Fabrication of gas-separating asymmetric ceramic membranes through combination of LB deposition of oligomeric or polymeric precursors and plasma treatment

Nanoporous, mesoporous and macroporous ceramic discs and tubes are used as substrates for the multilayer Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) deposition of fatty acid salts, sesquioxane polymers and pitch products. The composites thus formed are plasma-treated and fully ceramic asymmetric membranes are obtained. Permeability characterization suggests that the ultrathin top layer is a predominantly microporous material and, hence, the new membranes are considered appropriate for gas and vapor separations.