Superwetting Patterned Membranes with an Anisotropy/Isotropy Transition: Towards Signal Expression and Liquid Permeation. Issue 32 (26th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qu, Ruixiang; Li, Xiangyu; Liu, Yanan; Zhai, Huajun; Zhao, Shuaiheng; Feng, Lin; Wei, Yen
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 59:Issue 32(2020)
• Page Start: 13437
• Page End: 13443
• Publication Date: 2020-05-26
• Subjects: liquid permeation -- materials science -- responsive patterns -- signal expression -- superwetting membranes; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202005030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Superwetting membranes with responsive properties have attracted heightened attention because of their fine‐tunable surface wettability. However, their functional diversity is severely limited by the "black‐or‐white" wettability transition. Herein, we describe a coating strategy to fabricate multifunctional responsive superwetting membranes with SiO2 /octadecylamine patterns. The adjustable patterns in the responsive region are the key factor for functional diversity. Specifically, the coated part of the membrane displayed a superhydrophobicity/superhydrophilicity transition at different pH values, whereas the uncoated part exhibited invariant superhydrophilicity. On the basis of this anisotropy/isotropy transition, the membranes can serve as either responsive permeable membranes or signal‐expression membranes, thus enabling the responsive separation and permeation of liquids with satisfactory separation efficiency (>99.90 %) and flux (ca. 60 L m −2 h), as well as real‐time liquid signal expression with alterable signals. Abstract : A patterned superwetting membrane that showed a reversible transition between anisotropic and isotropic wettability under different conditions was developed for functional diversity (see picture). The material could act as a responsive permeable membrane and signal‐expression membrane for responsive liquid separation or permeation as well as real‐time liquid signal expression.