Incorporating nanostructured materials into polymers offers the opportunity to create thin films optimized for analyte capture or thin films for separations.  Increasing the performance of such materials would improve process efficacy and facilitate reduced energy consumption. 

To meet this need, PNNL scientists have developed a method and porous multi-component material for the capture, separation, or chemical reaction of a species of interest.  At the heart of this work is the combination of a nanostructured material placed on a support, then coated with a porous polymeric binder to create thin films.  The PNNL-developed method and material provides a simple, fast, and chemically and physically benign way to integrate nanostructured materials into devices while preserving their chemical activity.  The uniqueness resides in the specific combination to create a flexible film in any topography desired.