Filtration

Imagine filtration that doesn’t rely on dense barriers—but captures contaminants within an ultra-light, three-dimensional network.

Aero materials enable advanced filtration by combining extremely high surface area, open porosity, and tunable structure for efficient capture and flow.

The challenge

Modern filtration systems must balance efficiency, flow rate, and energy consumption. Conventional filters often face inherent trade-offs:

  • high efficiency leads to pressure drop and energy loss

  • dense materials clog quickly and require frequent replacement

  • single-use materials generate waste and raise sustainability concerns

  • captured contaminants cannot be inactivated and may re-enter the airstream

  • limited control over selectivity at the micro- and nanoscale

  • bulky systems increase size, weight, and operational cost

As applications range from industrial filtration to water purification and air treatment, there is a growing need for lightweight, high-throughput, and highly selective filtration solutions.

How our aero materials help

Aero materials consist of an open, interconnected 3D network with extremely high porosity and surface area. This enables:

  • High permeability with low pressure drop
    Fluids can pass through easily while contaminants are captured within the structure

  • Electrically driven self-cleaning

    Because the aero material is electrically conductive, it can be Joule-heated to decompose captured organic pollutants — regenerating the filter repeatedly without replacement

  • Large active surface area
    Maximizes interaction between the material and particles, molecules, or pollutants

  • Tunable pore structure
    Enables targeting of specific particle sizes or filtration regimes

  • Potential for functionalization
    Surface chemistry can be adapted for selective adsorption (e.g. chemical contaminants)

  • Lightweight and scalable formats
    Suitable for large-area filters without adding significant mass

  • Multi-functional capability
    Filtration can be combined with thermal, electrical, or catalytic effects — including real-time monitoring of filter loading status and air throughput

This enables efficient filtration systems that maintain flow while increasing capture performance and that can be regenerated rather than discarded.

Example applications

Air filtration systems
High-throughput filtration with reduced pressure drop, including medical and cleanroom environments where self-sterilization is critical

Water purification
Removal of micro-pollutants, particles, or emerging contaminants — with potential for targeted capture and controlled release of persistent substances such as PFAS

Industrial process filtration
Separation of particles or aerosols in manufacturing environments

Chemical filtration and adsorption
Targeted capture of specific compounds through functionalized surfaces

Next-generation filter media
Lightweight alternatives to conventional fibrous or membrane-based filters

Looking to develop filtration systems with higher efficiency and lower energy demand?

Get in touch

Relevant Academic Research & Publications

The material's extremely high porosity and open internal structure make it a natural fit for filtration. Its electrical conductivity adds an active dimension: the filter can heat itself to decompose captured contaminants, eliminating the need for replacement.

Multifunctional, self-cleaning air filters based on graphene-enhanced ceramic networks Reimers et al. — Device(CellPress), 2023 Demonstrates a graphene-enhanced filter medium that captures over 95% of microorganisms and fine particles, then self-sterilizes by Joule heating to above 300°C. Filter lifetime is extended by at least a factor of three compared to conventional systems — and the filter can monitor its own loading status in real time. Read the publication