Durable Janus membrane with on-demand mode switching fabricated by femtosecond laser

Zehang Cui, Yachao Zhang, Zhicheng Zhang, Bingrui Liu, Yiyu Chen, Hao Wu, Yuxuan Zhang, Zilong Cheng, Guoqiang Li, Jiale Yong, Jiawen Li, Dong Wu, Jiaru Chu and Yanlei Hu ()
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Zehang Cui: University of Science and Technology of China
Yachao Zhang: University of Science and Technology of China
Zhicheng Zhang: University of Science and Technology of China
Bingrui Liu: Anhui Agricultural University
Yiyu Chen: University of Science and Technology of China
Hao Wu: University of Science and Technology of China
Yuxuan Zhang: University of Science and Technology of China
Zilong Cheng: University of Science and Technology of China
Guoqiang Li: Southwest University of Science and Technology
Jiale Yong: University of Science and Technology of China
Jiawen Li: University of Science and Technology of China
Dong Wu: University of Science and Technology of China
Jiaru Chu: University of Science and Technology of China
Yanlei Hu: University of Science and Technology of China

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Despite their notable unidirectional water transport capabilities, Janus membranes are commonly challenged by the fragility of their chemical coatings and the clogging of open microchannels. Here, an on-demand mode-switching strategy is presented to consider the Janus functionality and mechanical durability separately and implement them by simply stretching and releasing the membrane. The stretching Janus mode facilitates unidirectional liquid flow through the hydrophilic micropores-microgrooves channels (PG channels) fabricated by femtosecond laser. The releasing protection mode is designed for the in-situ closure of the PG channels upon encountering external abrasion and impact. The protection mode imparts the Janus membrane robustness to reserve water unidirectional penetration under harsh conditions, such as 2000 cycles mechanical abrasion, 10 days exposure in air and other rigorous tests (sandpaper abrasion, finger rubbing, sand impact and tape peeling). The underlying mechanism of gridded grooves in protecting and enhancing water flow is unveiled. The Janus membrane serves as a fog collector to demonstrate its unwavering mechanical durability in harsh real-world conditions. The presented design strategy could open up new possibilities of Janus membrane in a multitude of applications ranging from multiphase separation devices to fog harvesting and wearable health-monitoring patches.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45926-4

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