Phase Interface Research Articles

Reliable Simulation Analysis of Interface and SiON Degradation Effects on Water Vapor Barrier in Laminated Thin‐Film Encapsulation

The water vapor barrier performance of laminated thin‐film encapsulations (TFEs) is crucial for ensuring the stability of flexible organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) devices. In this study, the effects of interfaces and SiON degradation on the water vapor barrier performance of TFEs consisting of SiNx and SiON by finite‐element simulation are investigated. In the results, it is illustrated that the interface can significantly hinder water vapor transmission, and the interfacial phase of SiON/SiNx is found to be more effective in impeding water vapor transmission compared to that of SiNx/SiON. The barrier property of TFEs can be weakened by SiON degradation due to oxidation under high temperature and humidity. Among the analyzed four structures, 450 nm SiNx/50 nm SiON/450 nm SiNx/50 nm SiON exhibits the best barrier performance due to strongest interface effects and minimal SiON degradation. These simulation results correlate well with experimental reliability tests, validating the simulation model's reliability. In this study, valuable insights into optimizing TFEs designs for enhanced barrier performances in flexible OLED devices are provided.

Room-Temperature Ferromagnetism with Strong Spin-Orbit Coupling Achieved in CaRuO3 Interfacial Phase via Magnetic Proximity Effect.

Recently, theoretical and experimental research predicted that ferromagnets with strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) could serve as spin sources with dramatically enhanced spin-orbit torque (SOT) efficiency due to the combination of spin Hall effect and anomalous Hall effect (AHE), presenting potential advantages over conventional nonmagnetic heavy metals. However, materials with a strong SOC and room-temperature ferromagnetism are rare. Here, we report on a ferromagnetic (FM) interfacial phase with Curie temperature exceeding 300 K in the heavy transition-metal oxide CaRuO3, in proximity to La0.67Sr0.33MnO3. Electron energy loss and polarized neutron reflectometry spectra reveal the strong charge transfer from Ru to Mn at the interface, triggering antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between interfacial Ru/Mn ions and thus transferring magnetic order from La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 to CaRuO3. An obvious advantage of such interfacial phase is the enhanced anomalous Hall effect at temperatures from 150 to 300 K. Compared to the most promising room-temperature ferromagnetic oxide La0.67Sr0.33MnO3, the anomalous Hall conductivity σxyAHE (or anomalous Hall angle θH) of CaRuO3/La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 superlattices is increased by 30 (or 31) times at 150 K and 10 (or 3) times at 300 K. This work demonstrates a special approach for inducing ferromagnetism in heavy transition-metal oxides with strong SOC, offering promising prospects for all-oxide-based spintronic applications.

Ionic Liquid‐Filled Polyamide Microcapsules Obtained by Interfacial Polymerization

AbstractMicroencapsulated ionic liquids (ILs) have a wide range of exciting properties. They can be synthesized by a variety of methods, of which interfacial polymerization represents a very simple, fast, and reliable production process, but the number of available shell materials that can be obtained by this method is limited. However, recent advances in the field of interfacial polymerization have described the formation of a polyamide membrane at the IL/organic phase interface, which is extended in this work to the first microencapsulation of ILs with a polyamide shell, providing an additional and versatile shell material. The IL‐filled microcapsules are obtained using a surfactant‐free synthesis process and inexpensive, low‐toxicity monomers and solvents and feature an exceptionally high core‐to‐shell weight ratio enabling a broad range of possible applications.

Progress and Perspective of High‐Entropy Strategy Applied in Layered Transition Metal Oxide Cathode Materials for High‐Energy and Long Cycle Life Sodium‐Ion Batteries

AbstractLayered transition metal oxide (LTMO) cathode materials of sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) have shown great potential in large‐scale energy storage applications owing to their distinctive periodic layered structure and 2D ion diffusion channels. However, several challenges have hindered their widespread application, including phase transition complexities, interface instability, and susceptibility to air exposure. Fortunately, an impactful solution has emerged in the form of a high‐entropy doping strategy employed in energy storage research. Through the implementation of high‐entropy doping, LTMOs can overcome the aforementioned limitations, thereby elevating LTMO materials to a highly competitive and attractive option for next‐generation cathodes of SIBs. Thus, a comprehensive overview of the origins, definition, and characteristics of high‐entropy doping is provided. Additionally, the challenges associated with LTMOs in SIBs are explored, and discussed various modification methods to address these challenges. This review places significant emphasis on conducting a thorough analysis of the research advancements about high‐entropy LTMOs utilized in SIBs. Furthermore, a meticulous assessment of the future development trajectory is undertaken, heralding valuable research insights for the design and synthesis of advanced energy storage materials.

Covalently grafting silane coupling agents onto MXene‐reinforced carbon fibers for epoxy composites with improved mechanical properties

AbstractTwo‐dimensional (2D) MXene (MX) and silane coupling agents are increasingly used to modify carbon materials for the fabrication of composite functional materials, which exhibit enhanced electrical, optical, and mechanical properties due to the synergistic effects of both MX and silane. We demonstrate the modification of carbon fibers (CFs) with MX and three different kinds of silane coupling agents, including 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3‐glycidyloxypropyldimethoxymethylsilane, and 3‐mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane, which are named as CF‐MX@N, CF‐MX@O, and CF‐MX@S, respectively, and further prepare the CF‐MX@silane/epoxy (EP) composites. The utilized silane coupling agents serve as bridges between MX and CFs, forming CF‐MX@silane composites. Through comparative analysis, it is found that the CF‐MX@S composites form a strong interface phase through covalent bonds, significantly enhancing the interface compatibility and revealing strong interface adhesion. The interfacial shear strength of the molded CF‐MX@S/EP composites increases to 119.7 MPa, with an 173.9% enhancement comparing to unmodified composites. This work can offer useful guidance and reference for selecting appropriate silane coupling agent to modify CFs with 2D materials to form high‐performance composite materials.Highlights Silane coupling agents are used as bridges to graft MXene‐modified CFs The surface modification of CFs is achieved by a simple one‐step approach Excellent interfacial phase is constructed through forming strong covalent bonds Microstructure and failure interface are responsible to interface strengthen.

Microscale chemical imaging to characterize and quantify corrosion processes at the metal-electrolyte interface

We introduce an experimental setup to chemically image corrosion processes at metal-electrolyte interfaces under stagnant, confined conditions—relevant in a wide range of situations. The setup is based on a glass capillary, in which precipitation of corrosion products in the interfacial aqueous phase can be monitored over time with optical microscopy, and chemically and structurally characterized with microscopic synchrotron-based techniques (X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy). Moreover, quantification of precipitates through X-ray transmission measurements provides in-situ corrosion rates. We illustrate this setup for iron corrosion in a pH 8 electrolyte, revealing the critical role of O2 and iron diffusion in governing the precipitation of ferrihydrite and its transformation to goethite. Corrosion and coupled reactive transport processes can thus be monitored and fundamentally investigated at the metal-electrolyte interface, with micrometer-scale resolution. This capillary setup has potential applications for in-situ corrosion studies of various metals and environments.

An analytical gradient method to model interfacial heat and mass transfer in multi-field CFD codes

Phase change at the interface between a liquid and a gas, commonly referred to as bulk condensation/boiling or interface condensation/boiling, is often overshadowed by wall condensation/boiling. However, interfacial phase change plays a critical role in various industrial applications, including boiling flows in microchannels and boiling liquid metal flows. In this article, we introduce a novel analytical model based on the gradient method. This model accounts for interfacial phase change within multi-field codes. It is validated against both analytical and experimental cases involving bulk boiling, demonstrating excellent agreement. Notably, the mesh convergence aligns with the methods employed in single-fluid codes. Additionally, we propose a hybrid approach that combines the high accuracy of this model with the computational efficiency of dispersed methods.

Analysis of serum phase proteins and emulsifiers on the whipping capabilities of aerated emulsions: From the perspective of air-liquid interface rheology

In aerated emulsions, the serum phase plays a crucial role in determining whipping capabilities. However, the effects of serum phase components on emulsion properties remain largely unexplored and continue to be a mystery. This study takes a micro-level approach, focusing on the air-liquid interfacial rheology by incorporating different types of surfactants (proteins and emulsifiers) into the serum phase. It systematically explores the effects on the serum phase interface, emulsion properties, whipping capabilities, and foam stability in a stepwise manner. Proteins only slightly affect the strength of the air-liquid interface, primarily improving the capacity to trap bubbles at the initial whipping stage, thereby boosting the overrun of the aerated emulsion. The high viscoelastic modulus of the interface membrane is greatly influenced by the presence of solid lipid nanoparticles of glycerol monostearate (GMS SLN), leading to a reduction in whipping time and improved surface-mediated partial coalescence. This ultimately enhances the quality and stability of the foam system. Tween 80, due to its hydrophilic properties, is able to quickly adsorb at the air-liquid interface using the Gibbs-Marangoni mechanism. This helps to expedite the end of the whipping process and ultimately improves the foam quality. On the contrary, glycerol monooleate (GMO), a lipophilic emulsifier for liquids, struggles to effectively adsorb at the interface, leading to decreased stability of the air-liquid interface in the system and resulting in poor whipping capabilities. This paper delves into the mechanism by which different surfactants affect the whipping capabilities of aerated emulsions through an analysis of serum phase composition, laying the groundwork for enhancing formulation design.

Numerical and experimental investigations on the effect of skeleton shapes and heat transfer directions on water freezing in porous media

Incorporating porous skeletons into PCMs is an effective strategy for enhancing their thermal properties. However, this approach increases the complexity of the heat transfer process and poses a challenge to accurate modeling. This study investigates the water freezing process in porous skeletons with various shapes and heat transfer directions through experiments and numerical simulations. The model employs the hybrid finite element method with mesh adaptation to optimize numerical solutions. The experimental and simulation results are in good agreement, which validates the accuracy of this model. The study aims to reveal the evolution mechanisms of the phase interface, temperature field, and freezing rate of water in various porous skeletons, enhancing the theoretical foundation and offering insights for practical applications. Results show that the square steel skeleton exhibits the highest freezing rate among the tested skeleton shapes, while the rhombus resin skeleton demonstrates the slowest. Furthermore, the square skeleton shows the smallest interface deflection before and after the pores, while the rhombus skeleton presents the largest. Additionally, vertical heat transfer from bottom to top increases the freezing rate by 38.97% compared to horizontal heat transfer from left to right.

Fabrication of high performance polypropylene based blends from ethylene vinyl acetate-based sole waste via solid-state shear Co-milling

Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) foam products with cross-linked structure are now widely used in the fields of functional footwear. However, due to their cross-linked structure and complex composition, they are quite difficult to be recovered in large scale after disposal, causing serious environmental pollution. Based on our self-designed solid-state shear milling (S3M) equipment, a novel co-milling technology was established to recycle ethylene vinyl acetate-based sole waste (ESW) and reuse it to strengthen and toughen polypropylene (PP). The effects of co-milling on PP/ESW powders as well as blends were studied, and the results showed that the existence of PP promoted the solid pulverization of ESW, so formed the powders with smaller size and wider distribution. Ascribing to the partial de-crosslinking of ESW during co-milling process, the contact area and the molecular entanglements at their interfaces increased, effectively improving the compatibility between PP and ESW. In this way, the simultaneous enhancement and toughening of ESW on PP were achieved. After co-milling, ESW phase in blends significantly decreased and no visible phase interface was observed. With 20 co-milling cycles, the tensile strength and impact toughness of PP/20 wt% ESW blend respectively increased from 21.9 MPa to 3.79 kJ/m2 to 25.4 MPa and 5.83 kJ/m2, both higher than most other similar PP based materials. This work provides a new strategy for high-quality and efficient recycling of ESW in large scale, and fabrication of high-performance PP based materials.

Interfacial microstructure evolution and mechanical characterization of brazed Al2O3 joints with Ni‒Ti interlayer: An experimental and theoretical approach

Reliable brazing joints of Al2O3 ceramics were obtained using an active Ni‒Ti interlayer under vacuum conditions. The interfacial microstructure and mechanical properties of the joints were studied. The structural, electronic, and elastic properties of the primary interfacial reaction phases were determined using first–principles calculations. After brazing at 1320 °C for 30 min, Ni2Ti4O layer and columnar AlNi2Ti formed at the interface adjacent to the Al2O3 substrate. With increasing brazing temperature between 1300 °C and 1380 °C, Ni2Ti4O layer thickened gradually, and the AlNi2Ti became increasingly longer. As brazing temperature reached 1400 °C, TiO was formed at the interface, and the Ni2Ti4O content decreased significantly; moreover, bulk AlNi2Ti and TiNi3 were distributed in the brazing seam. The highest shear strength of 129 MPa was achieved when brazed at 1350 °C for 30 min. According to the first–principles calculations, Ni2Ti4O is more readily formed than AlNi2Ti, whereas AlNi2Ti exhibits greater stability than Ni2Ti4O. Both AlNi2Ti and Ni2Ti4O possess metallic bonds, contributing to the adhesion of the filler metal to the Al2O3 substrates. The calculated modulus and Poisson’s ratio indicate that both AlNi2Ti and Ni2Ti4O exhibit ductile characteristics, which assist in relieving residual stress within the joint.

Optimizing Room‐Temperature Thermoelectric and Magnetocaloric Performance via Constructing Multi‐Scale Interfacial Phases in LaFeSi/BiSbTe Thermo‐Electro‐Magnetic Refrigeration Materials

AbstractFabricating a thermo‐electro‐magnetic material that exhibits simultaneously excellent magnetocaloric (MC) and thermoelectric (TE) performance is challenging since the interfacial reaction causes severe deterioration of MC and TE performance. In this work, a construction of multi‐scale interfaces in LaFe10.4Co0.8Si1.8/Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 (LFS/BST) composites is realized by adopting a low‐temperature high‐pressure sintering strategy. It is revealed in the atomic‐scale that the interfacial reaction between LFS and BST leads to the formation of (Fe,Co)(Sb,Te)2 micro‐grains and LaTe2 nano‐grains, and the latter form low‐mismatch phase boundaries with LFS matrix. Benefiting from the multi‐scale interfacial phases, excellent MC performance of LFS is preserved alongside a minor impact on TE properties, e.g., a peak zT of 1.04 and a small decrease of 3.0% in relative cooling power are achieved in the 2%LFS/BST composite. Compared with other thermo‐electro‐magnetic materials, a good trade‐off between MC and TE performance is realized in LFS/BST composites with simultaneously high MC and TE performance. The 20%LFS/BST composite exhibits a room‐temperature zT of 0.46 with large maximum magnetic entropy change and relative cooling power of 0.81 J kg−1 K−1 and 44.83 J kg−1, respectively. This work provides an effective material design for developing the all‐solid‐state MC/TE hybrid refrigeration technique.

Tailoring the Mechanical Properties and Foaming Behaviors of PLA/P4HB Blends by Using P4HB‐g‐GMA as Compatibilizer

ABSTRACTSynthetic poly(4‐hydroxybutyrate) (P4HB), a flexible and biodegradable polymer, shows great promise in improving the toughness of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), but the inherent immiscibility of PLA and P4HB compromises the toughening efficiency. To address this issue, P4HB grafted glycidyl methacrylate (P4HB‐g‐GMA) is synthesized for the purpose of enhancing the compatibility within the PLA/P4HB blend. The epoxy groups on P4HB‐g‐GMA can form strong chemical bonds with PLA chains and remain compatible with P4HB. Rheological data confirm that adding P4HB‐g‐GMA enhances polymer chain entanglement. Therefore, the phase interface of the blend becomes more diffuse, leading to improved mechanical performance. Specifically, a 3D‐printed PLA/P4HB/P4HB‐g‐GMA blend containing 8% P4HB‐g‐GMA (PLA/P4HB/G8) achieves an elongation at break of 161.5%, approximately 22.7 times higher than that of a PLA/P4HB blend without the modifier. Moreover, the PLA/P4HB/G8 blends show a higher volume expansion ratio (VER) and better cell morphology due to the increased melt strength from P4HB‐g‐GMA. This study demonstrates a simple and efficient method to improve the compatibility between PLA and P4HB, resulting in superior mechanical performance of PLA/P4HB blends and broadening their potential applications in foaming.

A novel liquid fraction iteration methodology for addressing oscillatory issues in the total enthalpy method

The total enthalpy method (TEM) has been proposed and employed for several decades to address both isothermal and gradual phase change problems. However, recent investigations into isothermal phase changes have revealed that the phase interface predicted by the TEM oscillates with variations in spatial and temporal discretizations, due to the inconsistency between liquid fraction and enthalpy. To address this issue, and drawing inspiration from the liquid fraction iteration methodology used in the widely adopted heat source method (HSM) to ensure consistency between liquid fraction and temperature, this paper introduces a novel liquid fraction iteration methodology specifically tailored for the TEM, referred to as the iterative TEM (ITEM). This approach is validated against an experimental benchmark involving the melting of a pure substance. Grid and time-step dependence studies confirm that the ITEM effectively eliminates oscillations and exhibits convergence with respect to both grid size and time step. Moreover, the ITEM achieves accuracy comparable to that of the HSM. Finally, the computational costs associated with the ITEM are examined, revealing that costs increase rapidly once the grid Fourier number (Fo) exceeds one. Maintaining the grid Fo number below approximately 0.5 and ensuring the ratio of the relaxation factor to the grid Fo number to approach one significantly improve computational efficiency. The relaxation factor is a crucial parameter within the liquid fraction iteration scheme.

Inhomogeneous distribution of oxides in various 9Cr ODS alloys and their mechanical performance at room temperature and 650 °C

Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels have been considered as promising structural materials for fusion reactors. In fabricating ODS steels, homogenous distribution of nano-sized oxides is always expected. In this work, Ti and C were respectively added into the 9Cr alloy with 2 wt% Mn, and the effects of individual Ti addition on microstructure and mechanical performance of ODS alloys are studied. Regularly distributed oxides were revealed in the 9Cr alloys fabricated by hot isostatic pressing (HIP), irrespective of alloying compositions, which indicates the strong interaction between oxides and phase interface. Alloying elements within the matrix can be incorporated into these regularly distributed oxides. Oxide nanoparticles will affect the phase transformation behaviors and the microstructure of as-HIPed 9Cr alloys without oxides is different from that of 9Cr ODS alloys. By performing post-HIP heat treatments, the matrix conditions of 9Cr ODS alloys can be adjusted, and ferritic and martensitic 9Cr ODS alloys are respectively obtained. With tensile tests at room temperature and 650 °C, effects of oxides and matrix conditions on 9Cr alloys were evaluated. It is found that individual Ti addition has a softening effect on the 9Cr alloys, despite that whether oxides are added. Simultaneous addition of Ti and C can improve the strength of 9Cr alloys evidently. Poor ductility at 650 °C is a critical issue for 9Cr ODS alloys, while the 9Cr alloys without oxides have favorable combination of strength and ductility at both room temperature and 650 °C.

Design of novel structural eutectic high entropy alloys (EHEAs) containing high-temperature resistant alloying elements

This article employs the “Simple Mixing Enthalpy Method” to add high-temperature alloying elements Mo/V and Nb to the Fe-Co-Cr-Ni-based alloy system, and utilizes a model of the relationship between elements and phase structures. Finally, EHEAs are successfully designed with the help of phase diagrams, namely FeCoNi2.0Cr1.2Mo0.2Nb0.63 (Mo0.2Nb0.63) and FeCoNi2.0Cr1.2V0.2Nb0.68 (V0.2Nb0.68). In EHEAs, a typical fully eutectic microstructure is observed, consisting of alternating FCC (face-centered cubic) and HCP (hexagonal close-packed) phases. Evaluation of mechanical performance indicators reveals that nano-hardness and elastic modulus increase from the FCC phase to the HCP phase, while the hardness and elastic modulus of the eutectic phase originate from modulation of these two phases. Meanwhile, the microhardness of both alloy systems increases linearly with increasing Nb content. In addition, EHEAs exhibit high strength and ductility but with differences attributed to the significant influence of Mo and V elements on eutectic phase spacing and phase size. Different phase interface types and strain gradients during deformation affect the mechanical properties. This study tests the high-temperature compression performance and fracture morphology of novel high-entropy alloys, paving the way for subsequent research on high-temperature performance.

Atomic-scale revelation of Cu diffusion mechanism in high-performance Pr-doped 2:17-type SmCo magnets

The coercivity of 2:17-type SmCo magnets is mainly determined by the gradient distribution of Cu within the cell boundary phase. However, the fundamental migratory behavior and driving force causing such Cu distribution remains unclear. In this work, the phenomenon of Cu enrichment at the lamellar/intracellular interface is reported at the atomic scale, and a new Cu diffusion mechanism of 2:17-type SmCo magnets is proposed via combining microstructure characterization with first-principles calculation. Our study indicates that Cu will migrate from the intracellular phase to the lamellar/intracellular phase interface following the migration of twin boundary, and then diffuses further along the lamellar phase interface to the cell boundary, achieving the expected Cu-rich cell boundary structure. Doping Pr results in a reduction of Cu substitution energy in the lamellar phase, leading to a decreased driving force during the subsequent Cu diffusion. As a result, the Cu does not completely diffuse into the cell boundary phase there is Cu enrichment at the interface between lamellar and intracellular phases. The Cu concentration of the cell boundaries could be increased in 2:17-type SmCo magnets by reasonable designing the substitution energy difference of intracellular phase, lamellar phase and cell boundary phase that promote Cu diffusion to cell boundary. Our study sheds light on the control of Cu segregation in magnets and a new strategy for enhancing the magnetic performance of 2:17-type SmCo magnets.

Influence of resins, asphaltenes and petroleum acid interactions on water/model oil interfacial properties and emulsion stability

The presence of natural lipophilic emulsifiers, such as asphaltenes (A), resin (R) and petroleum acids (PA) in crude oil, plays a crucial role in stabilizing the W/O emulsions. This study primarily focuses on elucidating the influence of their interactions on the interfacial properties of the water/model oil system, as well as its emulsion stability. First, equilibrium interfacial tension (IFT), interfacial dilational modulus (IDM) and phase angle are measured. Then, emulsion stability experiments are performed. Finally, microscopic images of the emulsions were captured to evaluate droplet size and dispersity. Results show that the addition of petroleum acid to both asphaltene-only and resin-only system reduces IFT and dilational modulus, weakening the strength of the interfacial film. The inhibitory effect of petroleum acid on resins’ adsorption at the interface is more pronounced compared to asphaltenes’. A low proportion of resin and petroleum acid (A/R ≥ 5, A/PA ≥ 7) enhances emulsion stability by co-adsorbing with asphaltenes at the oil–water interface. Conversely, a high proportion of resin and petroleum acid leads to a decrease in IDM and emulsion stability. For asphaltene/petroleum acid–water system, when A/PA ≤ 5, the presence of petroleum acid decreases the droplet size but enhances droplet dispersion while decreasing emulsion stability. It can be inferred that the presence of petroleum acids contributes more to the formation rather than stabilization of emulsions. This work deepens insights into the emulsion behavior of natural surfactants, providing theoretical guidance for the formation of stable emulsions underground and efficient demulsification above ground.

Strong effect of often-overlooked initial spilled oil distribution on subsequent soil remediation: A pore-scale perspective

The removal of spilled oil within soil by water injection is essentially an immiscible fluid displacement process. Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the way to achieve a higher displacement efficiency. However, these studies often assumed that the pore space was initially saturated by oil only, ignoring the effect of initial oil distribution on the remediation, which led to incorrectly computed flow field and biased analysis. This work aimed to reveal the effect of initial oil distribution on flow physics during the remediation. Based on a pore-scale model and the phase-field method, the spilled oil invasion and remediation in a heterogeneous porous media were investigated, and the dynamic evolution of the phase interface was examined in particular. Four different distribution patterns of spilled oil were obtained through various velocities during the oil invasion stage, which were considered as initial states for the subsequent remediation stage. The results showed that ignoring the oil invasion process led to a more than 10% reduction in the ultimate remediation efficiency. However, the maximum interfacial area of fluids was larger and the obtained relative permeability curve was much smoother for the scenario considering the oil invasion. Besides, a higher initial water saturation led to a lower starting pressure. This work provided new pore-scale insights into the often-overlooked roles of initial phase distribution in fluid dynamics behind the remediation of oil-contaminated soil by water injection, which was of fundamental importance to the development of effective response strategy for soil contamination.

High-performance polyurea nanofiltration membrane for waste lithium-ion batteries recycling: Leveraging synergistic control of bulk and interfacial monomer diffusion

The development of high-performance nanofiltration (NF) membranes with extreme chemical stability is urgently needed for the recovery of spent lithium. In this study, a series of polyurea membranes with high lithium recovery efficiency and pH stability were fabricated by zone-regulated interfacial polymerization (IP). The reaction inhibitor Cu2+ in the bulk aqueous phase reduces IP intensity by reversibly binding to the amino groups of polyethyleneimine monomers through chelate bonds. Meanwhile, surfactant promote the uniform diffusion of macromolecular aqueous monomers at the phase interface. The milder polymerization reaction and the more stable phase interface endow the polyurea membrane (NF10k PEI-SDS-Cu2+) with higher water permeance (2.1 L m−2 h−1 bar−1), desirable MgCl2 rejection (94.7 %), and excellent fabrication repeatability. Moreover, the membrane demonstrates stable separation selectivity for Co2+/Li+ and SO42−/Li+ under conditions of 0.05 mol L−1 H2SO4 and 2 mol L−1 LiOH, respectively. Our study provides a facile method for constructing NF membranes with extreme pH stability and confirms the feasibility of membrane-based lithium recovery.