Interactive Materials Research DWI an der RWTH Aachen e.V., RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstrasse 50, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
Chem Soc Rev. 2013 Aug 21;42(16):6578-92. doi: 10.1039/c3cs60125k.
Self-assembled membranes are of vital importance in biological systems e.g. cellular and organelle membranes, however, more focus is being put on synthetic self-assembled membranes not only as an alternative for lipid membranes but also as an alternative for lithographic methods. More investigations move towards self-assembly processes because of the low-cost preparations, structural self-regulation and the ease of creating composite materials and tunable properties. The fabrication of new smart membrane materials via self-assembly is of interest for delivery vessels, size selective separation and purification, controlled-release materials, sensors and catalysts, scaffolds for tissue engineering, low dielectric constant materials for microelectronic devices, antireflective coatings and proton exchange membranes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Polymers and nanoparticles offer the most straightforward approaches to create membrane structures. However, alternative approaches using small molecules or composite materials offer novel ultra-thin membranes or multi-functional membranes, respectively. Especially, the composite material membranes are regarded as highly promising since they offer the possibility to combine properties of different systems. The advantages of polymers which provide elastic and flexible yet stable matrices can be combined with nanoparticles being either inorganic, organic or even protein-based which offers pore-size control, catalytic activity or permeation regulation. It is therefore believed that at the interface of different disciplines with each offering different materials or approaches, the most novel and interesting membrane structures are going to be produced. The combinations and approaches presented in this review offer non-conventional self-assembled membrane materials which exhibit a high potential to advance membrane science and find more practical applications.
自组装膜在生物系统中至关重要，例如细胞膜和细胞器膜，但人们越来越关注合成自组装膜，不仅因为它可以替代脂质膜，还因为它可以替代光刻方法。由于低成本制备、结构自调节以及易于创建复合材料和可调性能，更多的研究转向自组装过程。通过自组装制造新型智能膜材料对于输送容器、尺寸选择性分离和纯化、控制释放材料、传感器和催化剂、组织工程支架、微电子设备用低介电常数材料、抗反射涂层和聚合物电解质膜燃料电池用质子交换膜都具有吸引力。聚合物和纳米粒子是制造膜结构的最简单方法。然而，使用小分子或复合材料的替代方法分别提供了新颖的超薄膜或多功能膜。特别是，由于复合材料膜提供了组合不同系统性能的可能性，因此被认为具有很高的应用前景。聚合物提供了弹性和柔韧性且稳定的基质的优势可以与纳米粒子结合，纳米粒子可以是无机的、有机的甚至是基于蛋白质的，从而提供孔径控制、催化活性或渗透调节。因此，人们相信在不同学科的界面处，每个学科都提供不同的材料或方法，最新型和有趣的膜结构将被制造出来。本综述中提出的组合和方法提供了非传统的自组装膜材料，这些材料具有提高膜科学水平并找到更多实际应用的巨大潜力。
