Reactive membrane networks for CWA protection

1. A membrane comprising:

a first layer; and

a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer comprising a network of catalytic sites, each catalytic site having a catalytic center characterized by promoting a chemical reaction of a target material,

wherein each catalytic site has a macrocyclic ligand chelated with the catalytic center.

2. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , wherein the catalytic sites are crosslinked together.

3. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , wherein each catalytic center is a tetrafunctional catalytic center.

4. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , wherein the macrocyclic ligand has a functional group crosslinked to an adjacent macrocyclic ligand for forming the network of catalytic sites.

5. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , wherein the catalytic center includes a metal cation.

6. The membrane as recited in claim 5 , wherein the metal cation is selected from the group consisting of: zinc, copper, iron, nickel, cobalt, and zirconium.

7. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , wherein the catalytic center has a coordinating atom number greater than 3.

8. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first layer is impervious to a target material.

9. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first layer is porous.

10. The membrane as recited in claim 9 , wherein an average diameter of the pores of the first layer is in a range of greater than 0 nanometers to less than 100 microns.

11. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second layer is configured to trap chemical and/or biological agents.

12. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second layer is porous, wherein an average diameter of the pores of the second layer is in a range of greater than zero to less than two nanometers.

13. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , comprising a third layer coupled to the second layer, the third layer comprising a network of second catalytic sites that are a different type than the catalytic sites of the first layer.

14. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the second layer is less than 100 nanometers.

15. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the membrane is in a range of greater than about 5 nanometers to less than about 1000 microns.

16. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: fabrics, block copolymers, electrospun fibers, electrospun nanofibers, non-woven fabrics, two-dimensional layered materials, nanoporous single layers, metal organic framework (MOF), nanotube mats, oriented arrays, polymer composites, and a combination thereof.

17. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first layer is permeable to water vapor.

18. The membrane as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a liner layer;

a fiber layer; and

a cover layer.

19. A method of forming the membrane of claim 1 , the method comprising:

applying a first solution to a structure, the first solution comprising the macrocyclic ligand having electron-donating ligands and a side functional group for crosslinking;

crosslinking a plurality of the macrocyclic ligand to form a first network of crosslinked macrocyclic ligands; and

applying a second solution to the structure, the second solution comprising the catalytic center, wherein each catalytic center complexes with the electron-donating ligands of each macrocyclic ligand to form catalytic sites in the first network of crosslinked macro cyclic ligands.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 , wherein the macrocyclic ligand is selected from the group consisting of: cyclen, cyclam, porphyrin, and dodecane tetraacetic acid (DOTA).

21. The method as recited in claim 19 , wherein the catalytic center has a coordination atom number of 3 or greater.

22. The method as recited in claim 19 , wherein the catalytic center is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of: zinc, copper, iron, nickel, cobalt, and zirconium.

23. A membrane comprising:

a first layer; and

a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer comprising a network of catalytic sites, each catalytic site having a catalytic center characterized by promoting a chemical reaction of a target material,

wherein each catalytic site having the catalytic center has a macrocyclic ligand chelated with the catalytic center,

wherein the macrocyclic ligand has a functional group crosslinked to an adjacent macrocyclic ligand for forming the network of catalytic sites.

24. The membrane as recited in claim 23 , wherein the catalytic sites are crosslinked together.

25. The membrane as recited in claim 23 , wherein each catalytic center is a tetrafunctional catalytic center.

26. A membrane comprising:

a first layer; and

a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer comprising a network of catalytic sites, each catalytic site having a catalytic center characterized by promoting a chemical reaction of a target material,

wherein each catalytic center is a tetrafunctional catalytic center.

27. The membrane as recited in claim 26 , wherein the catalytic sites are crosslinked together.

28. The membrane as recited in claim 26 , wherein the catalytic center has a coordinating atom number greater than 3.