Vapor induced phase separation towards anion-/near-infrared-responsive pore channels for switchable anti-fouling membranes

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2020-05, Vol.8 (18), p.8934-8948
• Main Authors: Wei, Ran, Guo, Jiabei, Jin, Lunqiang, He, Chao, Xie, Yi, Zhang, Xiang, Zhao, Weifeng, Zhao, Changsheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anion exchanging; Antifouling; Antifouling substances; Bovine serum albumin; Channels; Contaminants; Filtration; Fluxes; Fouling; Hydrophobicity; I.R. radiation; Ionic liquids; Iron oxides; Irradiation; Membrane permeability; Membranes; Nanoparticles; Near infrared radiation; Phase separation; Polyethersulfones; Polyethylene glycol; Pore size; Porosity; Serum albumin; Vapors; Wettability
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/d0ta02154g

As an important type of smart membrane, stimuli-responsive membranes with switchable separation capability and permeability are urgently needed for developing advanced filtration membranes. In this study, smart membranes with anion-/near-infrared (NIR)-responsive and improved anti-fouling properties were fabricated by introducing poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) modified Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles on the surfaces and pore channels of polyethersulfone membranes through the vapor induced phase separation (VIPS) method. Thanks to the anion-/NIR-responsiveness of the nanoparticles, adjustable surface wettability and pore sizes of the membranes were obtained. The fluxes of the membranes were well-controlled along with adjusting the sizes of the nanoparticles via anion-exchange and NIR irradiation. The switchable pore size was further demonstrated by the filtration of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-800 and PEG-2000. In addition, the wettability and zeta-potential of the membrane surfaces could be adjusted by exchanging the counteranions of the immobilized PIL nanoparticles, which endowed the membranes with robust anti-fouling abilities toward biological contaminants like bovine serum albumin when changing the counteranions from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. After the counteranion exchange desorption, the intelligent membranes were then self-cleaned. Development of anion-/near-infrared-responsive and anti-fouling membranes fabricated through vapor induced phase separation based on poly(ionic liquid) nanoparticles.