Overview

Welcome to the Inorganic Membrane Research (IMR) Lab. The IMR Lab is led by Prof. Zhiping Lai of the Chemical Engineering Program in the Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Our group's work primarily focuses on the development of high-performance membranes of ordered porous materials such as zeolite molecular sieves, metal-organic frameworks, mesoporous silicas, ceramics, etc., and their applications in gas and liquid separations, catalysis, chemical sensors, lithium extraction, and wastewater treatments.

Topics of research:
1. Synthesis of high-performance membranes out of ordered porous materials and their applications in separations, catalysis and chemical sensors;
2. Fabrication of ceramic hollow fibers and their applications in wastewater treatments;
3. Synthesis and characterization of novel porous materials and their applications in renewable energy production and photocatalysis;
4. Fabrication of metal alloy membranes and their applications in gas separations and membrane reactors;
5. Development of high-performance membranes for lithium extraction and recycling of lithium batteries.