The project combines chemical material synthesis, theory and nanoscience. The researchers want to lay the foundation for the next generation of membrane technologies and jointly develop a real “game changer” in separation technology. The aim is to develop new membrane concepts that enable unprecedented performance for energy devices such as fuel cells, osmotic power generators and batteries. “We have succeeded in developing ultra-thin membranes, i.e. only 10-50 nanometers thick, which are significantly superior to conventional technology in terms of selectivity and efficiency. In addition to increased energy efficiency, they also allow the separation of similar particles, such as hydrogen isotopes,” explains Heine. “To do this, we use our newly developed 2D polymer heterostructures, which contain atomically precise funnel-shaped pores with electrostatic gradients.” 2D polymer heterostructures promise revolutionary properties that make them ideal for selective and unidirectional ion transport: they are extremely thin, have a precise pore size and high functionality. They are therefore at the center of the project’s efforts and are expected to demonstrate over the course of the project that they not only excel in the laboratory – but also deliver robust results on larger scales.

Together with other HZDR teams, Heine is researching the chemistry of synthetic two-dimensional materials, for example, as part of the German Research Foundation’s Collaborative Research Center 1415, which launched in 2020 and was extended in 2024.