Membrane Resistance Research Articles

Theoretical analyses of the performance parameters of PEM fuel cells at various operating temperatures and pressures

In the present study, the performance parameters for a single-cell PEM fuel cell with 50 cm2 active surface area and 0.0178 cm polymer membrane thickness at 4 different operating temperatures (303, 323, 343, and 363 K) and 4 different operating pressures (3, 6, 9, and 12 atm) was investigated by theoretical analysis. Hydrogen and oxygen partial pressures, membrane resistivity, internal resistance, activation, ohmic and concentration losses, cell voltage, power density, and thermal efficiency were calculated using this analysis. It has been observed that the augmentation of temperature and pressure in the fuel cell leads to a favorable increase in cell voltage, power density, and thermal efficiency. The thermal efficiency values were found to be 23% and 39%, respectively at the following conditions: temperatures of 303 K and 363 K, current density of 1 A/cm2, and constant pressure. At the same current density, the thermal efficiency is 29% and 32% at 3 atm and 12 atm operating pressures at a constant temperature. When operated under constant current density and temperature conditions, an increase in the operating pressure of the PEMFC from 3 atm to 12 atm results in a corresponding increase in cell voltage, from 0.4422 V to 0.4755 V, respectively. It was observed that the influence of temperature on the thermal efficiency of the PEM fuel cell was led to be higher than the influence of pressure.

Synergistic analysis of oxygen transport resistance in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

The oxygen transport resistance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells operated under various conditions (e.g., temperature and relative humidity) was separated into molecular diffusion, Knudsen diffusion, and ionomer film (IF) resistances using the catalyst agglomerate model, dissection of oxygen transport resistance, and distribution of relaxation time analysis. Simultaneously, an analysis of resistance, including charge transfer, proton transfer, and high-frequency resistances, was performed. The Knudsen diffusion resistance of the catalyst layer was calculated by assessing the effects of relative humidity on porosity and pore size. Oxygen transport resistance was analyzed to establish a correlation between temperature, relative humidity, and IF resistance. Water negligibly impacted performance at low oxygen levels at all examined current densities. The fractional contributions of molecular diffusion, Knudsen diffusion, and IF resistances obtained using oxygen transport analysis could be effectively applied to mass transport resistance in the distribution of relaxation time analysis. The IF resistance in the catalyst layer was up to eight times higher than the Knudsen diffusion resistance and 150 times higher than the proton transfer resistance across all current densities, thus most strongly contributing to the catalyst layer resistance. In the gas diffusion layer, the molecular diffusion resistance was up to four times higher than the Knudsen diffusion resistance. Thus, we examined the relationship between the mass transport resistances of individual elements and IF behavior under different operating conditions, revealing that the design of the IF in the catalyst should be considered alongside the relationship between the gas diffusion layer and membrane for optimal performance.

Improving interlaminar fracture toughness and compression after impact strength of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites by interleaving electrospinning polyethersulfone nanofiber

AbstractThe effect of membrane thickness of electrospinning polyethersulfone (PES) nanofiber membranes on interlayer toughness and impact resistance of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin (CF/EP) composites are researched. Intercalation composites with different nanofiber membrane thicknesses, ranging from 10 to 50 μm, are tested at mode I and mode II interlaminar fracture toughness. The impact resistance of nanofiber membranes with different thicknesses is evaluated by the compression after impact (CAI) strength test. Moreover, nanofiber toughening contributions are investigated using the crack path and surface analysis. Results indicate that PES nanofibers increase the toughness of interlayer resin and change the interlaminar crack propagation path of CF/EP composites. The optimum nanofiber membrane thickness for mode I (GI = + 58%) and CAI (CAI strength = + 33%) is 50 μm, while for mode II is 30 μm (GII = + 16.4%). The storage modulus of CF/EP composites increases with the increase of nanofiber membrane thickness. The study also confirms the insertion of a nanofiber membrane slightly improves the tensile strength and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of the CF/EP composites.Highlights PES nanofiber membranes of different thicknesses were inserted into the CF/EP. CAI and GI improved by 33% and 58%, respectively of CF/EP composites. The relationship between interlayer fracture toughness and CAI was discussed.

In-situ air bubble for efficient membrane scaling cleaning with a catalytic nanofiber membrane in membrane distillation

Membrane scaling and subsequent membrane wetting pose significant impediments to the application of membrane distillation (MD) in treating high-salinity wastewater. This study introduces an innovative in-situ bubble cleaning strategy for the amelioration of membrane scaling in MD processes. A catalytic membrane was fabricated by introducing MnO2 as a catalyst by electrospinning and the self-cleaning mechanism involving micro-nano bubbles and superhydrophobic surface was systematically investigated. Results showed that the fabricated MnO2/PVDF nanofiber membranes (M-FMP) showed superhydrophobic properties, with a water contact angle and rolling angle of 158° and 17°, which significantly improved the membrane's resistance to wetting and fouling. The M-FMP membrane exhibited exceptional performance across ten experimental cycles, achieving a flux recovery rate of over 92 % and demonstrating robust chemical stability following repeated cleanings with 0.006 wt% H2O2. Notably, CaSO4 deposition on the M-FMP membrane was approximately 46.0 μg/cm2, accounting for only 14.6 % of the deposition observed on the M-P electrospun membrane. The in-situ cleaning process leveraging micro-nano bubbles proved to be significantly more effective than conventional ex-situ cleaning methods, offering superior performance in removing scale deposits. Overall, this pioneering in-situ catalytic self-cleaning approach offers a new option for controlling MD membrane scaling.

Improving ultrafiltration efficiency of acidified skim milk using bipolar membrane electrodialysis: Impact on protein concentrate composition, process performance, and fouling

The efficiency of ultrafiltration (UF) of acidified skim milk (SM) is impaired by protein aggregation and mineral scaling. The aim of this study is to assess the potential of acidification by electrodialysis with bipolar membranes (EDBM), in comparison with citric acid (CA), prior to the UF process on filtration performance, fouling and composition of the protein concentrates. Electro-acidification, facilitated by a water-splitting reaction, decreased the pH of milk to ∼ 5.7 and caused partial demineralization (∼21.9 % ash removal), which increased protein concentration and reduced UF fouling. This resulted in a ∼ 34.7 % increase in average permeate flux and ∼ 9.5 % more efficient removal of calcium from the UF retentates compared to CA. The final ash content of the produced protein concentrates showed that the EDBM acidification resulted in an ash content of 5.76 ± 0.23 % on a dry basis, while the citric acid method resulted in an ash content of 6.63 ± 0.27 %, showing a reduction of ∼ 13.1 %. Additionally, electro-chemical and spectroscopic methods were employed to evaluate the ion-exchange membranes (IEMs). Minor changes were observed in the specific resistivity and permselectivity of the cation-exchange membranes (CMs), indicating the formation of fouling and inorganic scaling precipitates on the membrane surface due to the process. The FTIR analysis of both CMs and bipolar membranes (BMs) showed sorption of proteins on the surface. The FTIR and atomic force microscopy (AFM) results of UF membranes confirmed that acidification using CA led to increased fouling and reduced permeate flux, attributed to the aggregation of proteins and lipid residues compared to the EDBM acidification method. This study provides valuable insights into improving and enhancing UF performance while significantly reducing membrane fouling during the filtration of partially acidified dairy streams, by employing chemical-free green technologies.

Insight into the effect of Tubificidae on dynamic membrane reactor: Membrane fouling mitigation and Tubificidae-ASM3-dynamic membrane coupled model

To gain insights into the effects of Tubificidae on dynamic membrane sequencing batch reactor (DMSBR), 4 identical DMSBRs were operated with different Tubificidae densities (i.e., 0, 1, 2, 3 g ww/L). Experimental results showed that Tubificidae had a minimal effect on carbon and nitrogen removal but varied effluent turbidity and sludge characteristics. An appropriate density (2 g ww/L) of Tubificidae significantly decreased effluent turbidity and mitigated membrane fouling, which was attributed to the minimized mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) and the maximized particle size. A Tubificidae-ASM3-dynamic membrane coupled model was developed by combining the biological model with the dynamic membrane resistance model, incorporating the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) to characterize its contribution to membrane pore fouling, and introducing an inhibitory function to limit the unrestricted growth of membrane resistance. The model can be considered as a first attempt to describe the observed Tubificidae effects on dynamic membrane reactor.

Compartmentalized pooling generates orientation selectivity in wide-field amacrine cells

Orientation is one of the most salient features in visual scenes. Neurons at multiple levels of the visual system detect orientation, but in many cases, the underlying biophysical mechanisms remain unresolved. Here, we studied mechanisms for orientation detection at the earliest stage in the visual system, in B/K wide-field amacrine cells (B/K WACs), a group of giant, nonspiking interneurons in the mouse retina that coexpress Bhlhe22 (B) and Kappa Opioid Receptor (K). B/K WACs exhibit orientation-tuned calcium signals along their long, straight, unbranching dendrites, which contain both synaptic inputs and outputs. Simultaneous dendritic calcium imaging and somatic voltage recordings reveal that individual B/K dendrites are electrotonically isolated, exhibiting a spatially confined yet extended receptive field along the dendrite, which we term "compartmentalized pooling." Further, the receptive field of a B/K WAC dendrite exhibits center-surround antagonism. Phenomenological receptive field models demonstrate that compartmentalized pooling generates orientation selectivity, and center-surround antagonism shapes band-pass spatial frequency tuning. At the microcircuit level, B/K WACs receive excitation driven by one contrast polarity (e.g., "ON") and glycinergic inhibition driven by the opposite polarity (e.g., "OFF"). However, this "crossover" inhibition is not essential for generating orientation selectivity. A minimal biophysical model reproduced compartmentalized pooling from feedforward excitatory inputs combined with a substantial increase in the specific membrane resistance between somatic and dendritic compartments. Collectively, our results reveal the biophysical mechanism for generating orientation selectivity in dendrites of B/K WACs, enriching our understanding of the diverse strategies employed throughout the visual system to detect orientation.

Исследование проницаемости эпителиального слоя клеток TEER методом

The study investigated the electrical characteristics of the Caco-2 cellular layer grown on a cellulose acetate membrane using impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry methods. The effect of ethanol solutions of varying concentrations on the electrophysical properties of the cellular layer was studied. During measurements of the layer characteristics by the cyclic voltammetry method under direct current, it was found that its resistance before ethanol treatment was 642 kOhm. Treatment with a 25% ethanol solution increased this value to 645 kOhm, while 50% and 95% solutions decreased it to 505 kOhm and 373 kOhm, respectively. During the study of the cellular layer's properties using impedance spectroscopy with alternating current, dependencies of the real and imaginary parts of the resistance on the ethanol concentration in the treatment solution were obtained. The obtained data were used to construct Nyquist diagrams. Their analysis allowed for the proposal of an equivalent circuit describing the process of current flow through the studied system. The equivalent circuit included parameters of paracellular transport, membrane resistance and capacitance, as well as elements accounting for electrode polarization. As a result, values of capacitance and membrane layer resistance were obtained. It was established that the membrane layer capacitance changes under the influence of ethanol. When treated with a 50% ethanol solution, capacitance increases, indicating degradation of the cell membrane and a reduction in its barrier function. Treatment with a 95% solution led to a decrease in capacitance, which can be attributed to the compression of the cell layer, reducing the capacitance contribution to the system's overall conductivity. The results demonstrate the importance of quantitative analysis of cellular electrical parameters for studying their response to chemical stress and confirm the potential of such approaches in biomedicine for creating sensors and «organ-on-a-chip» systems.

Chlorine-resistant and dual anti-biofouling reverse osmosis membranes with zwitterionic and quaternary ammonium copolymers via mussel-inspired one-step codeposition

Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane technology encounters challenges such as membrane biofouling and oxidation during practical use, which significantly hinders its further development and application. To improve the chlorine and biofouling resistance of RO membrane, we suggest a method that modifies the mass ratios of zwitterionic and quaternary ammonium copolymers in the mussel-inspired coating layer. This method successfully controls the hydrophilicity and positive charge of the membrane surface, enhancing its overall performance. The plate counting results indicate that the bacterial killing efficiency of the blended modified TFC membrane (50:50) against E. coli and S. aureus is ≥98 %. Thanks to the combined effects of the anti-adhesion zwitterionic copolymer and the antibacterial quaternary ammonium copolymer, the blended modified TFC membrane (50:50) demonstrates superior anti-biofouling performance in dynamic biofouling tests. Furthermore, the desalination performance of the blending modified TFC membrane (50:50) remains stable after long-term exposure to 60,000 ppm·h of active chlorine, while the desalination performance of the pristine TFC membrane significantly declines. In conclusion, our advancements in chlorine-tolerant and anti-biofouling RO membranes could enhance the reliability of RO technology.

A low-cost perfusion heating system for slice electrophysiology

Temperature-critical applications, such as patch-clamp electrophysiology, require constant perfusion at a fixed temperature. However, maintaining perfusate at a specific temperature throughout various applications requires heaters or coolers with integrated feedback systems, which has historically increased complexity and cost. This makes such systems prohibitively expensive in research environments with lower funding rates, particularly in developing countries. We developed a custom temperature control system that relies on off-the-shelf components and few custom parts, which can be easily produced with common tools. Our system can be built for less than $30 and maintains a set perfusate temperature within 0.4 °C while introducing negligible electrical interference. Using this system, we demonstrate that Striatal Medium Spiny Neurons exhibit increased membrane resistance, longer membrane time constants, lower firing rates, and increased rheobase current at room temperature compared to physiological temperature.

Thermal stability of PVDF-HFP based gel electrolyte for high performance and safe lithium metal batteries

Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) have garnered significant attention due to their efficacy in addressing safety concerns associated with liquid electrolyte leakage. However, the frail mechanical properties and low thermal stability of GPEs have constituted significant obstacles to their commercialization. In this paper, safe GPEs with excellent mechanical properties and high thermal stability were prepared by introducing high-strength and lithophilic cellulose acetate (CA) into PVDF-HFP gel electrolytes. The incorporation of CA facilitates the dissociation and transport of Li salts, and the formation of a hydrogen bonding network between the –OH of CA and the −F of the PVDF-HFP substrate was identified through FTIR testing. The thermal stability was elucidated through pyrolysis kinetics, and the activation energy was calculated. The pyrolysis products were compared through a TG-FTIR-MS test to demonstrate the high-temperature resistance of the FPF-CA membrane. The prepared GPEs exhibited high ionic conductivity (1.087 × 10−3 S/cm) and some self-extinguishing properties at room temperature, with a higher electrochemical window of 4.81 V and a high Li+ mobility number of 0.56. The capacity retention was 93% after 600 cycles at 1C.

Using Layer-by-layer Assembled Clay Composite Junctions to Enhance the Water Dissociation in Bipolar Membranes.

Bipolar membranes (BPMs) with a layer-by-layer (LbL) assembled montmorillonite (K30 MMT) clay-polyelectrolyte (PE) composite junction coated onto a sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone (SPEEK)) electrospun support are prepared, characterized and their water dissociation performance is analyzed. In particular, the focus is on the effect of the presence of the K30 MMT clay as a catalyst for water dissociation, the bilayer number (three, six, and nine), and the PE strength (poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) as a weak PE and poly(diallyl dimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) as a strong PE) on the BPM performance. The BPMs are prepared by electrospinning and hot pressing SPEEK and the Fumion FAA-3 polymer. Adding the composite multilayers in the BPM junction decreases the membrane area resistance in reverse bias from 560 to 21 Ohms cm2 for the best-performing modified BPM. The bilayer number has limited influence on the overall membrane resistance, while the PDADMAC BPMs outperform the PEI BPMs due to the higher and more stable PE and clay adsorptions. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows that the depletion layer thickness decreases exponentially with the number of bilayers as the water dissociation reaction becomes less dependent on the junction electric field. Furthermore, the higher Donnan exclusion at the modified junctions improves the BPM permselectivity 3-fold compared to the BPM containing no catalyst. Altogether, these improvements lead to 6.7 times less energy being used in BPM electrodialysis for the production of acid and base when a BPM with composite LBL junction is used compared to a BPM without catalyst. Thus, adding MMT clay composite LbL catalyst to BPM junctions is a promising method to improve the efficiency and reduce the energy consumption of electrochemical processes that rely on BPMs.

Separation properties and fouling resistance of polyethersulfone membrane modified by fungal chitosan

This research explores the enhancement of polyethersulfone (PES) membranes through the incorporation of chitosan derived from the lignicolous fungus Ganoderma sp. Utilizing wet phase inversion and solution casting techniques, chitosan was successfully integrated into the PES matrix, as confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), which indicated a high deacetylation degree of 75.7%. The incorporation of chitosan significantly increased the membrane hydrophilicity, as evidenced by a reduction in the water contact angle and a substantial improvement in pure water permeability, from 17.9 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 to 27.3 L m-2 h-1 bar-1. The membrane anti-fouling properties were also notably enhanced, with the Flux Recovery Ratio (FRR) increasing from approximately 60–80%. Moreover, the chitosan-modified PES/CS membrane, particularly at a 5% chitosan concentration, demonstrated exceptional efficacy in pollutant removal, achieving over 90% elimination of total suspended solids, cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), alongside a 79% reduction in color during the treatment of textile wastewater.

CNSC-22. GLIOBLASTOMA CELLS EXHIBIT NEURON-LIKE EXCITABILITY IN BOTH ACUTE AND ORGANOTYPIC HUMAN BRAIN SLICES

Abstract Glioblastomas (GBM) are known for their significant intratumor heterogeneity, featuring a variety of plastic cell types that make effective treatment challenging. Recent studies have shown that neuronal-progenitor-like transcriptomic cell states at the leading edge of the tumor receive synaptic input from nearby neurons, which drives disease proliferation. However, the excitability of GBM cells remains controversial, with observations ranging from non-excitable to neuron-like excitability, complicating our understanding of their pathophysiology. In this study, we developed a novel experimental approach to study glioblastoma cells in both acute and cultured brain slices infiltrated with cancer from GBM patients. Using an adeno-associated virus for gene delivery, we selectively expressed fluorescent proteins in specific cell types. Fluorescence-guided whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were then used to analyze the electrophysiological properties of GBM cells and neurons within the tumor microenvironment. Our findings show that GBM cells have distinct electrophysiological properties, including a depolarized resting membrane potential (-31.95 ± 2.18 mV, n = 55 cells) and high membrane resistance (1.27 ± 0.19 GΩ, n = 62 cells). Approximately 56% of GBM cells at the tumor’s leading edge exhibited neuron-like excitability, generating aberrant action potentials (aAPs) upon depolarization. Collectively, our study provides direct evidence of the intrinsic excitability of GBM cells and a detailed characterization of their electrophysiological properties in the cancer-infiltrated human cortex. These insights shed new light on tumor heterogeneity and cell-cell interactions in glioblastoma, potentially guiding the development of targeted therapies.

A deeper investigation of membrane fouling in anaerobic membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment: Influencing factors and fouling layer characteristics

Identifying the core parameters affecting membrane fouling and analyzing fouling layer characteristics are crucial for membrane fouling mitigation of anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs). This study investigated the influence of various operating parameters on membrane fouling and the characteristics of different fouling layers. The ratio of flux to specific gas demand per unit of membrane area (SGD) was proposed as a key parameter for membrane fouling control and was applicable under various flux, SGD, and sludge concentration conditions. The membrane resistance and specific filtration resistance of foulants at high flux and sludge concentration reached 1.56 × 1012 m−1 and 3.56 × 1015 m−1/kg, respectively. Solid foulants accumulated on the membrane surface during rapid fouling stage. Protein-like pollutants accounted for a higher proportion (85%) of soluble foulants on the membrane surface. Humic acids were enriched on the cake/gel layer and the longitudinal enrichment process from the cake layer to the gel layer was uneven. Proteocatella (>45%) at the phylum level, Desulfovibrio (>3.1%), Syntrophobacter (>2.8%), and Treponema (>0.25%) at the genus level colonized in the gel layer and were the pioneers of membrane biofouling. Their enrichment on the membrane surface was primarily based on their own characteristics and was less sensitive to the operating conditions of AnMBRs. Therefore, this study provides a deeper understanding of membrane fouling formation process, which contributes to the long-term stable operation of AnMBR and scales up its engineering application.

Highly Resistive Biomembranes Coupled to Organic Transistors enable Ion‐Channel Mediated Neuromorphic Synapses

AbstractOrganic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) functionalized with lipid membranes could enable new hybrid synapses for sensing and neuromorphic computing in biological media. However, prior attempts to pair these components resulted in low quality membranes formed on the OECT surface. We present a new method for forming a highly‐resistive phospholipid bilayer coupled to a poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) OECT that avoids the disruptive effects of the rough polymer surface. Transistor coupled droplet bilayers (TCDBs) formed from diphytanoyl phosphatidylcholine lipids exhibit an average specific resistance that is 1000X higher than values reported for solid‐supported lipid membranes assembled on PEDOT:PSS. High membrane resistance and the addition of voltage‐activated ionophores enable us to demonstrate that selective ion transport and spontaneous membrane resealing in response to dynamic gate voltage imparts selective programming and memory‐storage capability to an OECT without chemical modification of the PEDOT:PSS. These capabilities enable paired‐pulse facilitation and depression with writing speeds and memory retentions that are both >10X higher than previously reported with membrane‐coated OECTs. The high resistance of the TCDB establishes a basis for hybrid biomolecular synapses that can integrate stimuli‐responsive membranes and organic electronics for future applications in sensing, signal processing, and neuromorphic computing at the edge of biology.

In silico analysis of ventricular action potential with a current-voltage-time representation: Thresholds, membrane resistance, repolarization reserve.

The waveform of ventricular action potential (AP) is a key determinant of the cardiac cycle, a marker of beating pathophysiology, and a target for anti-arrhythmic drug design. The information contained in the waveform, though, is limited to the actual dynamics of the AP under consideration. By measuring quasi-instantaneous current-voltage relationships during repolarization, I propose a three-dimensional representation of the ventricular AP which includes potential dynamic responses that the beat can show when electrically perturbed. This representation is described in the case of a numerically reconstructed ventricular AP, but it can be, at least partially, derived in real cardiomyocytes. Simulation allows to disclose the potentialities and the limitations of the approach, that can be extended to any non-cardiac AP. By reporting, at any AP time, the ion current available within the physiological membrane potential range at that time, the representation makes all together available: (1) refractory period, (2) thresholds for eliciting full or calcium-driven APs, (3) threshold for all-or-none repolarization, (4) membrane resistance during repolarization, (5) the safety of membrane repolarization. It provides further evidence of a negative membrane resistance during the late phase of ventricular AP and a quantitative estimate of repolarization reserve (RR), key determinants of repolarization dynamics.

Cost-optimal design of reverse electrodialysis process for salinity gradient-based electricity generation in desalination plants

Salinity gradient-based technologies offer a solution for desalination plants seeking clean, uninterrupted electricity to support their decarbonization and circularity. This work provides cost-optimal designs of a large-scale reverse electrodialysis (RED) system deployed in a desalination plant using mathematical programming. The optimization model determines the hydraulic topology and RED units’ working conditions that maximize the net present value (NPV) of the RED process recovering salinity gradient energy between brine and treated wastewater effluents. We examine how electricity, carbon and membranes prices, desalination plant capacity, and membrane resistance may affect the NPV-optimal design’s competitiveness and performance. We also compare the conventional series-parallel configuration and the NPV-optimal solution with recycling and added reuse alternatives. In the context of soaring electricity prices and strong green financing support, with the use of high-performing, affordable membranes (∼10 €/m2), RED could save 8% of desalination plant energy demand from the grid, earning 5 M€ profits and LCOE of 66–126 €/MWh, comparable to other renewable and conventional power technologies. The optimization model finds profitable designs for the entire range of medium-capacity desalination plants. The findings underscore the optimization model effectiveness in streamlining decision-making and exploiting the synergies of full-scale, RED-based electricity in the energy-intensive water sector.

Creating smart chlorine-resistant polyamide reverse osmosis membranes via self-healing temperature-responsive nanocontainer functionalization

We present an innovative solution for improving the chlorine resistance of polyamide RO membranes. Our method involves the design of temperature-specific (70 ℃) responsive nanocontainers (T-RNC) through layer-by-layer self-assembly on a monodisperse SiO2 nanoparticle core. These nanocontainers, measuring 25 nm in size, are embedded within a thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane, resulting in a homogeneous surface structure with increased roughness and strong hydrophilicity. The precise temperature-responsive properties of T-RNC enable the dissolution of the encapsulated shell material, releasing SS molecules containing amino and carboxyl groups. These molecules effectively bind to broken amid bonds within the PA layer, repairing structural damage caused by chlorination and significantly enhancing the membrane’s chlorine resistance. Extensive testing revealed that the temperature-responsive TFN membrane maintained over 90 % NaCl rejection, even after exposure to 18,000 ppm.h of chlorination. In contrast, the control group lacking temperature-responsive TFN and TFC membranes exhibited reduced rejection rates of 62.15 % and 71.24 %, respectively. Additionally, the TFN membranes exhibited excellent water permeability and resistance to contamination. Our findings offer promising avenues for researchers to explore the development of intelligent and chlorine-resistant polyamide RO membranes, with a particular focus on chlorination-remediation techniques.

Fluorine polyimide nanofibrous composites with outstanding piezoelectric property for human motion monitoring

The limited high-temperature resistance of conventional piezoelectric polymers remains an extremely arduous obstacle to fabricate a flexible sensor that meets the practical application in extreme environments. In this paper, the fluorine-containing polyimide (FPI) nanofiber membrane was prepared by electrospinning and further encapsulated with FPI resin into a flexible and wearable piezoelectric sensor. The influence of fluorine-containing monomer content on the mechanical properties, heat resistance, and piezoelectric properties of FPI nanofiber composite membranes was systematically investigated. The fabricated samples show outstanding thermal stability with Tg of 247℃-262℃ and Td5% of 570℃. The composite also displays a low dielectric constant (2.25–3.5) and dielectric loss (0.004–0.01), respectively. It is particularly noteworthy that the prepared fluorine-containing PI nanofiber membrane exhibits excellent piezoelectric properties. The output voltage of CPI-100 can reach up to 7 V with fast response / recovery time (16 ms / 7 ms) and exceptional durability (10,000 cycles). Moreover, the prepared CPI nanofiber composite membrane sensor can effectively detect bending and pressuresignals, which can be applied to motion and pressure monitoring. We found a new kind of substrate with outstanding piezoelectric and provided a novel strategy for developing high-temperature resistant flexible self-powered piezoelectric sensors in wearable electronics.