E-Thesis 240 views
Development and testing of ultrathin nanoporous silicon for haemodialysis, and an investigation into the silver-catalysed formation of silicon nanorings / THOMAS CHESS
Swansea University Author: THOMAS CHESS
DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.65862
Abstract
Haemodialysis is a multi billion dollar industry that uses hollow fibre tube dialysers to purify the blood of patients su˙ering from kidney failure. The fundamental technology of these hollow fibres has not changed since the 1960s, and this work investigates ways of producing porous silicon that cou...
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Swansea, Wales, UK
2024
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Doctoral |
| Degree name: | Ph.D |
| Supervisor: | Guy, Owen J. ; Blayney, Gareth J. |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65862 |
| Abstract: |
Haemodialysis is a multi billion dollar industry that uses hollow fibre tube dialysers to purify the blood of patients su˙ering from kidney failure. The fundamental technology of these hollow fibres has not changed since the 1960s, and this work investigates ways of producing porous silicon that could replace them as the major haemodialysis membrane. Utilising common semiconductor manufacturing techniques, a process was devised for lifting-o˙ amorphous silicon sheets with nanometre scale pores, this novel process is cheap, high throughput and scalable. Silicon membranes between 90 and 600 nanometres thick were successfully lifted o˙, but any thickness is possible. Pore diameters in the 10 to 50 nanometre range were achieved and are also tunable, although their spacing is currently not. A low-cost flow cell was created that could compare the di˙usive and ultrafiltration properties of flat membranes and commercial hollow fibre-tube dialysers. It monitored the size-based separation of 10 and 100 nanometre gold nanoparticles using their characteristic UV-vis absorbances, though only concentration of nanoparticles was seen using a dialyser, and limited separation using a flat membrane. Finally, during development of the nanoporous silicon manufacturing process it was discovered sub 100 nanometre ring structures could be easily formed on silicon in a range of sizes. A thorough investigation into their properties and silver-dependent formation was carried out. This work establishes a robust foundation for future research in silicon membrane manufacturing, membrane testing with gold nanoparticles, and silicon nanoring formation. |
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| Item Description: |
"Due to Embargo and/or Third Party Copyright restrictions, this thesis is not available via this service." |
| Keywords: |
Nanotechnology, haemodialysis, silicon, filtration, nanorings |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |