form a homogeneous metalorganic precursor; and calcining the homogeneous metalorganic precursor to form bulk BSCCO-based materials. Further steps may enable preparation of 2D BSCCO flakes.

Abstract: The process comprises the following steps: mixing lamellar graphite, containing an intercalating material, with NaNO3 and adding the mixture to a solution of H2SO4 (98%) under continuous stirring; cooling the mixture in an ice bath; adding, very slowly, from 2% to 10% of KMnO4, during a period of time up to 1 h, maintaining the stirring; removing the mixture from the ice bath, heating it and maintaining it under stirring, until the formation of graphene oxide; diluting the mixture in deionized water until the volume of the solution has increased at least 30% and the temperature has not exceeded about 60° C.; leaving the mixture to stand for completing the reaction; heating the mixture between 95° C. and 100° C. and keeping it under high stirring.