Smart Nylon Membranes with pH‐Responsive Wettability: High‐Efficiency Separation on Demand for Various Oil/Water Mixtures and Surfactant‐Stabilized Emulsions. Issue 21 (19th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Xiangyu; Zhang, Qingdong; Zhang, Weifeng; Qu, Ruixiang; Wei, Yen; Feng, Lin
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials interfaces. Volume 5:Issue 21(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-09-19
• Subjects: controllable emulsion separation -- controllable oil/water separation -- pH‐responsivity -- self‐assembly -- switchable wettability; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/admi.201801179
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2196-7350

Abstract

Abstract: Water contaminated with various oils has become one of the most pervasive environmental issues. Developing an efficient and durable separation membrane is of significance but challenging due to the critical limitations of nonuniversality and discontinuity for oil/water separation. Herein, a material is presented by combining the porous nylon membrane with self‐assembled thiol molecules, exhibiting tunable wettability property upon the pH variation. Such a smart membrane shows high hydrophobicity in nonbasic environment while transition into superhydrophilicity under basic condition, demonstrating a robust and controllable separation performance for various oil/water mixtures and surfactant‐stabilized emulsions along with excellent recyclability of the long‐term separation. This facile and general strategy suggests encouraging the development of the next generation of energy‐saving water treatment systems, applying to intelligent separation and on‐demand oil‐spills cleanup. Abstract : A pH‐responsive membrane is prepared based on mussel‐inspired catechol chemistry and the self‐assembly of thiol molecules, featuring switchable wettability‐high hydrophobicity in nonbasic environment in contrast to superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity in basic environments. Such a material exhibits excellent separation performance for various immiscible oil/water mixtures and surfactant‐stabilized emulsions along with outstanding recyclability of the long‐term separation.