Advanced 2D Materials: Engineering Molecular Transport for Water, Energy and Resource Sustainability

Advanced 2D materials are redefining how molecules, ions and fluids can be manipulated at the atomic scale, opening unprecedented opportunities for sustainable water, energy and resource technologies. Graphene and other two-dimensional (2D) materials provide atomically confined channels that enable precise control of molecular transport through tailored surface chemistry, pore architecture and interlayer spacing. Unlike conventional membrane materials, these systems exhibit transport phenomena that extend beyond classical size exclusion, enabling highly selective molecular sieving, confined phase transitions and ultrafast permeation. Recent advances in laminar and pore-engineered 2D membranes have demonstrated exceptional performance for desalination, water purification, gas separation, solvent recovery and critical resource extraction, while also offering pathways towards significantly lower energy consumption than conventional separation processes.

This presentation will discuss the fundamental principles governing molecular transport in 2D materials, recent advances in membrane design, scalable manufacturing and industrial translation, and emerging opportunities to engineer next-generation separation technologies. By moving beyond conventional filtration towards atomic-scale control of molecular transport, advanced 2D materials have the potential to transform separation science and contribute to a more sustainable future for water, energy and resource management.

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