Carbon dioxide passes through a carbon nanomembrane (CNM) to the upper side, while nitrogen and oxygen are blocked. This simplified image illustrates the up to fortyfold difference in the gas permeance of CNMs. These unique and technologically relevant gaspermeation characteristics of single- and triple-layer CNMs from self-assembled monolayers are described by A. Beyer and co-workers on page 3421.

Gas permeation characteristics of carbon nanomembranes (CNMs) from self-assembled monolayers are reported for the first time. The assembly of CNMs onto polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) support membranes allows mechanical measurements under compression as well as determination of gas permeation characteristics. The results suggest that molecular-sized channels in CNMs dominate the permeation properties of the 1 nm thin CNMs.

One nanometer thick, mechanically stable carbon nanomembranes (CNMs) are made by electron induced cross-linking of surface bound self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The cross-linked SAMs are then released from the surface and can be placed onto solid materials or spanned over holes as free-standing membranes. Annealing at ~1000K transforms CNMs into graphene or graphenoids accompanied by a continuous change of mechanical stiffness and electrical resistance from insulating to conducting, which allows the tailoring of the CNM’s electrical and mechanical properties. Recently, Janus membranes, i. e. CNMs functionalized by coupling different molecules to their top and bottom surfaces were built. Janus membranes have been built with functional polymers, proteins, and dyes, which demonstrates that Janus CNMs can act as platforms for two-dimensional chemistry. By combining different types of CNMs, hybrid nanolayers and biomimetic membranes can be built.

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