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Flow‐Assisted Self‐Organization of Hybrid Membranes
Author(s) -
Wang Qingpu,
Steinbock Oliver
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201901595
Subject(s) - membrane , raman spectroscopy , scanning electron microscope , microfluidics , nanotechnology , microfiber , chemical engineering , microstructure , materials science , thickening , chemistry , redox , chemical physics , crystallography , polymer science , optics , composite material , inorganic chemistry , physics , biochemistry , engineering
Microfluidic flows are a powerful tool to drive reactions far from equilibrium and, thus, induce chemical selforganization. Studies of membrane formation in microfluidic devices have been limited to non‐redox and purely inorganic reactions. Here, the formation of hybrid membranes at the interface of AgNO 3 and 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethylbenzidine solutions, which are steadily co‐injected into a microfluidic device, is reported. The membrane thickening occurs in both directions and reveals oscillatory dynamics. The hybrid membrane mainly consists of hair‐like Ag microstructures, Ag nanowires, and unbranched TMB–TMB 2+ microfibers. Branched dendrite‐like fibers form on the TMB side when the flow is stopped. These components were characterized with techniques including micro‐Raman and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy as well as scanning electron microscopy. The effects of initial concentration ratios on the membrane thickening speed and its opaqueness were also studied.