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.