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Appold M, Rangou S, Glass S, Lademann B, Filiz V. Enhanced UV Penetration and Cross-Linking of Isoporous Block Copolymer and Commercial Ultrafiltration Membranes using Isorefractive Solvent. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2403288. [PMID: 38946670 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202403288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Amphiphilic block copolymers are promising candidates for the fabrication of ultrafiltration membranes with an isoporous integral asymmetric structure. The membranes are typically fabricated by the combination of block copolymer self-assembly and the non-solvent-induced phase separation (SNIPS) process resulting in isoporous integral asymmetric membranes. Certainly, all these membranes lack thermal and chemical stability limiting the usage of such materials. Within this study, the fabrication of completely cross-linked isoporous integral asymmetric block copolymer membranes is demonstrated by UV cross-linking resulting in chemical and thermal stable ultrafiltration membranes. The UV cross-linking process of PVBCB-b-P4VP (poly(4-vinylbenzocyclobutene)-b-poly(4vinylpyridine)) block copolymer membranes in dependency of irradiation time, intensity, distance between membrane and UV source and the wavelength is investigated. Furthermore, it is shown that the penetration depths can be increased by soaking the membranes in wave-guiding solutions before UV cross-linking is carried out. Moreover, a completely new and easy cross-linking strategy is developed based on isorefractive solvents resulting in thermal and chemically stable membranes that are cross-linked through the whole membrane thickness. Finally, the new cross-linking strategy in isorefractive solutions is transferred to commercial PVDF and PAN-co-PVC polymer membranes paving the way for more stable and sustainable ultrafiltration membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Appold
- Institute of Membrane Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str.1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Sofia Rangou
- Institute of Membrane Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str.1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Sarah Glass
- Institute of Membrane Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str.1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Brigitte Lademann
- Institute of Membrane Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str.1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Volkan Filiz
- Institute of Membrane Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str.1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany
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Wang W, Shu Z, Wei H, Yan W, Yi Z, Gao C. Hyper-crosslinked Isoporous Block Copolymer Membranes with Robust Solvent Resistance and Customized Pore Sizes for Precise Separation. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2308171. [PMID: 38095505 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202308171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Isoporous block copolymer membranes are viewed as the next-generation separation membranes for their unique structures and urgent application in precise separation. However, an obvious weakness for such membranes is their poor solvent-resistance which limits their applications to aqueous solution, and isoporous membranes with superior solvent-resistance and tunable pore size have been rarely prepared before. Herein, self-supporting isoporous membranes with excellent solvent resistance are prepared by the facile yet robust hyper-crosslinking approach which is able to create a rigid network in whole membranes. The hyper-crosslinking is found to be a novel and non-destructive approach that does not change pore size and isoporous structure during the reaction, and the resulting hyper-crosslinked isoporous membranes display superior structural and separation stability to a broad range of solvents with varied polarities for months to years. More importantly, hyper-crosslinking has proved to be a universal strategy that is applicable to isoporous membranes with varied pore size and pore chemistry, offering an important opportunity to prepare solvent-resistant isoporous membranes with customizable pore size and pore functionality that are important to realize their accurate separations in organic solvents. This concept is demonstrated finally by precise and on-demand separation of nanoparticles with the prepared membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Wang
- Center for Membrane and Water Science & Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Zhe Shu
- Center for Membrane and Water Science & Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Hongxing Wei
- Center for Membrane and Water Science & Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Wentao Yan
- Center for Membrane and Water Science & Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Zhuan Yi
- Center for Membrane and Water Science & Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
- Huzhou Institute of Collaborative Innovation Center for Membrane Separation and Water treatment, Hong Feng Road, Huzhou, 313000, China
| | - Congjie Gao
- Center for Membrane and Water Science & Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
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Shu Z, Qi M, Fang LF, Yi Z, Gao CJ. Reversibly Cross-Linked Isoporous Membranes Fabricated by the Recyclable Block Copolymer with Pendent Dithiolane Groups. ACS Macro Lett 2024; 13:389-394. [PMID: 38488582 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The reversible formation and cleavage of disulfide bonds under physical/chemical stimuli make it a valuable motif in constructing dynamically cross-linked materials. In the present work, the block copolymer bearing pendent dithiolanes was synthesized and fabricated into isoporous membranes by the combination of self-assembly and nonsolvent-induced phase separation strategy. The cross-linking within the membrane was realized by the thiol-initiated ring-opening cascades of cyclic disulfides. Successful formation of disulfide bond networks within the isoporous membranes was proved by the Raman spectra, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and rheological analysis. The cross-linking in membranes was further demonstrated by the notably improved toughness and obviously enhanced swelling resistance to acid/alkaline solution as well as organic solvents. Importantly, the cross-linked isoporous membranes were fully dissolvable in solution containing dithiothreitol, which enabled the complete cleavage of disulfide bonds and successful recovery of the block copolymer that was able to be repeatedly fabricated into isoporous membranes with pore sizes identical to membranes prepared from the freshly synthesized copolymer. Our results indicate that dynamically cross-linked isoporous membranes with improved durability and good recyclability can be custom-made by simply incorporating active dithiolane moieties into self-assembling block copolymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Shu
- Center for Membrane and Water Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Min Qi
- Center for Membrane and Water Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Li-Feng Fang
- Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization (Ministry of Education), Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Zhuan Yi
- Center for Membrane and Water Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
- Huzhou Institute of Collaborative Innovation Center for Membrane Separation and Water Treatment, Hong Feng Road, Huzhou 313000, China
| | - Cong-Jie Gao
- Center for Membrane and Water Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
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Qian Z, Shi R, Lu ZY, Qian HJ. Horizontal to perpendicular transition of lamellar and cylinder phases in block copolymer films induced by interface segregation of single-chain nanoparticles during solvent evaporation. J Chem Phys 2023; 159:124901. [PMID: 38127373 DOI: 10.1063/5.0166202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
How to fabricate perpendicularly oriented domains (PODs) of lamellar and cylinder phases in block copolymer thin films remains a major challenge. In this work, via a coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation study, we report a solvent evaporation strategy starting from a mixed solution of A-b-B-type diblock copolymers (DBCs) and single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) with the same composition, which is capable of spontaneously generating PODs in drying DBC films induced by the interface segregation of SCNPs. The latter occurs at both the free surface and substrate and, consequently, neutralizes the interface selectivity of distinct blocks in DBCs, leading to spontaneous formation of PODs at both interfaces. The interface segregation of SCNPs is related to the weak solvophilicity of the internal cross-linker units. A mean-field theory calculation demonstrates that the increase in the chemical potential of SCNPs in the bulk region drives their interface segregation along with solvent evaporation. We believe that such a strategy can be useful in regulating the PODs of DBC films in practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Rui Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Zhong-Yuan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
- Key Laboratory of Material Simulation Methods and Software of Ministry of Education, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Hu-Jun Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
- Key Laboratory of Material Simulation Methods and Software of Ministry of Education, Changchun 130012, China
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