We present an exfoliation-free and scalable strategy to prepare few-layered CONs by the interface-confined synthesis. The resultant CONs are assembled into selective layers for molecular separations.
Membrane
separation is able to efficiently remove pathogens like
bacteria and viruses from water based on size exclusion. However,
absolute and fast removal of pathogens requires highly permeable but
selective membranes. Herein, we report the preparation of such advanced
membranes using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as one-dimensional building
blocks. We first disperse CNTs with the help of an amphiphilic block
copolymer, poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-block-polystyrene (PDMAEMA-b-PS, abbreviated as BCP).
The PS blocks adsorb on the surface of CNTs via the π–π
interaction, while the PDMAEMA blocks are solvated, thus forming homogeneous
and stable CNT dispersions. We then spray the CNT dispersions on porous
substrates, producing composite membranes with assembled CNT layers
as the selective layers. We demonstrate that the optimized membrane
shows 100% rejection to phage viruses and bacteria (Escherichia coli) while giving a water permeance
up to ∼3300 L m–2 h–1 bar–1. The performance of the resultant BCP/CNT membrane
outperforms that of state-of-the-art membranes and commercial membranes.
The BCP/CNT membrane can be used for multiple runs and regenerated
by water rinsing. Membrane modules assembled from large-area membrane
sheets sustain the capability of absolute and fast removal of viruses
and bacteria.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.