A graphene desalination membrane material named Perforene™ has been awarded a patent for its designer Lockheed Martin, the US arms manufacturer.
The Perforene membrane was developed by placing holes that are ≤1 nm in diameter in a graphene membrane. These holes are small enough to trap the ions while dramatically improving the flow-through of water molecules, reducing clogging and pressure on the membrane.
At only one atom thick, graphene is both strong and durable, making it more effective for seawater desalination at a fraction of the cost of reverse osmosis systems.
In addition to desalination, the Perforene membrane can be tailored to other applications, including capturing minerals, through the selection of the size of hole placed in the material to filter or capture of a specific-sized particle of interest. Lockheed Martin has also been developing processes that will allow the material to be produced at scale.
The company is currently seeking commercialization partners.