Selectively permeable dendrimers as molecular gates

Polymeric materials are commonly used to control mass transfer between liquid phases and surfaces to prevent corrosion or to selectively pass ions in energy producing devices and chemical sensors. Polymers are also useful for enabling gas separations. Applications such as these are of tremendous importance to industry, and even modest improvements in performance can yield dramatic effects on the economic competitiveness of businesses and nations. It is not surprising, therefore, that scientists and engineers in academics, government laboratories, and industry dedicate substantial resources to the development of new polymeric materials that offer enhancements for small molecule discrimination.