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Górecki R, Bhaumik S, Qasem E, Loiola L, Emwas AH, Ntetsikas K, Hadjichristidis N, Nunes SP. Well-Defined Block Copolymer Vitrimer Membranes. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2025; 21:e2409139. [PMID: 39593261 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202409139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2024] [Revised: 11/08/2024] [Indexed: 11/28/2024]
Abstract
A well-defined α,ω-dialdehyde polyisoprene-b-polystyrene block copolymer, synthesized using anionic polymerization high-vacuum techniques, is employed to prepare vitrimers with tris(2-aminoethyl)amine as the cross-linking agent. The vitrimer network, featuring dynamic imine cross-links, results in robust, flexible, and solvent-resistant films, which are applicable in thin film composite membranes. These vitrimer membranes, with molecular weight cut-offs in the nanofiltration range, are successfully used for organic solvent separation and evaluated for gas separation. The cross-linking density, controlled by the cross-linker, affects the material's gas permeability and affinity for CO₂. The dynamic nature of the imine cross-links enables the vitrimer's self-healing ability, activated by heat treatment at temperatures as low as 50 °C. Additionally, the vitrimer membranes can be reprocessed through solvent dissolution in the presence of the excess cross-linking agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radosław Górecki
- Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saibal Bhaumik
- Polymer Synthesis Laboratory, Chemistry Program, Physical Science and Engineering Division, KAUST Catalysis Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eyad Qasem
- Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Research & Development Center, Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, 31311, Saudi Arabia
| | - Livia Loiola
- Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdul-Hamid Emwas
- Core Labs, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Konstantinos Ntetsikas
- Polymer Synthesis Laboratory, Chemistry Program, Physical Science and Engineering Division, KAUST Catalysis Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nikos Hadjichristidis
- Polymer Synthesis Laboratory, Chemistry Program, Physical Science and Engineering Division, KAUST Catalysis Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suzana P Nunes
- Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Chemical Engineering Program, Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Chemistry Program, KAUST Catalysis Center, Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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Ma D, Zhang Z, Xiong S, Zhou J, Wang Y. Additive manufacturing of defect-healing polyamide membranes for fast and robust desalination. J Memb Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Ren J, Yang X, Yan W, Feng X, Zhao Y, Chen L. mPEG-b-PES-b-mPEG-based candidate hemodialysis membrane with enhanced performance in sieving, flux, and hemocompatibility. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Ma D, Li H, Meng Z, Zhang C, Zhou J, Xia J, Wang Y. Absolute and Fast Removal of Viruses and Bacteria from Water by Spraying-Assembled Carbon-Nanotube Membranes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:15206-15214. [PMID: 34714066 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongwei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Hengyi Li
- Beijing OriginWater Membrane Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing 101407, P. R. China
| | - Zixun Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Chenxu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Jiemei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Jianzhong Xia
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzen 518060, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Yong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, Jiangsu, P. R. China
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Robertson M, Zhou Q, Ye C, Qiang Z. Developing Anisotropy in Self-Assembled Block Copolymers: Methods, Properties, and Applications. Macromol Rapid Commun 2021; 42:e2100300. [PMID: 34272778 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Block copolymers (BCPs) self-assembly has continually attracted interest as a means to provide bottom-up control over nanostructures. While various methods have been demonstrated for efficiently ordering BCP nanodomains, most of them do not generically afford control of nanostructural orientation. For many applications of BCPs, such as energy storage, microelectronics, and separation membranes, alignment of nanodomains is a key requirement for enabling their practical use or enhancing materials performance. This review focuses on summarizing research progress on the development of anisotropy in BCP systems, covering a variety of topics from established aligning techniques, resultant material properties, and the associated applications. Specifically, the significance of aligning nanostructures and the anisotropic properties of BCPs is discussed and highlighted by demonstrating a few promising applications. Finally, the challenges and outlook are presented to further implement aligned BCPs into practical nanotechnological applications, where exciting opportunities exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Robertson
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
| | - Qingya Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Changhuai Ye
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Zhe Qiang
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
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Qi L, Qiao J. Design of Switchable Enzyme Carriers Based on Stimuli-Responsive Porous Polymer Membranes for Bioapplications. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2021; 4:4706-4719. [PMID: 35007021 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Design of efficient enzyme carriers, where enzymes are conjugated to supports, has become an attractive research avenue. Immobilized enzymes are advantageous for practical applications because of their convenience in handling, ease of separation, and good reusability. However, the main challenge is that these traditional enzyme carriers are unable to regulate the enzymolysis efficiency or to protect the enzymes from proteolytic degradation, which restricts their effectiveness of enzymes in bioapplications. Enlightened by the stimuli-responsive channels in the natural cell membranes, conjugation of the enzymes within flat-sheet stimuli-responsive porous polymer membranes (SR-PPMs) as artificial cell membranes is an efficient strategy for circumventing this challenge. Controlled by the external stimuli, the multifunctional polymer chains, which are incorporated within the membranes and attached to the enzyme, change their structures to defend the enzyme from the external environmental disturbances and degradation by proteinases. Specifically, smart SR-PPM enzyme carriers (SR-PPMECs) not only permit convective substrate transfer through the accessible porous network, dramatically improving enzymolysis efficiency due to the adjustable pore sizes and the confinement effect, but they also act as molecular switches for regulating its permeability and selectivity. In this review, the concept of SR-PPMECs is presented. It covers the latest developments in design strategies of flat-sheet SR-PPFMs, fabrication protocols of SR-PPFMECs, strategies for the regulation of enzymolysis efficiency, and their cutting-edge bioapplications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Qi
- Beijing National Laboratory of Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.,School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Juan Qiao
- Beijing National Laboratory of Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.,School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Guo L, Wang Y, Steinhart M. Porous block copolymer separation membranes for 21st century sanitation and hygiene. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:6333-6348. [PMID: 33890584 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00500b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Removing hazardous particulate and macromolecular contaminants as well as viruses with sizes from a few nm up to the 100 nm-range from water and air is crucial for ensuring sufficient sanitation and hygiene for a growing world population. To this end, high-performance separation membranes are needed that combine high permeance, high selectivity and sufficient mechanical stability under operating conditions. However, design features of separation membranes enhancing permeance reduce selectivity and vice versa. Membrane configurations combining high permeance and high selectivity suffer in turn from a lack of mechanical robustness. These problems may be tackled by using block copolymers (BCPs) as a material platform for the design of separation membranes. BCPs are macromolecules that consist of two or more chemically distinct block segments, which undergo microphase separation yielding a wealth of ordered nanoscopic domain structures. Various methods allow the transformation of these nanoscopic domain structures into customized nanopore systems with pore sizes in the sub-100 nm range and with narrow pore size distributions. This tutorial review summarizes design strategies for nanoporous state-of-the-art BCP separation membranes, their preparation, their device integration and their use for water purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leiming Guo
- Institut für Chemie neuer Materialien and CellNanOs, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastr. 7, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany.
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Ma D, Ye X, Li Z, Zhou J, Zhong D, Zhang C, Xiong S, Xia J, Wang Y. A facile process to prepare fouling-resistant ultrafiltration membranes: Spray coating of water-containing block copolymer solutions on macroporous substrates. Sep Purif Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2020.118100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Spray coating of polysulfone/poly(ethylene glycol) block polymer on macroporous substrates followed by selective swelling for composite ultrafiltration membranes. Chin J Chem Eng 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2020.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Hampu N, Werber JR, Chan WY, Feinberg EC, Hillmyer MA. Next-Generation Ultrafiltration Membranes Enabled by Block Polymers. ACS NANO 2020; 14:16446-16471. [PMID: 33315381 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c07883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Reliable and equitable access to safe drinking water is a major and growing challenge worldwide. Membrane separations represent one of the most promising strategies for the energy-efficient purification of potential water sources. In particular, porous membranes are used for the ultrafiltration (UF) of water to remove contaminants with nanometric sizes. However, despite exhibiting excellent water permeability and solution processability, existing UF membranes contain a broad distribution of pore sizes that limit their size selectivity. To maximize the potential utility of UF membranes and allow for precise separations, improvements in the size selectivity of these systems must be achieved. Block polymers represent a potentially transformative solution, as these materials self-assemble into well-defined domains of uniform size. Several different strategies have been reported for integrating block polymers into UF membranes, and each strategy has its own set of materials and processing considerations to ensure that uniform and continuous pores are generated. This Review aims to summarize and critically analyze the chemistries, processing techniques, and properties required for the most common methods for producing porous membranes from block polymers, with a particular focus on the fundamental mechanisms underlying block polymer self-assembly and pore formation. Critical structure-property-performance metrics will be analyzed for block polymer UF membranes to understand how these membranes compare to commercial UF membranes and to identify key research areas for continued improvements. This Review is intended to inform readers of the capabilities and current challenges of block polymer UF membranes, while stimulating critical thought on strategies to advance these technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Hampu
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Jay R Werber
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Wui Yarn Chan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Elizabeth C Feinberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Marc A Hillmyer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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Bucher T, Clodt JI, Abetz C, Bajer B, Filiz V. Spraying of Ultrathin Isoporous Block Copolymer Membranes-A Story about Challenges and Limitations. MEMBRANES 2020; 10:E404. [PMID: 33297532 PMCID: PMC7762335 DOI: 10.3390/membranes10120404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Isoporous membranes can be prepared by a combination of self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers and the non-solvent induced phase separation process. As the general doctor-blade technique suffers from high consumption of expensive block copolymer, other methods to reduce its concentration in the casting solution are sought after. Decreasing the block copolymer concentration during membrane casting and applying the block copolymer solution on a support membrane to obtain ultrathin isoporous membrane layers with e.g., spraying techniques, can be an answer. In this work we focused on the question if upscaling of thin block copolymer membranes produced by spraying techniques is feasible. To upscale the spray coating process, three different approaches were pursued, namely air-brush, 1-fluid nozzles and 2-fluid nozzles as generally used in the coating industry. The different spraying systems were implemented successfully in a membrane casting machine. Thinking about future development of isoporous block copolymer membranes in application it was significant that a continuous preparation process can be realised combining spraying of thin layers and immersion of the thin block copolymer layers in water to ensure phase-separation. The system was tested using a solution of polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) diblock copolymer. A detailed examination of the spray pattern and its homogeneity was carried out. The limitations of this method are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juliana Isabel Clodt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute of Polymer Research, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany; (T.B.); (C.A.); (B.B.); (V.F.)
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Room-temperature swelling of block copolymers for nanoporous membranes with well-defined porosities. J Memb Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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