Issue 27, 2018

Precise nanopore tuning for a high-throughput desalination membrane via co-deposition of dopamine and multifunctional POSS

Abstract

The demand for fractionating organic molecules and salt ions via a membrane is increasing in various industries, but the sub-nanoscale difference in solute size makes it a critical challenge. Herein, amino-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles were employed as a molecular-level regulator to manipulate the nanopores of a polydopamine (PDA) membrane via a facile co-deposition process. By physical intercalation and chemical bonding of multifunctional POSS, increased nanoporosity was achieved within a narrow mean nanopore size range of 1.04–1.07 nm. The optimized POSS-PDA/PAN membrane exhibited desirable dye rejection (>90%) and salt permeation (>90%) with a high permeance of 1099 L m−2 h−1 MPa−1, which was 2–4 times higher than that of previously reported membranes with a similar dye rejection. Additionally, the rigid cage-like POSS nanoparticles cross-linked with the PDA membrane contributed to the reinforced alkali and compaction resistance. The synergy of mussel-inspired chemistry and multifunctional nanomaterials provided a novel strategy to engineer nanoporous membranes with a favorable physiochemical nanostructure for efficient and selective transport of both molecules and ions.

Graphical abstract: Precise nanopore tuning for a high-throughput desalination membrane via co-deposition of dopamine and multifunctional POSS

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 Apr 2018
Accepted
12 Jun 2018
First published
12 Jun 2018

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018,6, 13191-13202

Precise nanopore tuning for a high-throughput desalination membrane via co-deposition of dopamine and multifunctional POSS

X. You, H. Wu, Y. Su, J. Yuan, R. Zhang, Q. Yu, M. Wu, Z. Jiang and X. Cao, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018, 6, 13191 DOI: 10.1039/C8TA03673J

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