The chemists (Faculty of Chemical Science, MSU, Faculty of Science on Materials, MSU, Institute of Organic Chemistry, RAS, named after Kurnakov N.S). used graphene oxide, synthesized both by the Hammers method and from the“cut” carbon nanotubes. Oxide layers were deposited on aluminium oxide, which has an ordered porous structure with a variable channels size and pores density.

“In this paper, we focused on studying the influence of nanosheets size on the speed of transport, but one of the continuations of the work which we are now actively engaged in, is studying the effect of oxidation degree of graphene oxide on its transport properties,” shared Dmitry Petukhov.

Scientists have shown that membranes made from graphene oxide sheets with 25–60 nm thick, exhibit barrier properties with respect to most gases (methane, nitrogen, oxygen, butane), while having a high permeability to water vapor and water-soluble gases (CO2). Polar water molecules are adsorbed in the interlayer space of the material, preventing diffusion of non-polar molecules through the membrane.

They created a membrane out of graphene oxide capable to pass selectively water vapor and trap nitrogen, methane, butane, and other gases. The new scheme of gas fission can significantly facilitate the "drying" of gases before pumping into pipelines. The research results are published in the Journal of Membrane Science.