Ceramic membranes inorganic binders

Ceramic membranes, which are much stronger than polymer membranes, are conunonly made of Al, Si, Ti or Zr oxides and mixed oxides. The top layers of the membrane are prepared by sol-gel synthesis which converts a colloidal or polymeric solution of inorganic precursors (e.g. alkoxides or salts) to a gelatinous product. Viscous binders are usually added prior to layering followed by controlled calcination and finally sintering to form the ceramic membrane. The process can be controlled to provide membranes with specific MWCOs (molecular weight cut-offs) and which can sustain defined solvents, temperatures and pressures. 

An emerging new group of lithium-ion separator comprises of inorganic composite membranes ( ceramic separators ) with their excellent wettability and exceptional thermal stability properties. Most of ceramic separators are porous mats made of ultrafine inorganic particles bonded using a small amount of binder. 

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