Regulation of molecular transport in polymer membranes with voltage-controlled pore size at the angstrom scale

Yuzhang Zhu, Liangliang Gui, Ruoyu Wang, Yunfeng Wang, Wangxi Fang, Menachem Elimelech, Shihong Lin () and Jian Jin ()
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Yuzhang Zhu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Liangliang Gui: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ruoyu Wang: Vanderbilt University
Yunfeng Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wangxi Fang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Menachem Elimelech: Yale University
Shihong Lin: Vanderbilt University
Jian Jin: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Polymer membranes have been used extensively for Angstrom-scale separation of solutes and molecules. However, the pore size of most polymer membranes has been considered an intrinsic membrane property that cannot be adjusted in operation by applied stimuli. In this work, we show that the pore size of an electrically conductive polyamide membrane can be modulated by an applied voltage in the presence of electrolyte via a mechanism called electrically induced osmotic swelling. Under applied voltage, the highly charged polyamide layer concentrates counter ions in the polymer network via Donnan equilibrium and creates a sizeable osmotic pressure to enlarge the free volume and the effective pore size. The relation between membrane potential and pore size can be quantitatively described using the extended Flory-Rehner theory with Donnan equilibrium. The ability to regulate pore size via applied voltage enables operando modulation of precise molecular separation in-situ. This study demonstrates the amazing capability of electro-regulation of membrane pore size at the Angstrom scale and unveils an important but previously overlooked mechanism of membrane-water-solute interactions.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38114-3

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