DOI: 10.5061/dryad.gmsbcc2xn
title: Ultrahigh-throughput cross-flow filtration of solution-processed 2D materials enabled by porous ceramic membranes

description: Printed electronics is a disruptive technology in multiple applications
 including environmental and biological sensors, flexible displays, and
 wearable diagnostic devices. With superlative electronic, optical,
 mechanical, and chemical properties, two-dimensional (2D) materials are
 promising candidates for printable electronic inks. While liquid-phase
 exfoliation (LPE) methods can produce electronic-grade 2D materials,
 conventional batch separation processes typically rely on centrifugation,
 which requires significant time and effort to remove incompletely
 exfoliated bulk powders, hindering the scale-up of 2D ink manufacturing.
 While cross-flow filtration (CFF) has emerged as a promising continuous
 flow separation method for solution-processed 2D nanosheets, previously
 demonstrated polymer CFF membranes necessitate low 2D nanosheet
 concentrations to avoid fouling, which ultimately limits mass throughput.
 Here, we demonstrate a fully flow-based, exfoliation-to-ink system for
 electronic-grade 2D materials using an integrated cross-flow separation
 and concentration system. To overcome the relatively low-throughput
 processing concentrations of incumbent polymer CFF membranes, we employ
 porous ceramic CFF membranes that are tolerant to 10-fold higher nanosheet
 concentrations and flow rates without compromising separation efficiency.
 Furthermore, we demonstrate a concentration method via cross-flow
 ultrafiltration, where the retentate can be directly formulated into
 printable inks with electronic-grade performance that meets or exceeds
 centrifugally produced inks. Life cycle assessment and technoeconomic
 analysis quantitatively confirm the advantages of ceramic versus polymer
 CFF membranes including reductions of 97%, 96%, 94%, and 93% for
 greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, fossil fuel consumption, and
 specific production costs, respectively. Overall, this work presents an
 environmentally sustainable and cost-effective solution for the
 fabrication, separation, and printing of electronic-grade 2D materials.
description: # Ultrahigh-throughput cross-flow filtration of solution-processed 2D
 materials enabled by porous ceramic membranes
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gmsbcc2xn](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gmsbcc2xn) ## Description of the data and file structure Files are stored in Origin project (.opj) or Excel (.xls) format File Naming Each file contains the dataset relevant to the manuscript and/or supplementary information.  Pressures and concentrations contains the permeate concentration of polymer and ceramic membranes for different transmembrane pressures and flow rates. Supplementary figures contains several figures and raw data relevant for the supplementary information. It includes the viscosities of several dispersions used in our manufacturing process, as well as the graphene content during ultrafiltration. The graphene content was determined by thermogravimetric analysis. Graphene characterization contains several datasets used for graphene characterization. These datasets include but are not limited to Raman spectroscopy, electrical properties, atomic force microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. ### Files and variables #### File: Pressures and concentrations.xlsx **Description:** Processing data for the performance of cross-flow filtration. ##### Variables * TMP: transmembrane pressure, measured in PSI * Concentration: total solids content, and when specified, graphene concentration (permeate only) * Ceramic/Polymer: type of membrane * CFV: cross-flow velocity, the velocity experienced tangential to the membrane surface #### File: Graphene Characterization.xlsx **Description:** Different characterization content for graphene nanosheets, including Raman, Atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and current-voltage measurements ##### Variables * Wavenumber: x-axis in Raman spectroscopy * Normalized Intensity: intensity of scattering at a certain wavenumber divided by maximum intensity * Feed/Retentate/Permeate: different dispersions were pulled from the feed (prior to CFF), permeate (filtrate during CFF), retentate (post CFF) * Z-average: calculated lateral length from dynamic light scattering * I: current, V: voltage, conductivity is calculated from the resistance and thickness of the printed film * Lateral size: length measured from atomic force microscopy * Thickness: thickness measured from atomic force microscopy #### File: LCA data to upload.xlsx **Description:** Life cycle analysis and technoeconomic analysis of the production processes. ##### Variables * Consumables: any type of equipment that requires eventual replacement, such as plumbing, adapters, tubes, bottles * Electricity: amount of electricity required to power a given system or portion of the process * kgCO2/L graphene: the amount of CO2 emitted per L of graphene ink produced * MJ/L ink: the amount of energy required per L of graphene ink produced * kg/L ink: the amount of water consumed in kg per L of graphene ink produced * TEA: techno economic analysis * FF: fossil fuels * GHG: greenhouse gas emissions * Process 1: Polymer membrane operation * Process 2: Ceramic membrane operation We note that all data deposited at Dryad must comply with a CC0 license waiver. Under the CC0 waiver, all data in Dryad are dedicated to the public domain, without restriction on use. Dataset authors are legally responsible for ensuring that their dataset does not violate potential copyright claims over material generated or published by other individuals or organizations. Therefore, the complete LCA calculations cannot be distributed as data from GREET was used. ## Code/software Software used to view data is but not limited to Origin and Excel. Excel specifically used open-source GREET resources and cited articles. ## Access information Other publicly accessible locations of the data: * N/A LCA data was derived from the following sources.  * GREET: [https://www.energy.gov/eere/greet](https://www.energy.gov/eere/greet) LCA data to upload includes the final data determined from life cycle analysis and techno-economic analysis plotted and visualized. Please note that "This product includes software produced by UChicago Argonne, LLC under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357 with the Department of Energy."