Polyamide nanofiltration membrane with highly uniform sub-nanometre pores for sub-1 Å precision separation

Yuanzhe Liang, Yuzhang Zhu (), Cheng Liu, Kueir-Rarn Lee, Wei-Song Hung, Zhenyi Wang, Youyong Li, Menachem Elimelech, Jian Jin () and Shihong Lin ()
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Yuanzhe Liang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yuzhang Zhu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Cheng Liu: Soochow University
Kueir-Rarn Lee: Chung Yuan University
Wei-Song Hung: Chung Yuan University
Zhenyi Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Youyong Li: Soochow University
Menachem Elimelech: Yale University
Jian Jin: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Shihong Lin: Vanderbilt University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Separating molecules or ions with sub-Angstrom scale precision is important but technically challenging. Achieving such a precise separation using membranes requires Angstrom scale pores with a high level of pore size uniformity. Herein, we demonstrate that precise solute-solute separation can be achieved using polyamide membranes formed via surfactant-assembly regulated interfacial polymerization (SARIP). The dynamic, self-assembled network of surfactants facilitates faster and more homogeneous diffusion of amine monomers across the water/hexane interface during interfacial polymerization, thereby forming a polyamide active layer with more uniform sub-nanometre pores compared to those formed via conventional interfacial polymerization. The polyamide membrane formed by SARIP exhibits highly size-dependent sieving of solutes, yielding a step-wise transition from low rejection to near-perfect rejection over a solute size range smaller than half Angstrom. SARIP represents an approach for the scalable fabrication of ultra-selective membranes with uniform nanopores for precise separation of ions and small solutes.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15771-2

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