Thermal Crosslinking Research Articles

Dual thermally crosslinked hollow fiber membranes for plasticization-resistant helium recovery from natural gas

Membrane-based helium recovery from natural gas faces a major challenge due to membrane plasticization, which increases permeances but reduces selectivities. Thermal crosslinking has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the plasticization resistance of membranes by restricting segmental mobility and creating well-defined microporosity for gas separation. Herein, we develop novel dual thermally crosslinked asymmetric hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) using a 4,4′-diamino-2,2′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid-containing copolyimide. Decarboxylation-based dual crosslinking is achieved through heat treatment at various temperatures, resulting in the generation of C–C covalent bonds. The interchain distance increases from 5.33 to 5.76 Å, and the hierarchical pore size distributions exhibit ultra-micropore size between 5.6 and 6.8 Å as well as micropore size between 7.0 and 9.5 Å. Notably, the formation of stable C–C covalent bonds through dual crosslinking and the existence of bulky −CF3 groups in the 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4,4′-biphenyldiamine moiety prevent substructure collapse by enhancing the chain rigidity and rotational barrier. Gas transport properties of the crosslinked HFMs are effectively tuned by adjusting the heat treatment temperatures. Particularly, the PI-TFMB-HF@400 membrane exhibits a He permeance of 25 GPU and He/CH4 selectivity of 269. Additionally, the crosslinked HFMs exhibit enhanced plasticization resistance. The PI-TFMB-HF@400 membrane, for instance, shows only a 24 % decrease in mixed-gas CO2/CH4 selectivity and an 80 % increase in mixed-gas [He/(CO2 + CH4)] selectivity when exposed to a high-pressure (40 bar) ternary mixed-gas feed of He/CO2/CH4 (0.3/49.7/50, v/v/v), and the mixed-gas [He/(CO2 + CH4)] selectivity increases with temperature. The dual thermally crosslinked HFMs in this study demonstrate the potential for helium recovery from aggressive natural gas.

Low-temperature cross-linkable hole-transporting materials with benzocyclobutenes for solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes

Cross-linkable hole-transporting materials with a new cross-linking group, benzocyclobutene, are designed and synthesized. These materials dissolve well in common organic solvents and exhibit excellent solvent resistance after thermal cross-linking. Electroluminescent (EL) devices were fabricated using these two hole-transporting materials.

Investigating Cellulose Nanocrystal and Polyvinyl Alcohol Composite Film in Moisture Sensing Application

This study focused on utilizing cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)–polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite in optical sensor applications to detect high humidity conditions and determine water concentration in ethanol. We focused on the composite’s effectiveness in moisture absorption to demonstrate visual color change. We demonstrated that the different molecular weights of PVA significantly affect CNC’s chiral nematic structure and moisture absorption capability. PVA with molecular weight 88 k–97 k exhibited the disintegration of its chiral nematic structure at 30 wt%, whereas low molecular weight PVA (n~1750) showed no structural disintegration even at 100 wt% concentration when analyzed through UV-Vis spectroscopy. Further, the thermal crosslinking of the CNC-PVA composite showed no significant loss of moisture sensitivity for all molecular weights of the PVA. We observed that the addition of PVA to the sulfated CNC obtained from sulfuric acid hydrolysis did not facilitate moisture absorption significantly. A CNC-PVA sensor was developed which can detect high humidity with 2 h. of exposure time. 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-piperidinyloxy oxidized CNC (TEMPO-CNC) having carboxylic functionality was also used to prepare the CNC-PVA composite films for comparing the effect of functional groups on moisture sensitivity. Finally, we demonstrated a facile method for utilizing the composite as an optical sensor to detect water concentration in ethanol efficiently; thus, it can be used in polar organic solvent dehydration applications.

Characteristics of phosphorus‑nitrogen based flame-retardant monomers for UV-curable coatings on battery PET pouches

In this study, photocurable monomers containing phosphorus–nitrogen groups were employed alongside UV curing technology to develop flame-retardant (FR) coatings pouch-type battery cells made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Three different monomers were synthesized: a phosphorus-containing urethane acrylate monomer (DUPPO), a phosphorus–nitrogen-containing urethane acrylate monomer (DA-Pi-U), and a phosphazene-containing phenyl methacrylate crosslinker (CP-PMA). These monomers, recognized for their flame-retardant properties, were utilized in binary and ternary coating formulations that were effectively cured via a UV-curing process. The molecular architectures of the synthesized monomers were verified through 1H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The rheological curing behavior of the coating solutions was assessed using an oscillatory rheometer. In addition, the reactivity of the FR coating system was examined via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The thermal and flame-retardant characteristics of the FR coatings were confirmed through thermogravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy, limiting oxygen index measurements, and scanning electron microscopy. The ternary FR coating system with CP-PMA exhibited superior thermal stability, flame retardancy, crosslinking density, and mechanical robustness, making it suitable for PET pouches. Furthermore, optimal coating conditions for the slot coating process were determined using a viscocapillary model, enhancing practical applicability in industrial settings.

Laser‐Inscribable, Moisture‐Responsive Cellulosic Supramolecular Structures with Tunable Broadband Coloration

AbstractAdaptive photonic films in response to external stimuli have broad applications in optical communications, sensing, and anticounterfeiting. Yet, it remains challenging to develop photonic structures with tailorable fine patterns that display broadband color changing under ambient conditions. Here a hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular cholesteric liquid crystalline polymer (CLCP) that is mediated by a binary solvent consisting of citric acid (CA) and water is presented. The incorporation of CA not only improves the long‐range order of CLCPs through evaporation‐induced self‐assembly but is also capable of tuning their helical pitch across the entire visible spectrum. The extent of hydration‐induced pitch expansion can be further manipulated by thermal crosslinking, enabling a unique patterning strategy based on mask‐free, programmable laser inscription. High‐precision photonic patterns are created onto CLCPs, which reveal themselves upon hydration in high visual contrast. The study offers a feasible and up‐scaling route toward tailoring environmentally adaptive CLCPs with tunable broadband coloration and highly programmable photonic patterns.

Crosslinking Vinyl-Addition Polynorbornenes via Difunctional Diazirines to Generate Low Dielectric-Constant and Low Dielectric-Loss Thermosets.

Thermosets having low dielectric constant (Dk < 3) and low dielectric dissipation factor (Df < 0.003), high glass transition temperature (Tg > 150 °C), and good adhesion to copper are desirable for the low loss layers of the copper clad laminates (CCL) in next generation printed circuit boards. Three different difunctional diazirines are evaluated for both thermal and photochemical crosslinking of a high Tg vinyl-addition polynorbornene resin: poly(5-hexyl-1-norbornene) (poly(HNB)). The substrate polymer, crosslinked by the carbenes generated from the activated diazirines, forms thermosets with Dk < 2.3 and Df < 0.001 at 10GHz depending on the identity of the diazirine and the loading. The Dk and Df values for one composition are stable for 1600h at 125 °C in air and for 1400h at 85 °C and 85% relative humidity, suggesting good long-term reliability of this thermoset. Adhesion of poly(HNB) to copper can be enhanced by priming the copper surface with a diazirine prior to high temperature lamination; peel strength values of greater than 7.5 N cm-1 are achieved. Negative-tone photopatterning of poly(HNB) with diazirines upon exposure to 365nm light is demonstrated.

Synthesis, characterization and film preparation of 6FDA-based polyimides with polar groups arranged for thermal crosslinking

Abstract Thermal crosslinking of polyimides is a relevant methodology to increase their chemical resistance. This reaction is induced by heating after polymerization. Although this reaction is considered a viable route to modify polyimides, there is controversy over the specific temperature for the reaction. To contribute to the knowledge of crosslinked structures, we performed a differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and solubility test studies on a series of polyimides with different molar ratios of carboxylic acid groups. With 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid (DABA) as a source of carboxylic acid groups, the copolyimides were synthesized from 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and 4,4ʹ-hexafluoropropylidenebis(p-phenylenoxy)dianiline (6FPA) to form blocks of 6FDA:6FPA (n) and 6FDA:DABA (m) from m = 0–100 %. Flat films were prepared at 50 ± 3 µm with polyimides. In the thermogram of the flat films, a heat absorption zone associated with the decarboxylation reaction was identified with an endothermic minimum at 260 °C, which was assigned to the crosslinking temperature. Furthermore, heating time was varied for 3–36 h to determine the insolubility of the thermally crosslinked polyimide; from 24 h of heating the polyimide were insoluble. The polyimides were thoroughly characterized by ATR-FTIR, 1H NMR, TGA, SEM, the fractional free volume (FFV) was determined by the Bondi’s group contribution method and solubility to different organic solvents. The FFV of crosslinked polyimides increases relative to pristine polyimides by 2 % for those with higher DABA content and 40 % for those with lower DABA content. Finally, also the glass transition temperature increases in the crosslinked polyimides relative to the pristine ones from 280 °C for the lowest DABA content to 402 °C for the highest DABA content, demonstrating the increase in the thermal resistance of the structure.

Fabrication of chitosan/guar gum/polyvinyl alcohol films incorporated with polymethoxyflavone-rich citrus extracts: Postharvest shelf-life extension of strawberry fruits

In this study, chitosan/guar gum/polyvinyl alcohol (CGP) matrix (CGPC) films with different concentrations of polymethoxyflavone (PMF)-rich citrus extracts were developed. The results showed that these films had 11.90–16.77 μm of thickness, 32.53 %–41.53 % of moisture content, 33.16 %–121.64 % of water solubility, 2.14–3.18 × 10−10 g m−1 s−1 Pa−1 of water vapor permeability, 65.57 %–148.74 % degree of swelling, 6.08–16.05 MPa of tensile strength and 28.25 %–62.82 % of elongation at break. SEM and TEM observations indicated that the content of PMF-rich extracts affected the distribution and structure of the film matrix, which were confirmed by FT-IR and XPS outcomes. TGA-DTG and DMTA analysis revealed that the presence of 0.02 % PMF-rich extracts enhanced the thermal stability and cross-linking density of the film. Moreover, the incorporation of the PMF-rich citrus extract significantly improved the DPPH radical scavenging rate (increased from 26.22 % to 94.19 %) and antifungal property (against Rhizopus stolonifera in vitro). Furthermore, the inclusion of citrus extracts in the CGP matrix effectively inhibited the deterioration and weight loss of strawberry fruits. Thus, the CGP film incorporated with PMF-rich citrus extract has significant potential as an active packaging material for preserving fresh fruit.

Caffeic Acid Encapsulated Centrifugally Spun Antioxidant Fibers: Characterization and Incorporation in Cakes

AbstractThe primary aim of this study was to formulate a cake with high antioxidant activity through the incorporation of centrifugally spun gelatin-based fiber which was enriched with caffeic acid. Characterization analyses were conducted to evaluate fibers with different concentrations of caffeic acid (2% and 4%), while simultaneously the effects of thermal and citric acid crosslinking on the physical and functional properties of the encapsulated fibers were investigated. The study revealed varying encapsulation efficiencies of caffeic acid in gelatin fibers (56.34–94.55%), markedly affected by substantial reduction of thermal crosslinking, contrasting with citric acid’s minimal impact. Additionally, citric acid increased total phenolic content (TPC), but thermal treatment notably decreased antioxidant activity (AOA) due to its impact on radical scavenging and phenolic group dissociation. The addition of citric acid significantly reduced water vapor permeability by 22% suggesting an induced crosslinking in both thermal-treated caffeic acid and citric acid samples. The study highlighted reduced AOA and phenolic content in thermally treated fibers (thermally treated gelatin with 2% caffeic acid vs thermally treated gelatin with 4% caffeic acid), suggesting lower water solubility and improved thermal stability with approximately 24% remaining weight after thermogravimetric analysis. Despite this, cakes with thermally treated fibers had higher AOA due to improved heat resistance of fibers. Generally, adding fibers to cakes decreased hardness and pH while increasing TPC, AOA, and volume index, showing a novel approach using centrifugally spun fibers to enrich foods with antioxidants.

Sustainable foams from hemp, lignin, xylan, pectin, and glycerol: tunable via reversible citric acid crosslinking for absorption and insulation applications

This study investigates the development of sustainable multifunctional foams utilizing hemp stalk waste, lignin, xylan, pectin, glycerol, and citric acid. Using the freeze-drying method for foam formation in combination with industrial waste products and renewable resources, we emphasize a green, scalable material development approach. In total, 25 distinct formulations were prepared and methodically examined, mainly focusing on the roles of citric acid, pectin, and glycerol. Thermal crosslinking, conducted at 140°C, was analyzed using FTIR, confirming the formation of ester bonds. The microstructural characterization of the foams revealed distinct variations from nanofibrillar to microfibrillar structures based on composition. The bulk density of the foams ranged from 13 to 152 mg/cm3, and porosity values varied from 97 % to 99 % for most of the compositions. Foams showed up to 50 g/g water, 51 g/g rapeseed oil, and 46 g/g kerosine absorption. Foam absorption capacity changes were examined through 10 iterative cycles in water, demonstrating that most compositions retained near-original absorption capacities. Adding glycerol conferred exceptional hydrophobic properties to the foam surfaces, as evidenced by water contact angles ranging between 140° and 150°. The thermal conductivity of foams ranged from 0.040 to 0.046 W/mK. The mechanical properties of foams were assessed using compression testing, which showed highly tunable structures ranging from soft to rigid. This study illustrates the broad applicability of these foams, emphasizing their utility in thermal insulation, filtration systems, and environmental cleanup, among other potential uses.

Fabrication, characterization, and in vitro digestion of gelatin/gluten oleogels from thermally crosslinked electrospun short fiber aerogel templates

In this work, the electrospun short fiber-based oleogels (ESFO) were formed by thermal crosslinking. Gelatin and gluten nanofibers were obtained via electrospinning, then homogenized and transformed into short fiber dispersions. Through freeze-drying, electrospun short fiber-based aerogel (ESF-A) templates were obtained for oil adsorption. All ESF-A exhibited the micromorphology of loose fibrous pore structure and prominent changes of characteristic peaks in the thermal and infrared analyses. Moreover, the highly crosslinked templates owned excellent hydrophobicity and mechanical performances (elastic modulus: 0.25 kPa, yield strength: 14.56 kPa, compressive strength: 52.54 kPa, and the final compression recovery: 91.27%). Meanwhile, the oil adsorption/oil holding capacity could reach 76.56 g/g and 80.04%, respectively. Through thermal crosslinking, ESF-O presented good and controllable rheological/in vitro digestion properties, which were further confirmed by PCA analysis. According to different application conditions, ESF-O properties could be adjusted by different degrees of fiber addition or thermal crosslinking.

Nonmonotonic Composition Dependence of Viscosity upon Adding Single-Chain Nanoparticles to Entangled Polymers.

Well-characterized single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs), synthesized from a linear polystyrene precursor through an intramolecular [4 + 4] thermal cycloaddition cross-linking reaction in dilute conditions, were added to entangled polystyrene melts at different concentrations. Starting from the pure linear melt, which is much more viscous than the melt of SCNPs, the zero-shear viscosity increased upon the addition of nanoparticles and reached a maximum before eventually dropping to the value of the SCNP melt. Molecular simulations reveal the origin of this unexpected behavior, which is the interplay of the very different compositional dependences of the dynamics of the two components. The SCNPs become much slower than the linear chains as their concentration decreases because they are threaded by the linear chains, reaching a maximum viscosity which is higher than that of the linear chains at a fraction of about 20%. This behavior is akin to that of single-loop ring polymers when added to linear matrices. This finding provides insights into the design and use of SCNPs as effective entropic viscosity modifiers of polymers and contributes to the discussion of the physics of loopy structures.

Design and fabrication of 3D-printed gastric floating tablets of captopril: effect of geometry and thermal crosslinking of polymer on floating behavior and drug release

The present study aims to investigate the potential of the 3D printing technique to design gastroretentive floating tablets (GFTs) for modifying the drug release profile of an immediate-release tablet. A 3D-printed floating shell enclosing a captopril tablet was designed having varying number of drug-release windows. The impact of geometrical changes in the design of delivery system and thermal cross-linking of polymers were evaluated to observe the influence on floating ability and drug release. Water uptake, water insolubilization, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) were performed to assess the degree of thermal cross-linking of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) filament. The 3D-printed GFT9 was considered the optimized gastric floating tablet that exhibited >12 h of total floating time with zero floating lag time and successfully accomplished modified-drug release by exhibiting >80% of drug release in 8 h. The zero-order release model, with an r2 value of 0.9923, best fitted the drug release kinetic data of the GFT9, which followed a super case II drug transport mechanism with an n value of 0.95. The optimized gastric floating device (GFT9) also exhibited the highest MDT values (238.55), representing slow drug release from the system due to thermal crosslinking and the presence of a single drug-releasing window in the device.

Metal cation crosslinked, partially reduced graphene oxide membranes with enhanced stability for high salinity, produced water treatment by pervaporative separation

Graphene oxide (GO)-based membranes hold significant promise for applications ranging from energy storage to protective coatings, to saline water and produced water treatment, owing to their chemical stability and unique barrier properties achieving a high selectivity for water permeation. However, unmodified GO membranes are not stable when submerged in liquid water, creating challenges with their commercial utilization in aqueous filtration and pervaporation applications. To mitigate this, we develop an approach to modify GO membranes through a combination of low temperature thermal reduction and metal cation crosslinking. We demonstrate that Zn2+–rGO and Fe3+–rGO membranes had the highest permeation flux of 8.3 ± 1.5 l m−2 h−1 and 7.0 ± 0.4 l m−2 h−1, for saline water separation, respectively, when thermally reduced after metal cross-linking; These membranes maintained a high flux of 7.5 ± 0.7 l m−2 h−1, and 5.5 ± 0.3 l m−2 h−1 for produced water separation, respectively. All the membranes had a salt rejection higher than 99%. Fe3+ crosslinked membranes presented the highest organic solute rejections for produced water of 69%. Moreover, long term pervaporation testing was done for the Zn2+–rGO membrane for 12 h, and only a minor drop of 6% in permeation flux was observed, while Zn2+–GO had a drop of 24%. Both modifiers significantly enhanced the stability with Fe3+–rGO membranes displaying the highest mechanical abrasion resistance of 95% compared to non-reduced and non-crosslinked GO. Improved stability for all samples also led to higher selectivity to water over organic contaminants and only slightly reduced water flux across the membrane.

Decreasing the dielectric constant and water uptake of co-polyimide films by introducing bulky spirobifluorene and cross-linked tetrafluorostyrol groups

With the diminishing gap between the internal components of chips, the signal transmission delay poses a substantial threat to chip performance. To enhance the transmission speed of electrical signals, the development of materials with a low dielectric constant (Dk) becomes imperative. Polyimide (PI), categorized as a specialized engineering material, exhibits a high Dk (≥3), posing challenges in meeting the requirements of electronic and communication industries. Consequently, a new diamine monomer named BTVFD, characterized by spirobifluorene and cross-linkable tetrafluorostyrol groups, was synthesized. It was copolymerized with 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diamine (TFDB) and 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) to synthetize cross-linkable polyimides (TBPIs) with different BTVFD content. The cross-linked TBPIs (CL-TBPIs) were obtained by thermal cross-linking reaction. The study results demonstrate the Dk of PIs is significantly reduced through this effective strategy. Notably, CL-TBPI-2 exhibits outstanding comprehensive performance with low Dk (1.88@10 MHz) and dielectric loss (0.00513@10 MHz), low water uptake (0.125 %), high thermal decomposition temperature (5 % weight loss at 553 °C) and glass transition temperature (374 °C), excellent tensile strength (121.8 MPa) and nice transparency and flexibility.

A macromolecular intumescent flame retardant with thermal cross-linking groups for poly(ethylene terephthalate) with enhanced fire safety

To improve the flame retardancy of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) without loss of its mechanical properties, a macromolecular intumescent flame retardant (SPPO) with thermal-responsive groups was developed in an effective way. As 8 wt% of SPPO was melt-blended into PET, the prepared PET/SPPO composite achieved a V-0 rating during UL-94 tests without melt-dripping, and exhibited substantial reduction in the total heat release (THR), peak heat release rate (PHRR), total smoke production (TSP) and average carbon monoxide yield (av-COY) by 44.8 %, 39.0 %, 63.3 % and 45.8 %, respectively, in comparison with pure PET. The improved flame retardancy of this composite was considered to be ascribed to the formation of intumescent residues of SPPO. The generated physical barrier increased the melt viscosity by triggering the cross-linking reactions of the C≡N groups in SPPO, effectively inhibiting the melt-dripping of PET during burning. The tensile strength was also well-retained for PET composites when different contents of SPPO were added into PET, demonstrating the good compatibility between SPPO and PET matrix, which can meet the requirements of industrial application.

Carothers and Flory-Stockmayer Theory as a new perspective on currently ineffective poly(glycerol sebacate) synthesis and crosslinking

Since 2002, intensive research on glycerol polyester has been ongoing. Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) is most often studied because of its high applicable potential in many medical uses. This polyester is commonly synthesised from glycerine and sebacic acid in a molar ratio G/SA = 1:1. Nowadays, synthesis and thermal crosslinking processes are very time-consuming. At least 24 h for each, sometimes even a few days. There is a lack of works comparing these processes with polymerisation theory, such as Carothers Equations or Flory-Stockmayer Theory. In this work, experiments were performed at characteristic points of molar ratio determined from mathematical modelling. Currently published syntheses and crosslinking processes are characterised by long times, probably due to the use of the wrong molar ratio of monomers. The most effective glycerine to sebacic acid ratio is 2:3, according to both theories. This parameter should be considered for further synthesis optimisation and scaling up. This is also important for industrial implementation due to economic and ecological aspects. Moreover, the study of the G/SA ratio outside the range of 0.5–1.0 has no theoretical and experimental justification.

Novel Injectable Hydrogel Formulations and Gas Chromatography Analysis of the Residual Crosslinker in Formulations Intended for Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Applications.

Novel hyaluronic acid (HA) crosslinked with pentaerythritol tetra-acrylate (PT) injectable hydrogels was invented. These injectable hydrogel/dermal filler formulations were synthesised using HA and the acrylate PT as a crosslinker under basic pH conditions using thermal crosslinking methods (oven heating), which provides a simple, safe, and eco-friendly method for crosslinking in 4 h under 45 °C. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were conducted to represent the difference between the formulations in terms of peak formation and pore size, respectively. The crosslinking was partial as is considered to be typical for dermal injectable fillers. The rheological properties of these formulations showed that these novel dermal injectables are highly promising, and the newly developed fillers could be used with better results for dermal anti-wrinkle corrections, shaping, and volumising reasons. Furthermore, crosslinker (PT) residual analysis was carried out to state the formulations that are valid and acceptable for intradermal usage. The results from the GC method validation revealed it was a suitable method for this study. The GC analysis of all five injectable hydrogel/filler formulations demonstrated the formulations HA-PT 1, 2, 3 and 4 were formulated using (0.05-0.1)% w/w PT containing residual PT monomers within the safe limits that were determined to be below (0.008% w/w). This work has shown the development of a novel injectable hydrogel/filler formulation for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications can be prepared in a more sustainable and simple way using pentaerythritol tetra-acrylate as a crosslinker agent, which holds great promise for the industry's future advancement.

Pilot-scale poly(alkyl-biphenyl pyridine)-based monovalent anion perm-selective membranes with exceptional Cl−/SO42− selectivity in ion-distillation

Monovalent anion perm-selective membranes (MAPMs) were fabricated from poly (alkyl-biphenyl pyridine) backbone via Menshutkin reaction and in-situ thermal crosslinking. Compared to the commercial ACS membrane (Cl− flux of 2.44 mol m−2 h−1, selectivity of 5.55), the optimum MAPM exhibited superior Cl− ions flux of 2.78 mol m−2 h−1 and Cl−/SO42− selectivity of 10.5 at current density of 10 mA cm−2. Additionally, the optimum MAPM was successfully scaled up and comprehensively evaluated, demonstrating exceptional ion separation performance and operational stability. Notably, in the ion-distillation process, the scale-up membrane displayed an extremely high separation coefficient of Cl−/SO42− over 15,000. The membrane shows promise for practical applications in treating high salt wastewater and desalination processes requiring Cl−/SO42− separation.

Hydrophilic modified PES asymmetric membrane via thermal cross-linking for artificial lung application

Excellent hemocompatibility and long-term stability against blood wetting are important properties required for artificial lung membrane, the core component in extracorporeal membrane oxygenator which is life-saving for patients with severe lung dysfunctions. Herein, novel hydrophilic modified polyethersulfone (PES) asymmetric membranes were synthesized via thermal cross-linking, and characterization via SEM, FTIR, 1H NMR and surface water contact angle measurements demonstrated that the modified asymmetric membranes composing a dense layer with hydrophilic surface on top of a microporous support layer were successfully fabricated without any observed defects. Among all the modified membranes, PEGylated PES membrane exhibited the smoothest membrane surface, improved mechanical property, good gas permeability and the best performance in hemocompatibility in terms of blood coagulation, protein adsorption and platelet adhesion. Moreover, the PEGylated PES membrane showed excellent long-term stability in membrane surface wettability as well as long-term stable performance against blood fouling and wetting. This research work provides valuable insights and new idea into synthesizing membranes, with simple synthesis process, long lasting high hemocompatibility and stability against wetting, for application as artificial lung membranes.