Spontaneous water-on-water spreading of polyelectrolyte membranes inspired by skin formation

Sihan Tang, Jiang Gong, Yunsong Shi, Shifeng Wen and Qiang Zhao ()
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Sihan Tang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Jiang Gong: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Yunsong Shi: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Shifeng Wen: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Qiang Zhao: Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Stable interfaces between immiscible solvents are crucial for chemical synthesis and assembly, but interfaces between miscible solvents have been less explored. Here the authors report the spontaneous water-on-water spreading and self-assembly of polyelectrolyte membranes. An aqueous mixture solution containing poly(ethyleneimine) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) spreads efficiently on acidic water, leading to the formation of hierarchically porous membranes. The reduced surface tension of the polyelectrolyte mixture solution drives the surface spreading, while the interfacial polyelectrolytes complexation triggered by the low pH of water mitigates water-in-water mixing. The synergy of surface tension and pH-dependent complexation represents a generic mechanism governing interfaces between miscible solvents for materials engineering, without the need for surfactants or sophisticated equipment. As a proof-of-concept, porous polyelectrolyte hybrid membranes are prepared by surface spreading, exhibiting exceptional solar thermal evaporation performance (2.8 kg/m2h) under 1-sun irradiation.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30973-6

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