Recent advances in nanoporous graphene membrane for gas separation and water purification

Graphene is a one-atom-thick sheet of graphite comprising sp²-hybridized carbon atoms arranged in the hexagonal honeycomb lattices. By removing the honeycomb lattices and forming nanopores with specific geometry and size, nanoporous graphene has been demonstrated as a very high-efficiency separation membrane, due to the ultrafast molecular permeation rate for its one-atom thickness. This review focuses on the recent advances in nanoporous graphene membrane for the applications of gas separation and water purification, with a major emphasis on the molecular permeation mechanisms and the advanced fabrication methods of this state-of-the-art membrane. We highlight the advanced theoretical and experimental works and discuss the gas/water molecular transport mechanisms through the graphene nanopores accompanied with theoretical models. In addition, we summarize some representative membrane fabrication methods, covering the graphene transfer to porous substrates and the pore generation. We anticipate that this review can provide a platform for understanding the current challenges to make the conceptual membrane a reality and attracting more and more attentions from scientists and engineers.