Engineered gold nanotube membranes for molecular separations

Abstract

An electroless gold deposition method was used to fabricate gold nanotubes within the pores of polycarbonate and porous alumina template membranes. This approach provides control over the pore size of the membrane, with pore sizes being reduced to molecular dimensions. The effect of the pore size and surface chemistry on the transport properties of gold nanotube membranes has been explored. By modifying the membrane with a highly hydrophobic thiol, the separation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules was achieved.