Abstract
High-flux filtration membranes constructed through scalable and sustainable methods are desirable for energy-efficient separations. Often, these criteria are difficult to be reconciled with one another. Polymeric membranes can provide high flux but frequently involve organic solvents in processing steps. Solubility of many polymeric membranes in organic media also restricts their implementation in solvent filtration. In the present work, we report a simple and high-throughput aqueous processing approach for polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) membranes with controllable porosity and stability in various aqueous and organic environments. PECs are materials composed of oppositely charged polymer chains that can form solids in aqueous environments, yet which can be dissolved in very specific salt solutions capable of breaking the interpolymer ion pairs. By exploiting the salt-induced dissolution and subsequent reformation of the complex, nano- to microporous films are rapidly synthesized which resemble membranes obtained through conventional solvent-phase inversion techniques. PECs remain stable in organic solvents because of the low dielectric constant of the environment, which enhances electrostatic interactions, making them suitable for a wide range of water and solvent filtration applications. Here, we elucidate how the polymer-phase behavior can be manipulated to exercise morphological control, test membrane performance for water and solvent filtration, and quantify the mechanical stability of PECs in relevant conditions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 16018-16026 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 17 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- coacervate
- High-flux filtration membranes
- polyelectrolyte complex
- quartz crystal microbalance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
Cite this
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Versatile and High-Throughput Polyelectrolyte Complex Membranes via Phase Inversion. / Sadman, Kazi; Delgado, David E.; Won, Yechan; Wang, Qifeng; Gray, Kimberly A; Shull, Kenneth R.
In: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Vol. 11, No. 17, 01.05.2019, p. 16018-16026.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Versatile and High-Throughput Polyelectrolyte Complex Membranes via Phase Inversion
AU - Sadman, Kazi
AU - Delgado, David E.
AU - Won, Yechan
AU - Wang, Qifeng
AU - Gray, Kimberly A
AU - Shull, Kenneth R
PY - 2019/5/1
Y1 - 2019/5/1
N2 - High-flux filtration membranes constructed through scalable and sustainable methods are desirable for energy-efficient separations. Often, these criteria are difficult to be reconciled with one another. Polymeric membranes can provide high flux but frequently involve organic solvents in processing steps. Solubility of many polymeric membranes in organic media also restricts their implementation in solvent filtration. In the present work, we report a simple and high-throughput aqueous processing approach for polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) membranes with controllable porosity and stability in various aqueous and organic environments. PECs are materials composed of oppositely charged polymer chains that can form solids in aqueous environments, yet which can be dissolved in very specific salt solutions capable of breaking the interpolymer ion pairs. By exploiting the salt-induced dissolution and subsequent reformation of the complex, nano- to microporous films are rapidly synthesized which resemble membranes obtained through conventional solvent-phase inversion techniques. PECs remain stable in organic solvents because of the low dielectric constant of the environment, which enhances electrostatic interactions, making them suitable for a wide range of water and solvent filtration applications. Here, we elucidate how the polymer-phase behavior can be manipulated to exercise morphological control, test membrane performance for water and solvent filtration, and quantify the mechanical stability of PECs in relevant conditions.
AB - High-flux filtration membranes constructed through scalable and sustainable methods are desirable for energy-efficient separations. Often, these criteria are difficult to be reconciled with one another. Polymeric membranes can provide high flux but frequently involve organic solvents in processing steps. Solubility of many polymeric membranes in organic media also restricts their implementation in solvent filtration. In the present work, we report a simple and high-throughput aqueous processing approach for polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) membranes with controllable porosity and stability in various aqueous and organic environments. PECs are materials composed of oppositely charged polymer chains that can form solids in aqueous environments, yet which can be dissolved in very specific salt solutions capable of breaking the interpolymer ion pairs. By exploiting the salt-induced dissolution and subsequent reformation of the complex, nano- to microporous films are rapidly synthesized which resemble membranes obtained through conventional solvent-phase inversion techniques. PECs remain stable in organic solvents because of the low dielectric constant of the environment, which enhances electrostatic interactions, making them suitable for a wide range of water and solvent filtration applications. Here, we elucidate how the polymer-phase behavior can be manipulated to exercise morphological control, test membrane performance for water and solvent filtration, and quantify the mechanical stability of PECs in relevant conditions.
KW - coacervate
KW - High-flux filtration membranes
KW - polyelectrolyte complex
KW - quartz crystal microbalance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85065057091&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85065057091&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acsami.9b02115
DO - 10.1021/acsami.9b02115
M3 - Article
VL - 11
SP - 16018
EP - 16026
JO - ACS applied materials & interfaces
JF - ACS applied materials & interfaces
SN - 1944-8244
IS - 17
ER -