Regulating the surface properties and interlamellar spacing of GO-based nanofiltration membrane for efficient water treatment

• Published in: Journal of materials science 2024-10, Vol.59 (37), p.17426-17443
• Main Authors: Zhang, Liang, Lan, Piao, Chen, YunQiang, Chen, Zhou, Lan, Yihong, Hong, YuBin, Lan, WeiGuang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: asymmetric membranes; carbon; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Classical Mechanics; Composites & Nanocomposites; cost effectiveness; Crystallography and Scattering Methods; dyes; Functional groups; Graphene; graphene oxide; Hydrophilicity; Inserts; Interception; Interlayers; Layered materials; Low pressure; Materials Science; Membranes; Nanofiltration; Nitrogen; Polymer Sciences; Solid Mechanics; Structural stability; surface area; Surface properties; Surface stability; Water treatment
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-024-10232-3

Graphene oxide (GO) membranes have garnered significant attention in the field of membrane separation due to their superb hydrophilicity, abundant functional groups, extensive surface area, and chemical stability. In this study, we have established a simple and effective method to enhance GO layered materials using nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N–CDs) molecules as inserts and surface modifiers, aiming to develop highly efficient GO-based membranes. Consequently, the incorporation of N–CDs into the two-dimensional GO membrane augments its hydrophilicity and increases the membrane interlayer distance. Under ultra-low pressure nanofiltration conditions, the optimum GN-12 composite membrane exhibited a remarkable average pure water flux of 6.06 L m −2  h −1  bar −1 . This flux was approximately 19.5 times higher than that of the pure GO membrane, which had a flux of 0.31 L m −2  h −1  bar −1 . Furthermore, the composite membrane exhibited excellent capability in intercepting several charged dye molecules, with an interception rate exceeding 99.6%. Furthermore, the optimized composite membrane demonstrated robust performance and structural stability even under varying pH conditions. The findings of this fundamental research provide a straightforward and cost-effective strategy for the production of high-performance two-dimensional based nanofiltration membranes.