Water Droplets as Template for Next-Generation Self-Assembled Poly-(etheretherketone) with Cardo Membranes

Abstract

Next generation PEEK-WC membranes have been fabricated by using an innovative self-assembly technique. Patterned architectures have been achieved via a solvent-reduced and water-assisted process, resulting in honeycomb packed geometry. The membranes exhibit monodisperse pores with size and shape comparable to those left by templating water droplets. Influencing factors for the formation of self-assembled poly-(etheretherketone) with Cardo [PEEK-WC] membranes have been evaluated, identifying the critical parameters for nucleation, growth, and propagation of the droplet-mobile arrays through the overall films. Structure-transport relationships have been discussed according to the results achieved from the implementation of membrane distillation processes, yielding indication about the suitability of self-assembled PEEK-WC films to work as interfaces in contactor operations.

Fabrication of polymeric honeycomb microporous films: breath figures strategy and stabilization of water droplets by fluorinated diblock copolymer micelles

“…The diameter of the pores prepared from PtBA 129 -b-PFNEMA 22 at the same concentration and casting volume is smaller than that from PtBA 90 -b-PFNEMA 12 , and multilayer pores were also observed with casting volumes of 50 and 80 lL. Preparation of honeycomb microporous films from four commercial polymers with the fluorine-containing diblock copolymer micelles as stabilizer Over the past decades, a lot of attempts have been made to prepare honeycomb microporous films from diverse polymer architectures through the BF method [8,[20][21][22][23][24]. Honeycomb microporous films prepared from PS have been studied by a lot of groups [3,20,26].…”

“…Such strategy utilizes the water droplets condensed from moist air during solvent evaporation as the template to direct the formation of ordered microporous film [18,19]. A large variety of polymer architectures have been successfully applied to prepare BF patterns, such as functional linear polymers, starlike polymers, dendritic copolymers, amphiphilic copolymers, and so forth [8,[20][21][22][23][24]. Normally, these polymers possess unique molecular structures, syntheses of which involve troublesome procedures.…”

Membranes for Ultra‐Smart Textiles

“…In this respect, membranes represent a powerful tool for realizing multi-compartment arrays where diff erent and complementary functions can be accommodated [85][86]. Polymers, including perfl uoropolymers, conductive macromolecules and elastomers, can be easily combined with nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, strongsolid particles, nanowires, ionic liquid crystals, thermal and light-driven compounds as well as core-shell and valved structures, enzymes, dyes, actuators and gels.…”

Breath-Figures Self-Assembly, the Versatile Method of Manufacturing Membranes and Porous Structures: Physical, Chemical and Technological Aspects

“…Well-defined micro-and nano-scaled porous polymeric architectures are in a great demand for use in advanced devices, including membranes [1][2][3][4], sensors [5][6], bio-engineering [7][8] and water-oil and sizeselective separation processes [9][10][11][12][13]. One of the most versatile, simple, single-stage and inexpensive methods, enabling manufacturing porous polymer films with finely controlled topography is the so-called "breath-figures self-assembly" [14][15].…”