Bicontinuous Structure Research Articles

Colloidal Structure Dictates Antimicrobial Efficacy in LL-37 Self-Assemblies With Glycerol Monooleate.

The antimicrobial peptide LL-37 is a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics to combat bacteria in suspension and biofilms. Its self-assembly with polar lipids is suggested to improve its potential for therapeutic applications with higher stability against degradation and bioavailability. This study investigates the self-assembly of LL-37 with glyceryl monooleate (GMO), establishing the link between colloidal structure and antimicrobial activity. Small-angle X-ray scattering, dynamic light scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy show structural transformation from dispersions of inverse bicontinuous structure (cubosomes) to multilamellar vesicles and direct rod-like mixed-micelles upon increasing the content of LL-37 in GMO. In vitro assays against planktonic and biofilm cells demonstrate that 128 µg mL-1 of GMO cubosomes have no impact on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Still, the cubosomes reduce the Staphylococcus aureus planktonic population by ≈ 1-log after 24 h. Cylindrical micelles formed at LL-37/GMO 9/1 and 8/2 with 128 µg mL-1 LL-37 decrease the Pseudomonas aeruginosa population by 6-log. This activity is gradually abolished when LL-37 is encapsulated in vesicles or cubosomes. They also demonstrate low antibiofilm efficacy and promote the biomass of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. These results highlight the importance of colloidal structure for therapeutic outcomes, providing insights for advanced lipid nanocarrier designs.

Effect of whey protein on the formation, structure and gastrointestinal breakdown of quinoa flour-based composite gels

Whole grain flour has captured increasing attention due to its health benefits. Herein, the quinoa flour-based composite gels were fabricated by heating quinoa flour dispersions containing 0-7 w/w% whey protein isolate (WPI). The thermal properties and gel formation of the dispersions were determined, along with the large deformation and fracture properties, microstructure, and molecular reorganization of the resulting gels. Protein hydrolysis, solid loss, glucose release and microstructural changes were monitored to characterize the gastrointestinal breakdown of the gels. Results showed that quinoa starch was gelatinized at 60-70 °C. Upon heating, quinoa starch was segregated into microparticles of ∼ 3 μm, which aggregated into the starch phase, whereas protein aggregates filled the gap of the starch gel network. A bicontinuous structure was formed with increasing WPI concentration to 7 w/w%. Meanwhile, the storage modulus, gel hardness and fracture stress of the gels increased by 5-8 times. The addition of WPI inhibited gel disintegration during in vitro digestion. However, intestinal glucose release was not delayed because of the phase-separated structure of the gels. With increasing WPI concentration, larger protein aggregates survived after 5 min of intestinal digestion, demonstrating that the enhanced protein network was the main contributor slowing down gel disintegration during in vitro digestion. This work would promote the development of quinoa flour-based products with controlled digestion.

Clarithromycin-tailored cubosome: A sustained release oral nano platform for evaluating antibacterial, anti-biofilm, anti-inflammatory, anti-liver cancer, biocompatibility, ex-vivo and in-vivo studies

The clinical implication of clarithromycin (CLT) is compromised owing to its poor solubility and, subsequently, bioavailability, unpalatable taste, rapid metabolism, short half-life, frequent dosing, and adverse effects. The present investigation provides an innovative sustained-release oral drug delivery strategy that tackles these challenges. Accordingly, CLT was loaded into a cubosome, a vesicular system with a bicontinuous cubic structure that promotes solubility and bioavailability, provides a sustained release system combating short half-life and adverse effects, masks unpleasant taste, and protects the drug from destruction in gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Nine various formulas were fabricated using the emulsification method. The resulting vesicles increased the encapsulation efficiency (EE %) from 57.64 ± 0.04 % to 96.80 ± 1.50 %, the particle size (PS) from 147.30 ± 21.77 nm to 216.61 ± 5.37 nm, and the polydispersity index (PDI) values ranged from 0.117 ± 0.024 to 0.278 ± 0.073. The zeta potential (ZP) changed from −20.65 ± 2.01 mV to −33.98 ± 2.60 mV. Further, the release profile exhibited a dual release pattern within 24 h., with the percentage of cumulative release (CR %) expanding from 30.06 ± 0.42 % to 98.49 ± 2.88 %, optimized formula was found to be CC9 with EE % = 96.80 ± 1.50 %, PS = 216.61 ± 5.37 nm, ZP = −33.98 ± 2.60 mV, PDI = 0.117 ± 0.024, CR % = 98.49 ± 2.88 % and IC50 of 0.74 ± 0.19 µg/mL against HepG-2 cells with scattered unilamellar cubic non-agglomerated vesicles. Additionally, it exhibited higher anti-MRSA biofilm, relative bioavailability (2.8 fold), and anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial capacity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus compared to free CLT. Our data demonstrate that cubosome is a powerful nanocarrier for oral delivery of CLT, boosting its biological impacts and pharmacokinetic profile.

Development and characterisation of a novel bigel based on pea protein hydrogel and rice bran wax oleogel: Enhancement of rheological properties and freeze-thaw stability

In this study, a novel pea protein (PP)-based bigel was developed, featuring a high internal phase emulsion. The impact of gelling agent concentration on the gel properties and freeze-thaw stability of the bigel was investigated. The bigel was comprised of two distinct gel phases: an aqueous-phase gel with a covalent network formed by PP and transglutaminase (TGase), and an oil-phase gel with a crystal network structure of rice bran wax (RBW). Microstructural analysis revealed a bi-continuous network structure in the bigel, with network density increasing as TGase and RBW concentrations rose. Rheological analysis showed that storage modulus (G′), apparent viscosity, and structural recovery of the bigel increased with higher TGase and RBW concentrations. Temperature scanning experiments confirmed that the bigel maintained its elastic solid behavior even at elevated temperatures. Optimal sensory properties and low coefficient of friction were achieved at 0.4 % TGase and 7 % RBW concentrations. Additionally, the bigel exhibited notable freeze-thaw stability at TGase and RBW concentrations exceeding 0.2 % and 5 %, respectively. These findings highlight the excellent gelation properties and stability of the PP-RBW-based bigel, suggesting its potential as a fat substitute in the food industry.

Boosting electrochemical performance by regulating rigid-flexible microphase separation of multiblock copolymers

The growth of lithium dendrites and associated safety issues hinder the further development of liquid lithium metal batteries. A novel rigid-flexible multiblock copolymer PBC-mb-PBS was successfully synthesized based on molecular design. Incorporating crystalline rigid phase polybutylene succinate (PBS) into PBC-mb-PBS significantly enhances its tensile strength and low-temperature toughness through physical crosslinking. The flexible polydibutyl 2-(2-cyanoethyl)malonate (PBC) phase with side-chain cyano groups facilitate ionic conduction, forming a LiN-rich stabilized interfacial layer, thereby improving oxidative stability and high-voltage cathode compatibility. A series of multiblock copolymers with varying segment lengths were synthesized to balance mechanical properties and ionic conductivity by adjusting microphase separation. The quasi-solid-state polymer electrolyte (QSPE), derived from PBC-mb-PBS with the molar block ratio of 0.42, exhibits optimal electrochemical performance with ionic conductivity of 6.20 × 10−5 S cm−1 at 30 °C and 4.22 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 60 °C. Due to its bicontinuous microphase structure, it also shows excellent mechanical strength and promotes uniform lithium deposition at high current densities. Li//LiFePO4 and Li//LiNi0.83Co0.05Mn0.12O2 cells demonstrate high capacity retention, confirming the potential of this polymer electrolyte in high-voltage applications. This design strategy offers insights for developing quasi-solid-state lithium metal batteries with superior overall performance.

Phase change thermal interface film with bicontinuous and textured filler network for efficient wearable heat dissipation

Wearable thermal management needs to simultaneously meet thermal conductivity, heat storage capacity, stability, flexibility, and economy, but these characteristics constrain each other in the development of phase change thermal interface materials (PhC-TIM). Therefore, relying on the economic bicontinuous structure for fillers’ orientation, a new type of bicontinuous phase change thermal interface material (BPTIM) was designed, which includes thermal storage phase composed of paraffin (PCMs) and flexible molecule styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS), and thermal conductivity phase composed of adhesive polyurethane (PU) and thermal conductive medium boron nitride (h-BN). In the experiment, shear force generated by stirring and optimized two-phase volume ratio resulted in the stretching and compressing of the thermal conductive phase, promoting the orientation of h-BN and ultimately forming a textured thermal-conductive network in a high PCMs content bicontinuous structure. Moreover, the introduction of SBS had brought bending resistance and thermal stability. These characteristics enabled BPTIMs to significantly reduce the surface temperature of the wearable device by 23 °C. Overall, this design provides a certain reference for the widespread application of PhC-TIM in thermal management of wearable electronic products.

Effect of Phase Structure on the Viscoelasticity and Mechanical Properties of Isotactic Polypropylene Multicomponents Polymerized with Non-Conjugated α,ω-Diene.

Increasing of rubber content in isotactic polypropylene/ethylene-propylene rubber (iPP/EPR) alloys can extend the applications of this kind of polyolefin. The EPR content and phase structure of isotactic polypropylene multicomponents have great effect on the viscoelasticity and mechanical properties. iPP/EPR in-reactor alloys with a high EPR content were obtained through the in situ crosslinking of EPR chains with α,ω-diene. The morphological observation results indicate that the crosslinked iPP/EPR in-reactor alloys have a good spherical shape with clean and rough external surfaces. The high EPR content is finely dispersed in the crosslinked iPP/EPR alloys in areas ranging in size from tens of nanometers to several micrometers, which implies that a sufficient crosslinking degree of EPR chains can effectively prevent their aggregation and restrict macro-phase separation. The rheological results show a clear plateau in the terminal region, which reveals an entangled polymer chain network in the crosslinked iPP/EPR alloys. The well-dispersed EPR and the bi-continuous phase structure have a great effect on the mechanical properties of the isotactic polypropylene multicomponent which were assessed.

High Strength and Tough Ionogels with Bicontinuous Phase Network Structure Induced by Electrostatic Adsorption Triggered Microphase Separation

AbstractA simple one‐step approach is presented to fabricate high strength and tough ionogels by copolymerizing zwitterionic monomers and monomers rich in functional groups capable of forming hydrogen bonds within an ionic liquid. The electrostatic adsorption of ionic liquid by the polyzwitterionic segment induces the formation of a bicontinuous phase network structure consisting of a polymer‐rich phase and a solvent‐rich phase. Within this structure, a polymer‐rich phase with hydrogen bonds dissipates energy and enhances the toughness of the ionogel, while an elastic solvent‐rich phase facilitates significant strain. The prepared ionogels exhibit high fracture strength (8.89 MPa), toughness (41.12 MJ m−3), and Young's modulus (58.9 MPa). The critical point for triggering the formation of a bicontinuous phase network can be precisely controlled by the maximum adsorption capacity of the zwitterionic monomers for the ionic liquid. Ionogels at the critical point of bicontinuous phase network formation demonstrate excellent fatigue resistance, with residual strain of only ≈25% under 50% to 250% strain conditions, recovering to their original state within 5 s. Due to the widespread presence of electrostatic interactions, this strategy for constructing a bicontinuous phase network structure exhibits excellent adaptability across different ionic liquid systems.

Exploring of novel reverse thermally induced phase separation process based on preparation and characterization of polysulfate ultrafiltration membranes with bicontinuous structure

AbstractContaminated water sources from various industries pose severe environmental challenges due to their complex compositions, high toxicity, and fluctuating qualities. This study introduces a groundbreaking strategy for fabricating advanced polysulfate (PSE) ultrafiltration membranes using a novel reverse thermally induced phase separation (RTIPS) process. By manipulating the cloud point through the DMAc/DEG solvent/nonsolvent system, our work innovatively controls membrane microstructure, overcoming limitations of conventional nonsolvent‐induced phase separation (NIPS). Our findings reveal that RTIPS, when employed above the cloud point, yields PSE membranes with a unique bicontinuous sponge‐like structure, significantly improving upon conventional NIPS products. Specifically, the optimized RTIPS membranes exhibit enhanced pure water flux (916.23 vs. 336.23 LMH), larger pore sizes (0.083 vs. 0.054 μm), increased tensile strength (1.32 vs. 0.84 MPa), and improved fouling resistance (FRR 65.5% vs. 55.2%). This research pioneers a facile yet potent method for tailoring membrane properties, achieving a balance between permeability, mechanical stability, and filtration efficacy. The demonstrated success of RTIPS in enhancing PSE membrane performance not only contributes to the development of high‐performance water treatment technologies but also charts a new course in membrane science, offering a promising avenue for sustainable wastewater management solutions.

Research on the tri-block copolymer-directed self-assembly synthesis of bicontinuous structures for electrical energy storage

The burgeoning demand for more efficient energy storage systems necessitates advancements in electrode material technologies. Bicontinuous structures, synthesized using tri-block copolymers, present a promising avenue due to their unique properties that can enhance battery performance. This study aims to explore the potential of tri-block copolymer-directed self-assembly in synthesizing bicontinuous structures and to assess their application as innovative electrode materials in electrical energy storage systems. It was found that the synthesized bicontinuous structures demonstrate superior ionic pathways, resulting in enhanced ion transport and improved electrochemical performance compared to traditional electrode materials. The copolymers contribute to the formation of a highly ordered mesoporous architecture, leading to increased surface area and more active sites for electrochemical reactions. Furthermore, these structures exhibit significant stability during cycling, attributed to their ability to accommodate volume expansions and distribute mechanical stress effectively. Future research should focus on the extension of the synthesis process and the further optimization of the electrochemical properties in order to make the transition from laboratory studies to practical applications.

Nanoporous CoFe2O4 with inherited cation doping from matrix realizing ultra-stable alkaline hydrogen evolution for over 1000 hours

Spinel-type oxides have been acknowledged for their eminent catalytic ability towards alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) due to the special metal occupying structures. To further improve conductivity, inherited cation doped spinel has been rapidly synthesized via scalable alloying-dealloying strategy. Specially, the resultant Al-doped CoFe2O4 possesses typical bi-continuous pore-ligament structure, showing a huge surface area for electrocatalysis. It only demands HER overpotentials of 22.9 and 275 mV to achieve 10 and 100 mA cm-2, respectively. Furthermore, it also exhibits ultra-stable hydrogen evolution for 1000 h Under the industrial conditions (6 M KOH, 60 °C), Al-CoFe2O4 || RuO2 couple just needs 1.75 V to reach high current density of 500 mA cm-2 and could steadily produce hydrogen for over 50 h with merely 8 % voltage loss. Theoretical calculation confirms that Al substitution could indeed increase valence electron concentration. Based on this optimized configuration, H2O molecule is preferred to adsorb on Co site and conducive to dissociate into *OH-*H co-adsorption. And thus, the energy barrier of alkaline HER can be reduced to 0.98 eV on Al-doping CoFe2O4 model. To further clarify the active species derived from HER, operando X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared are used to prove that the superficial CoFe2O4 has been transformed into more active CoOOH/FeOOH. This work offers a guide to facilely fabricate cost-effective HER catalysts that are suitable for industrial hydrogen production.

Morphological Evolution and Dealloying During Corrosion of Ni20Cr (wt.%) in Molten FLiNaK Salts

The dealloying corrosion behavior of the FCC Ni20Cr (wt%) in molten LiF-NaF-KF (FLiNaK) salts at 600 °C under varying applied potentials was investigated. Using in-operando electrochemical techniques and a multi-modal suite of characterization methods, we connect electrochemical potential, thermodynamic stability, and electro-dissolution kinetics to the corrosion morphologies. Notably, under certain potential regimes, a micron-scale bicontinuous structure, characterized by a network of interconnected pores and ligaments riched with the composition of the more noble (MN) element, becomes prominent. At other potentials both MN and less noble (LN) elements dealloy but at different rates. The dealloying process consists of lattice and grain boundary diffusion of Cr to the metal/salt interface, interphase Cr oxidation, accompanied by surface diffusion of Ni to form interconnected ligaments. At higher potentials, the bicontinuous porous structure undergoes further surface coarsening. Concurrently, Cr(II), Cr(III), and Ni(II) begin to dissolve, with the dissolution of Ni occurring at a significantly slower rate. When solid-state transport of Cr is exceeded by the interfacial rates, dealloying depths are limited.

Cardo poly (ether sulfone) toughened E51/DETDA epoxy resin and its carbon fiber composites

A toughener that can effectively improve the interlaminar toughness in carbon fiber composites is crucial for various applications. We investigated, the toughening effects of phenolphthalein-based cardo poly (ether sulfone) (PES-C) on E51/ DETDA epoxy and its carbon fiber composites (CFCs). Scanning electron microscopy showed that the phase structures of PES-C/epoxy blends change from island (of dispersed phase) structures to bi-continuous structures (of the matrix) as the PES-C content increased, which is associated with reaction-induced phase separation. After adding 15 phr PES-C, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the blends increased by 51.5 °C, and the flexural strength, impact strength and fracture toughness of the blends were improved by 41.1%, 186.2% and 42.7%, respectively. These improvements could be attributed to the phase separation structure of the PES-C/epoxy system. A PES-C film was used to improve the mode-II fracture toughness (GIIC) of CFCs. The GIIC value of the 7 μm PES-C film toughened laminate was improved by 80.3% compared to that of the control laminate. The increase in GIIC was attributed to cohesive failure and plastic deformation in the interleaving region.

Fabrication of edible inks for 3D printing as a dysphagia food: An emerging application of bigels

With the increasing prevalence of swallowing difficulties among the elderly, 3D printing technology has emerged as a promising approach to create attractive and appetitive dysphagia diets. This study focused on synthesizing bigels composed of beeswax oleogel (OG) and gellan gum hydrogel (HG) to explore their potential for 3D printing dysphagia diets. The ratio of OG to HG plays a pivotal role in determining the gel network structure, rheological properties, and water distribution of the bigels, thereby influencing their suitability as 3D printing ink. Notably, a bicontinuous structure achieved with an OG to HG ratio of 1:1 (sample 1-1) imparted desirable properties for 3D printing, including moderate shear-thinning behavior, ensuring smooth extrusion, excellent thixotropy for maintaining structural integrity, and adequate storage modulus for self-supporting during printing. These were indicated by lower flow index (n value) of 0.18, longer time respond to the applied stress (λ value) of 9.51 ± 0.32 s, higher creep recovery rate of 55.51 ± 1.36%, thixotropic recovery rate up to 93.23 ± 0.72%, and uniform moisture distribution across semi-bound water and free water with ratio of 56.94 to 43.06, compared to bigels with OG-in-HG and HG-in-OG structures. Evaluation of the 3D printed bigels through the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) confirmed that sample 1-1 (classified as Level 5-Minced and Moist) was suitable for individuals with swallowing difficulties. This study provides new insights into developing visually appealing dysphagia diet using 3D printing.

Efficient DNA separation and purification via VIPS-constructed membrane adsorbers

Solid phase extraction is an effective method for the separation and purification of nucleic acid molecules, which still suffers from high loss and low efficiency. Herein, a polyether sulfone membrane adsorber for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) separation and purification is constructed by combining vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS) technique and in-situ coupling reaction. More specifically, the slow phase separation during VIPS promotes the formation of reaction platform with loose bicontinuous structure, high porosity and surface segregation of poly (acrylic acid), which is subsequently highly aminated by in-situ coupling of polyethyleneimine. Significantly, the reversible binding of amine ligands to DNA is solely based on electrostatic interaction, which is regulated by medium pH, avoiding the requirement for additional binding agents as encountered by commercial silica matrices and dramatically reducing DNA loss. Consequently, the resulting membrane adsorber exhibits excellent DNA binding capacity of 293.3 mg·g−1 and improved dynamic DNA recovery efficiency of 85.2 %, far exceeding that of commercial silica matrices (55.5 %). This work provides a major breakthrough in the field of nucleic acid separation and purification, paving the way to construct next-generation solid phase extraction materials for biomacromolecules.

Heterogeneous Acrylic Resins with Bicontinuous Nanodomains as Low-Modulus Flexible Adhesives.

Adhesives play a critical role in the assembly of electronic devices, particularly as devices become more diverse in form factors. Flexible displays require highly transparent and rapidly recoverable adhesives with a certain stiffness. In this study, novel structured adhesives are developed that incorporate bicontinuous nanodomains to fabricate flexible adhesives with low moduli. This structure is obtained via polymerization-induced microphase separation using a macro chain transfer agent (CTA). Phase separation is characterized using small-angle X-ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis. By optimizing the length of the macro CTA, an adhesive with both hard and soft nanodomains is produced, resulting in exceptional flexibility (strain recovery = 93%) and minimal modulus (maximum stress/applied strain = 7kPa), which overperforms traditional adhesives. The optimized adhesive exhibits excellent resilience under extensive strain, as well as strong adhesion and transparency. Furthermore, dynamic folding tests demonstrate the exceptional stability of the adhesive under various temperature and humidity conditions, which is attributed to its unique structure. In summary, the distinct bicontinuous phase structure confers excellent transparency, flexibility, and reduced stiffness to the adhesive, rendering it well-suited for commercial foldable displays and suggesting potential applications in stretchable displays and wearable electronics.

Synthesis of n‐Propanol from CO2 Electroreduction on Bicontinuous Cu2O/Cu Nanodomains

Abstractn‐propanol is an important pharmaceutical and pesticide intermediate. To produce n‐propanol by electrochemical reduction of CO2 is a promising way, but is largely restricted by the very low selectivity and activity. How to promote the coupling of *C1 and *C2 intermediates to form the *C3 intermediate for n‐propanol formation is challenging. Here, we propose the construction of bicontinuous structure of Cu2O/Cu electrocatalyst, which consists of ultra‐small Cu2O nanodomains, Cu nanodomains and large amounts of grain boundaries between Cu2O and Cu nanodomains. The n‐propanol current density is as high as 101.6 mA cm−2 at the applied potential of −1.1 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode in flow cell, with the Faradaic efficiency up to 12.1 %. Moreover, the catalyst keeps relatively stable during electrochemical CO2 reduction process. Experimental studies and theoretical calculations reveal that the bicontinuous structure of Cu2O/Cu can facilitate the *CO formation, *CO‐*CO coupling and *CO‐*OCCO coupling for the final generation of n‐propanol.

Synthesis of n-Propanol from CO2 Electroreduction on Bicontinuous Cu2O/Cu Nanodomains.

n-propanol is an important pharmaceutical and pesticide intermediate. To produce n-propanol by electrochemical reduction of CO2 is a promising way, but is largely restricted by the very low selectivity and activity. How to promote the coupling of *C1 and *C2 intermediates to form the *C3 intermediate for n-propanol formation is challenging. Here, we propose the construction of bicontinuous structure of Cu2O/Cu electrocatalyst, which consists of ultra-small Cu2O nanodomains, Cu nanodomains and large amounts of grain boundaries between Cu2O and Cu nanodomains. The n-propanol current density is as high as 101.6 mA cm-2 at the applied potential of -1.1 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode in flow cell, with the Faradaic efficiency up to 12.1 %. Moreover, the catalyst keeps relatively stable during electrochemical CO2 reduction process. Experimental studies and theoretical calculations reveal that the bicontinuous structure of Cu2O/Cu can facilitate the *CO formation, *CO-*CO coupling and *CO-*OCCO coupling for the final generation of n-propanol.

Exploring green solvents for the sustainable fabrication of bio-based polylactic acid membranes using nonsolvent-induced phase separation

Green and sustainable membrane technology has recently gained attention from the membrane community to minimize the negative environmental impacts associated with conventional membrane production in industries, which rely on petrochemical engineering plastics and toxic organic solvents. While the fabrication of biobased and biodegradable polymeric membranes using common organic solvents has been reported, eco-friendly membrane-fabrication techniques using greener solvents are required to improve sustainability and reduce the negative environmental impact of the membrane industry. For the first time, this study comprehensively investigates the potential use of green solvents for preparing polylactic acid (PLA) membranes via the phase separation technique. PLA solubility and phase separation experiments, employing various green solvents were conducted to examine the potential applicability of these solvents for membrane fabrication. Porous PLA membranes exhibit different surface and pore structures depending on the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the green solvents. Based on the phase separation study, both fine PLA ultrafiltration membranes with controllable molecular weight cut-off and mechanically robust PLA microfiltration membranes with bi-continuous pore structure were successfully prepared using methyl lactate. The prepared green membranes showed a competitive filtration performance implying that the fully bio-based PLA membranes could substitute the conventional engineering plastic-based membranes in versatile membrane filtration and separation processes, especially single-use or consumable membrane products in environmental and healthcare industries.

Superhydrophobic PCTFE-based microporous membrane for water/oil emulsion separation in various environments

The separation of oil from oily water is a critical endeavor owing to the escalating global oil pollution. Membrane separation technology has gained widespread adoption for oily water treatment. Inspired by the vertical segregation phenomenon in drying multi-component suspensions, this study proposed an evaporation-induced stratification coupled with sacrificial template method to prepare superhydrophobic polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) membrane for fast gravity-driven oil/water separation. The precursor of PCTFE microporous membranes, PCTFE/fluoroelastomer/hydrophobic silica nanoparticles (PCTFE/FR/SiO2) composite films, were fabricated via a solvent-assisted method. Induced by solvent evaporation, the pre-fabricated composite films exhibited a stratified structure, where SiO2 nanoparticles enriched near the top surfaces, making it easily tailor the surficial wettability. For the matrix, PCTFE-rich domains and FR-rich domains intersected, forming a bicontinuous structure. After sacrificing FR, PCTFE porous membranes were obtained. Meanwhile, the PCTFE-based porous skeletons combining with surface enriched SiO2 nanoparticles constructed a multi-level roughness, thus achieving superhydrophobicity. The optimized membrane possessed an average pore size of ∼1.84 μm, a porosity of ∼60 %, and a WCA above 155°, owning excellent self-cleaning properties and efficient oil/water separation ability. The membrane exhibited remarkable capability in various oil/water mixtures, including emulsified water-in-oil. The separation flux and oil recovery purity for water-in-dichloromethane emulsion were up to 2843 ± 84 L/(m2·h) and 99.95 wt%, respectively. Furthermore, though being immersed into various organic solvents for 7 days or experiencing 15 separation cycles, the performances of the membranes hardly changed. Accordingly, this work provides a practical approach for tailoring surficial wettability and fabricating PCTFE-based membranes suitable for oil/water separation fields.