Bioinspired Design and Applications of Liquid Gating Gas Valve Membranes.

Abstract

In nature, dynamic liquid interfaces play a vital role in regulating gas transport, as exemplified by the adaptive mechanisms of plant stomata and the liquid-lined alveoli, which enable efficient gas exchange through reversible opening and closing. These biological processes provide profound insights into the design of advanced gas control technologies. Inspired by these natural systems, liquid gating membranes have been developed utilizing capillary-stabilized liquids to achieve precise fluid regulation. These membranes offer unique advantages of rapid responses, stain resistance, and high energy efficiency. Particularly, they break through the limitations of traditional solid, porous membranes in gas transport. This perspective introduces bioinspired liquid gating gas valve membranes (LGVMs), emphasizing their opening/closing mechanism. It highlights how external stimuli can be exploited to enable advanced, multi-level gas control through active or passive regulation strategies. Diverse applications in gas flow regulation and selective gas transport are discussed. While challenges related to precise controllability, long-term stability, and scalable production persist, these advancements unlock significant opportunities for groundbreaking innovations across diverse fields, including gas purification, microfluidics, medical diagnostics, and energy harvesting technologies.