“…The presences of P, Ag, and Cu elements are all detected, indicating the existence of PA-M complex on the surface of TFC_PA-M membranes. In addition, the high resolution XPS spectra of different elements are further deconvoluted to obtain the chemical states of the above elements. , For the TFC_PA-Ag membrane, the peaks of O–Ag bond (O 1s, 530.1 eV), P–O–Ag bond (P 2p, 135.0 eV), and Ag–O bond (Ag 3d 3/2 , 375.6 eV and 3d 5/2 , 369.4 eV) verify the strong chelation interaction between Ag + and PA, confirming again the formation of PA-Ag complexes by the assembly of Ag + and PA. Moreover, the existence of N–Ag (N 1s, 401.2 eV), Ag–OC (Ag 3d 3/2 , 375.6 eV and 3d 5/2 , 369.4 eV), and Ag–N (Ag 3d 3/2 , 374.8 eV and 3d 5/2 , 368.5 eV) bonds suggests the interaction between Ag and amide groups, carboxyl groups, and the residual terminal amine (from the pristine polyamide selective layer), indicating the good adhesion of PA-Ag complexes on the TFC membrane surface as proposed above.…”