Neutron Reflectivity and Performance of Polyamide Nanofilms for Water Desalination
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The structure and hydration of polyamide (PA) membranes are investigated with a combination of neutron and X-ray reflectivity, and their performance is benchmarked in reverse osmosis water desalination. PA membranes are synthesized by the interfacial polymerization of m-phenylenediamine (MPD) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC), varying systematically reaction time, concentration, and stoichiometry, to yield large-area exceptionally planar films of ≈10 nm thickness. Reflectivity is employed to precisely determine membrane thickness and roughness, as well as the (TMC/MPD) concentration profile, and response to hydration in the vapor phase. PA film thickness is found to increase linearly with reaction time, albeit with a nonzero intercept, and the composition cross-sectional profile is found to be uniform, at the conditions investigated. Vapor hydration with H2O and D2O from 0 to 100% relative humidity results in considerable swelling (up to 20%), but also yields uniform cross-sectional profiles. The resulting film thickness is found to be predominantly set by the MPD concentration, while TMC regulates water uptake. A favorable correlation is found between higher swelling and water uptake with permeance. The data provide quantitative insight into the film formation mechanisms and correlate reaction conditions, cross-sectional nanostructure, and performance of the PA active layer in RO membranes for desalination.
Date Issued
2017-08-02
Date Acceptance
2017-07-04
Citation
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, 2017, 27 (37)
ISSN
1616-301X
Publisher
WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
Journal / Book Title
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
Volume
27
Issue
37
Copyright Statement
© 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim. This is the accepted version of the following article: F. Foglia, S. Karan, M. Nania, Z. Jiang, A. E. Porter, R. Barker, A. G. Livingston, J. T. Cabral, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2017, 27, 1701738, which has been published in final form at https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201701738
Sponsor
BP International Limited
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000412324200005&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
Order No. 75195/ICAM10 (IC)
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry, Physical
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Physics, Applied
Physics, Condensed Matter
Chemistry
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Materials Science
Physics
neutron reflectivity
polyamide active layers
reverse osmosis
REVERSE-OSMOSIS MEMBRANES
INTERFACIAL POLYMERIZATION
THIN-FILMS
NANOFILTRATION MEMBRANES
MOLECULAR-DYNAMICS
RO MEMBRANES
ACTIVE LAYERS
NF MEMBRANES
FLUX
HETEROGENEITY
03 Chemical Sciences
09 Engineering
02 Physical Sciences
Materials
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 1701738