The operating cost of the desalination process can be decreased by using the membrane distillation (MD) process due to very low operating pressure and mild operating temperature. Attempts to find the proper membrane for application in MD attract the attention of many researchers. In this paper, PVDF powder was employed for assembling membranes via the VIPS method for operating in air-gap membrane distillation (AGMD). The influence of the ethanol concentration in the coagulation bath and VIPS time was studied. PVDF membrane characteristics were analyzed via pore size distribution, volumetric porosity, thickness, scanning electron microscope (SEM), measuring water contact angle, water flux, and salt rejection. A nodular structure was found for the membranes resulting from delayed demixing and solid-liquid phase separation. Moreover, the results indicated a larger membrane pore size was formed and the hydrophobicity was improved. The hydrophobicity and pore size are two important factors for membrane distillation that can affect and enhance membrane permeability. Moreover, studying the influence of nanoparticles showed that SiO2 nanoparticles are more effective than TiO2. The highest water contact angle was obtained when SiO2 nanoparticles were sprayed on the surface resulting in higher permeability and salt rejection in AGMD. The AGMD experiments' results showed that the membrane permeability increased from 0.3 to 2.41 L/m2.h, and salt rejection over 99.5 % was obtained.