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The present work details the development of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy membranes with excellent rejection of small-molecule dyes. It is a proof-of-concept for a more sustainable membrane design incorporating carbon fibers, and their recycling and reuse. 4,4-methylenebis(cyclohexylamine) (MBCHA) polymerized with either bisphenol-A-diglycidyl ether (BADGE) or tetraphenolethane tetraglycidylether (EPON Resin 1031) in polyethylene glycol (PEG) were used to make monolithic membranes reinforced by nonwoven carbon fibers. Membrane pore sizes were tuned by adjusting the molecular weight of the PEG used in the initial polymerization. Membranes made of BADGE-MBCHA showed rejection of Rose Bengal approaching 100%, while tuning the pore sizes substantially increased the rejection of Methylene Blue from ~65% to nearly 100%. The membrane with the best permselectivity was made of EPON-MBCHA polymerized in PEG 300. It has an average DI flux of 4.48 LMH/bar and an average rejection of 99.6% and 99.8% for Rose Bengal and Methylene Blue dyes, respectively. Degradation in 1.1 M sodium hypochlorite enabled the retrieval of the carbon fiber from the epoxy matrix, suggesting that the monolithic membranes could be recycled to retrieve high-value products rather than downcycled for incineration or used as a lower selectivity membrane. The mechanism for epoxy degradation is hypothesized to be part chemical and part physical due to intense swelling stress leading to erosion that leaves behind undamaged carbon fibers. The retrieved fibers were successfully used to make another membrane exhibiting similar performance to those made with pristine fibers.

The nanofiltration (NF) membrane has not been extensively competent for rejection of monovalent ions (such as Cl− and NO3−), and the strategy for enhancing monovalent ion rejection and permeation flux still faces a significant challenge. Herein, based on our previous polyethersulfone (PES)‐type NF membrane (NF‐0), two novel NF membranes were fabricated with additional incorporations of 2,2′‐benzidinedisulfonic acid (BDSA) and forward osmotic extraction solution‐functioned nanoparticles (MNPs) to remove nitrate from the aqueous solution. The fabricated NF‐BDSA membrane with introduction of BDSA in ultrathin layer displays a significant nitrate rejection of 92.2% and an acceptable permeation flux of 21 L m−1 h−1 at 0.6 MPa. As anticipated, the obtained NF‐MNPs1.0 membrane with additional incorporation of MNPs (1.0 wt% addition) in the substrate layer of NF‐BDSA membrane achieves further improvements in nitrate rejection (95%) and water permeability (32.3 L m−1 h−1); encouragingly, this membrane exhibits comparable monovalent ion rejection and permeation flux to reverse osmosis membrane under relatively low pressure. Compared with those of NF‐0 membrane, the permeation flux and nitrate rejection of NF‐MNPs1.0 membrane increase by 111.1% and 6.1%, respectively. Moreover, the superior performances of endurance, antifouling and chlorine resistance of NF‐MNPs1.0 membrane demonstrate its expectable perspective of potential engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticide-loaded flexible carriers that allow for deformation and adhesion on crop leaves is an effective way to improve pesticide utilization. In interfacial polymerization, the addition of octaphenyl polyoxyethylene (OP) with different hydrophile lipophilic balances (HLBs) into the oil phase can regulate the flexibility of pyraclostrobin- loaded microcapsules (MCs). Due to differences in amphiphilicity and molecular structure, OP redistributed on the oil-water two-phases and oil-water interface. With increasing HLB, the proportion of OP entering the aqueous phase increased. Furthermore, more OP with low HLB remained in the oil phase and occupied the oil-water interface, and these OPs participated in and regulated the interfacial polymerization to increase the thickness, reduce the compactness of the shell, and increase the hydroxyl and ether bond contents in the shell. Therefore, pyraclostrobin-loaded MCs with low HLB (11.5-12.5) OP-7 exhibited flexible deformation, strong foliar adhesion, good scouring resistance, and a high control effect on peanut leaf spot, which the disease severity was 3.67. For high HLB (16), OP-21-prepared MCs with compact shells were safer to zebrafish, which the safety index was 23.81. Using the amphiphilicity of OP molecules to drive their redistribution in an encapsulation system to regulate interfacial polymerization is an effective way to control the structure and performance of pesticide-loaded MCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to develop a thin-film nanofibrous composite (TFNC) membrane for removing fermentation inhibitors from a hydrolysate solution. Such membrane was fabricated via interfacial polymerization of a polyamide thin-film layer on top of a solution blow-spun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber scaffold. The effects of pH (3.29, 4.29, 8.26) and pressure (4, 6.67, 9.33, 12 bar) on the membrane's performance were investigated. The TFNC membrane had a high pure water permeability of 21.06 L/m2-h-bar and was able to deliver satisfactory rejection coefficients at pH 3.29 and pressure of 4 bar (glucose − 91.84%, xylose − 86.06%, hydroxymethylfurfural − 20.52%, furfural − 21.32%). Different pH settings resulted in similar permeate fluxes, but increasing the pH from acidic to basic reduced the rejection coefficients due to electrostatic repulsion. Increasing the pressure increased the permeate flux but decreased the rejection coefficients. The developed membrane showed remarkable permeability and effectively removed inhibitors, useful in biorefineries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Tailored design of high‐performance nanofiltration membranes is desirable. The physicochemical properties of the organic phaseare essential for the preparation of nanofiltration membranes. Therefore, byfine‐tuning the organic phase, it is possible to achieve nanofiltrationmembranes with enhanced performance. RESULTS: In this work, oleic acid, a naturally extracted fatty acid, wasintroduced into three different organic solvents (n‐heptane, n‐octane andisopar G) to construct special oil phases for interfacial polymerization. Testingresults showed that proper dosage of oleic acid addition can effectivelydecrease the nanofiltration membrane pore size and enhance the salt rejectionregardless of the solvent type. Taking n‐octane as example, 5% oleic acidaddition in it can decrease the mean pore size from 0.500 nm to 0.341 nm and improve the MgSO4 rejection from 52.4% to 95.5%. Further characterizationindicated that the introduction of oleic acid into organic solvent cansignificantly reduce the interfacial tension and promote the diffusion of piperazinefrom aqueous phase to the oil phase. In addition, oleic acid could react with piperazineand produce some white particles that could be embed into the polyamide layer, thus altering the surface morphology. CONCLUSION: In this work, a novel modified thin film composite nanofiltration membrane was prepared by a simple and controllable oleic acid assisted interfacial polymerization strategy, which exhibits good water permeability, solute selectivity and antifouling property. Without changing the existing process, our strategy opens up a simple, environmentally friendly and operable route for the synthesis of thin film composite nanofiltration membranes. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient incorporation of macrocycles in polymeric membranes can impart the overall matrix with new properties for a range of cutting‐edge applications. Here, we introduce a Supramolecular Interfacial Assembly (SIA) method for the fabrication of polymeric membranes featuring embedded macrocycles. Through harnessing the quasi‐liquid nature of the concentrated polymer solution, SIA orchestrates the homogeneous spreading of macrocycles in an aqueous layer on its surface, leading to the creation of an interface between “water/water” phases, subsequently forming a cross‐linked membrane driven by supramolecular electrostatic interactions. Remarkably, compared to the traditional interfacial polymerization, SIA adheres to a “green” paradigm without the need for organic solvents. The resultant composite membrane exhibits superior performance in organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN), owing to the precise molecular sieving property provided by the macrocycles with well‐defined permanent cavities. This fabrication method holds great promise for the innovative design and production of composite membranes that seamlessly integrates macrocycles with conventional polymers, which can greatly impact the design and preparation of advanced membrane materials in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis and assembly of two‐dimensional (2D) polymeric materials present a tricky trade‐off between the high reaction rate and precise morphology control. Here we report a nanoconfined synthesis of imine‐based 2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) at the interface of oil‐in‐water (O/W) emulsion droplets stabilized by cationic surfactants. Highly uniform nanocapsules (NCs) could be prepared without adding extra catalysts at room temperature in just 4.5 h at a yield of 86 %. The NCs have tunable average diameters of 114–565 nm and shell thicknesses of 12–63 nm, depending on the monomer and surfactant types/concentrations. Their BET‐specific surface areas are up to 139.0 m2/g, mainly contributed by narrowly‐distributed mesopores at ~5.0 nm and micropores at 1.4 nm at a volume ratio (V1.4/V5.0) of 1.68. The surfactant plays the role of a catalyst during the reaction and interestingly, it also regulates the formation of mesopores and their sizes. Both theoretical and experimental studies confirm that the reaction has been accelerated by two orders of magnitude at the microdroplet interface, compared to that without emulsification. The resulting NCs could be well dispersed in water for at least six weeks with little size‐distribution change, and they have been demonstrated to be highly efficient nanocatalysts in application of water‐based hydrogen evolution, reaching a stable hydrogen production rate at 10.2 mmol ⋅ g−1 ⋅ h−1 for 6 hours. Such microdroplet interface‐confined synthesis may facilitate the future development of 2D polymeric materials for more advanced applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key challenge in efficient molecular separation is fabricating large‐scale, highly selective polymeric membranes with precise pore control at the molecular scale. Herein, a new contorted monomer 6,6′‐dihydroxy‐2,2′‐biphenyldiamine (DHBIPDA) is introduced as a building block to generate cross‐linked, ultra‐thin microporous nanofilms (sub‐10 nm) via interfacial polymerization, enabling rapid, and precise molecular nanofiltration. Using diacyl chloride (TPC) as the cross‐linker instead of trimesoyl chloride (TMC) significantly reduces the pore sizes within the membranes and achieves a narrower pore distribution due to a semi‐crystalline structure. The film structures are confirmed using comprehensive characterization techniques including wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), CO2 adsorption analysis, and molecular‐scale simulation. The DHBIPDA/TPC and DHBIPDA/TMC membranes achieve methanol permeance values of up to 16.4 and 15.1 LMH bar−1 coupled with molecular weight cutoffs (MWCOs) as low as 283 and 306 Da, respectively. The DHBIPDA/TPC membrane demonstrates both higher permeance and higher selectivity compared to its relatively disordered counterpart DHBIPDA/TMC, consistent with characterization data. The DHBIPDA‐derived membrane efficiently separates dye mixtures with similar molecular weights and enables effective recycling of organometallic homogeneous catalysts, suggesting its potential for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring effective and controlled zinc ion transportation is crucial for functionality of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and overall performance in zinc‐based battery systems. Herein the first‐ever demonstration of incorporate cation‐π interactions are provided in the SEI to effectively facilitate uniform zinc ion flux. The artificial SEI design involves the immobilization of 4‐amino‐p‐terphenyl (TPA), a strong amphiphilic cation‐π interaction donor, as a monolayer onto a conductive poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) matrix, which enable the establishment of a robust network of cation‐π interactions. Through a carefully‐designed interfacial polymerization process, a high‐quality, large‐area, robust is achieved, thin polymeric TPA/PEDOT (TP) film for the use of artificial SEI. Consequently, this interphase exhibits exceptional cycling stability with low overpotential and enables high reversibility of Zn plating/stripping. Symmetrical cells with TP/Zn electrodes can be cycled for more than 3200 hours at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2. And the asymmetric cells can cycle 3000 cycles stably with a high Coulomb efficiency of 99.78%. Also, under the extreme conditions of lean electrolyte and low N/P ratio, the battery with TP protective layer can still achieve ultra‐stable cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to develop a thin-film nanofibrous composite (TFNC) membrane for removing fermentation inhibitors from a hydrolysate solution. Such membrane was fabricated via interfacial polymerization of a polyamide thin-film layer on top of a solution blow-spun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber scaffold. The effects of pH (3.29, 4.29, 8.26) and pressure (4, 6.67, 9.33, 12 bar) on the membrane’s performance were investigated. The TFNC membrane had a high pure water permeability of 21.06 L/m2-h-bar and was able to deliver satisfactory rejection coefficients at pH 3.29 and pressure of 4 bar (glucose − 91.84%, xylose − 86.06%, hydroxymethylfurfural − 20.52%, furfural − 21.32%). Different pH settings resulted in similar permeate fluxes, but increasing the pH from acidic to basic reduced the rejection coefficients due to electrostatic repulsion. Increasing the pressure increased the permeate flux but decreased the rejection coefficients. The developed membrane showed remarkable permeability and effectively removed inhibitors, useful in biorefineries.

The conductive PEDOT hollow spheres fabricated by a template-assisted interfacial polymerization serve as promising spacers rendering the MXene film highly capacitive performances. [Display omitted] • The PEDOT HSs are successfully prepared by a template-assisted interfacial oxidation polymerization. • Incorporation of PEDOT HSs between MXene nanosheets yields highly flexible MP film. • The MP film exhibits a forty-folds enhancement in current response and nearly thickness-independent performances with film thickness varying from 10 to 40 μm. • The MP-based polymer-gel supercapacitor retains 90% capacitance and 100% Coulombic efficiency over the 5000 cycles, Sheets stacking of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene dramatically reduces the ion-accessible sites and brings a sluggish reaction kinetics. While introducing transitional metal oxides or polymers in the MXene films could partially alleviate such issue, their enhanced performances are realized at the expense of electrode conductivity or cycling stability. Herein, we report an alternative spacer of conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) hollow spheres (HSs) which are fabricated by a facile template-assisted interfacial polymerization. The Fe3+ ions electrostatically adsorbed on the –SO 3 H groups of the sulfonated polystyrene spheres (S-PS) initiate the polymerization of uniform PEDOT shell, yielding uniform PEDOT HSs after dissolving the S-PS core. Introducing these PEDOT HSs in the MXene film generates the highly flexible MXene-PEDOT (MP) films featuring hierarchically porous network and high conductivity (283 S cm−1). Consequently, specific capacitance of 218 F g−1 at 3 mV s–1, along with a forty-folds decrease in relaxation time constant (1.0 vs 39.8 s) has been achieved. Moreover, the MP film also exhibits nearly thickness-independent capacitive performances with film thickness in the range of 10–46 μm. A maximal energy density of 21.2 μWh cm−2 at 1015 μW cm−2 together with 92 % capacitance retention over 5000 cycles are achieved for the MP-based solid-state supercapacitor. The intrinsic high conductivity, excellent mechanical flexibility and good structure integrity are responsible for such outstanding electrochemical behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, global warming caused by the increasing levels of CO2 has become a serious environmental problem. Membrane separation technology has demonstrated its promising potential in carbon capture due to its easy operation, energy-efficientness and high efficiency. Interfacial polymerization process, as a facile and well-established technique for preparing membranes with a thin selective layer, has been widely used for fabricating commercial reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes in water treatment domain. To push forward such an interfacial polymerization process in the research of CO2 separation membranes, herein we make a review on the regulation and research progress of the interfacial polymerization membranes for CO2 separation. First, a comprehensive and critical review of the progress in the monomers, nanoparticles and interfacial polymerization process optimization for preparing CO2 separation membrane is presented. In addition, the potential of molecular dynamics simulation and machine learning in accelerating the screen and design of interfacial polymerization membranes for CO2 separation are outlined. Finally, the possible challenges and development prospects of CO2 separation membranes by interfacial polymerization process are proposed. It is believed that this review can offer valuable insights and guidance for the future advancement of interfacial polymerization membranes for CO2 separation, thereby fostering its development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid, on‐site measurement of ppm‐level humidity in real time remains a challenge. In this work, we fabricated a few micrometer thick, β‐ketoenamine‐linked covalent organic framework (COF) membrane via interfacially confined condensation of 1,3,5‐tris‐(4‐aminophenyl)triazine (TTA) with 1,3,5‐tri‐formylphloroglucinol (TP). Based on the super‐sensitive and reversible response of the COF membrane to water vapor, we developed a high‐performance film‐based fluorescence humidity sensor, depicting unprecedented detection limit of 0.005 ppm, fast response/recovery (2.2 s/2.0 s), and a detection range from 0.005 to 100 ppm. Remarkably, more than 7,000‐time continuous tests showed no observable change in the performance of the sensor. The applicability of the sensor was verified by on‐site and real‐time monitoring of humidity in a glovebox. The superior performance of the sensor was ascribed to the highly porous structure and unique affinity of the COF membrane to water molecules as they enable fast mass transfer and efficient utilization of the water binding sites. Moreover, based on the remarkable moisture driven deformation of the COF membrane and its composition with the known polyimide films, some conceptual actuators were created. This study brings new ideas to the design of ultra‐sensitive film‐based fluorescent sensors (FFSs) and high‐performance actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A range of new fluorine‐containing copolyarylates were successfully produced through interfacial polymerization using hexafluorobisphenol A (BPAF) featuring a symmetric trifluoromethyl group structure, bisphenol B (BPB), and two acyl chloride monomers as raw materials. The results indicated that the synthesized amorphous copolyarylates exhibited good solubility, with number average molecular weights (Mn) of 19,000–44,000 g/mol, weight average molecular weights (Mw) of 66,000–159,000 g/mol, and intrinsic viscosities of 0.66–1.19 dL/g. The thermal stability of copolyarylates increased with the increase of BPAF monomer content (0~100%), which was manifested by the linear increase of glass transition temperature (Tg) from 201.6 to 237.1°C, and the increase of 5% thermogravimetric weight loss temperature (T5%) from 474.1 to 491.5°C. The tensile strength of copolyarylates ranged from 52.63 to 59.93 MPa, the tensile modulus ranged from 1102.08 to 1502.84 MPa, and the elongation at break ranged from 32.0 to 75.5%. In addition, the copolyarylates had good dielectric properties with a dielectric constant of 2.58–3.75 at 107 Hz and a dielectric loss tangent of 0.021–0.028. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene‐supported nanofiltration (NF) membranes have been reported for several cases in recent years. However, few have disclosed a NF membrane which achieves a high salt/water separation efficiency. Here, a novel polyamide NF membrane was prepared by conducting interfacial polymerization on poly(vinyl alcohol)‐decorated polyethylene separator. The polyethylene‐supported NF membranes were systematically investigated with respect to chemical structures, microscopic morphology, surface properties, as well as desalination performance. In particular, a distinctive morphology transformation occurred on the polyamide layers through regulating poly(vinyl alcohol) loading amounts. Performance testings demonstrated the optimal membrane reaches a water permeance over 17.4 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1 and Na2SO4 rejection above 98.7%, as well as favorable performance stability. This work may provide some consideration for fabricating NF membranes with new support layers and good desalination performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal is a significant solar energy conversion process on Earth, and photothermal‐responsive protocells are a potential model for prebiotic chemistry. Here, polydopamine microcapsules are fabricated via emulsion droplets‐templated interfacial polymerization and investigated their potential as synthetic protocell models for photothermal conversion and utilization. DNAzyme‐mediated dopamine peroxidation and polymerization occur at the water/oil interface of the emulsion droplets, facilitated by a biphasic microfluidic technique, leading to the formation of uniform polydopamine microcapsules, which retain structural integrity upon transfer into a continuous water phase. These microcapsules exhibit size‐dependent semi‐permeability and high photothermal capability due to their broad spectral absorbance. The photothermal‐mediated temperature rise within the microcapsules triggers DNA denaturation and rearrangement, and intermittent photothermal irradiation modulates reversible phase separation of DNA condensates, mimicking membrane‐less organelles. This work suggests that interfacial polymerization fabricated polydopamine capsules are a plausible photothermal protocell model that can demonstrate aspects of primitive abiotic cellularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyaniline (PANI) was prepared by polymerization via the chemical oxidation of aniline monomer with ammonium persulfate as the initiator. The interfacial polymerization method was used to prepare PANI/1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIM][BF4] polyionic liquid (PIL). The obtained PANI/ [BMIM][BF4] PIL was investigated by the XRD, EDX, SEM, FTIR, and UV-Visible characterizations. X-ray diffractogram of PANI showed five prominent characteristic peaks at 27.1°, 24o, 21.8°, 19.8°, and 18.2°. This demonstrates the semi-crystalline character of the polyaniline produced through the interfacial polymerization process. Incorporation of [BMIM][BF4] into PANI reduced the crystalline phase and enhanced amorphicity. From the EDX pattern, several elements appeared in this test; oxygen had of the highest weight percentage of 54.2%. The SEM image showed a clear hierarchal porous structure with nano-sticks particles and forms a cross-linked framework between PANI and [BMIM][BF4]. From FTIR spectra of PIL, a prominent absorption peak at 3163.26 cm-1 was noted because of the N-H stretching vibrations present in the polymer. The UV-Vis spectra for PANI/[BMIM][BF4] polyionic liquid showed three peaks between 200 and 1060 nm. These bands result from π → π* and n → π* transitions, which are related to the excitement absorption of benzenoid and quinoid groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) plays important roles in pharmaceutical ingredients purification and solvent recovery. However, the low organic solvent permeance under cross‐flow operation of OSN membrane hampers their industrial applications. Herein, we report the construction of coffee‐ring structured membrane featuring high OSN permeance. A water‐insoluble crystal monomer that dissolved in EtOH/H2O mixed solvent was designed to react with trimesoyl chloride via interfacial polymerization. Owing to the diffusion of EtOH to n‐hexane, coffee‐ring nanostructure on the support membrane appeared, which served as the template for construction of coffee‐ring structured membrane. The optimal nanostructured membrane demonstrated 2.6‐fold enhancement in the effective surface area with reduced membrane thickness. Resultantly, the membrane afforded a 2.7‐fold enhancement in organic solvent permeance, e.g. ~13 LMH/bar for MeOH, without sacrificing the rejection ability. Moreover, due to the rigid monomer structure, the fabricated membrane shows distinctive running stability in active pharmaceutical ingredients purification and the ability for concentration of medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PDA-HKUST-1 interlayer enhances the stability of OSN membrane structure. • PA layer thickness of PA/ PDA -HKUST-1 0.6 /PEI membrane is about 14 nm. • PA/CaAlg-HKUST-1 6 /PEI membrane has good solvent resistance. Polydopamine (PDA) and metal-organic skeleton HKUST-1 were co-deposited on the base membrane of hexamethylenediamine (HDA)-crosslinked polyetherimide (PEI) ultrafiltration membrane as the interlayer, and high-throughput organic solvent nanofiltration membrane (OSN) was prepared by interfacial polymerization and solvent activation reaction. The polyamide (PA) layer surface roughness from 28.4 nm in PA/PEI to 78.3 nm in PA/PDA-HKUST-1 0.6 /PEI membrane, reduced the thickness of the separation layer from 79 to 14 nm, and significantly improved the hydrophilic, thermal and mechanical properties. The flux of the PA/PDA-HKUST-1 0.6 /PEI membrane in a 0.1 g/L Congo Red (CR) ethanol solution at 0.6 MPa test pressure reached 21.8 L/(m2·hr) and the rejection of CR was 92.8%. Solvent adsorption test, N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) immersion experiment, and long-term operation test in ethanol showed that the membranes had high solvent tolerance. The solvent flux test demonstrated that, under the test pressure of 0.6 MPa, the flux of different solvents ranked as follows: methanol (56.9 L/(m2·hr)) > DMF (39.6 L/(m2·hr)) > ethanol (31.2 L/(m2·hr)) > IPA (4.5 L/(m2·hr)) > N - hexane (1.9 L/(m2·hr)). The ability of the membranes to retain dyes in IPA/water dyes solution was also evaluated. The flux of the membrane was 30.4 L/(m2·hr) and the rejection of CR was 91.6% when the IPA concentration reached 50%. This OSN membrane-making strategy is economical, environment-friendly and efficient, and has a great application prospect in organic solvent separation systems. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Chiral two-dimensional (2D) conductive polymers, encompassing chiral, 2D, flexible, and conductive properties, constitute a novel class of material that remains largely unexplored. The infusion of chirality into 2D conductive polymers taps into the unique characteristics associated with chirality, presenting opportunities to enhance or tailor the electronic, optical, and structural properties of materials for specific technological applications. In this study, we synthesized a chiral 2D PEDOT:PMo 11 V nanofilm through interfacial polymerization, effectively integrating a chiral monolayer, conductive polymer, and inorganic cluster. The inclusion of inorganic cluster serves to enhance the conductivity of the resulting chiral nanofilm. Furthermore, we demonstrated the chiral nanofilm as a capable electrochemical sensor for detecting drug enantiomers. The inherent flexibility of the chiral nanofilm also lays the groundwork for the development of chiral flexible/wearable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for boron has resulted in its contamination of water supplies. Nanofiltration membranes, particularly thin‐film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes, have shown promise in removing contaminants. This study evaluated the boron removal capabilities of negatively and positively charged TFN membranes alongside a control thin‐film composite (TFC) membrane without nanoparticles. Piperazine (PIP, for negatively charged membrane) or polyethyleneimine (PEI, for positively charged membrane) aqueous monomer was reacted with trimesoyl chloride (TMC) in n‐hexane solution via interfacial polymerization (IP) on the polyethersulfone (PES) membrane substrate to form the TFC membrane. During the TFN membrane preparation, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and sulfocalix[4]arene (SCA4) were introduced as active nanoparticles to the aqueous monomer. Boron removal performance was evaluated using a 10 ppm aqueous boron solution. The PES substrate gave the highest water flux, which was 307.80 LMH. For the TFC membrane, TFC–PIP had a higher water flux at 113.71 LMH than TFC–PEI. Furthermore, the TFN membranes containing the PEI monomer had a lower water flux than those containing the PIP monomer. These findings highlight the potential of TFN membranes, particularly those incorporating nanoparticles, for effective boron removal. Further research and optimization of TFN membranes can contribute to addressing the challenge of boron contamination in water supplies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofilms that can fast permeate solvents and accurately sieve molecules are of significant importance for separation. A promising strategy is to align the inner cavities of macrocycles into the channels within nanofilms, and control the channel size by selecting the macrocycles. However, the channels outside the macrocycles are ignored. Here, we prepare nanofilms with hydrophobic channels (cyclodextrin inner cavity) and hydrophilic channels (cyclodextrin outer space) through interfacial polymerization of azobenzene-4,4′-dicarbonyl dichloride and amino-functionalized β-cyclodextrin. By utilizing the significant geometric changes caused by the photoisomerization of azobenzene, nanofilms with adjustable hydrophilic channel sizes were obtained. Our nanofilms have high permeability to polar and non-polar solvents, and can distinguish molecules with almost the same molecular weight but different shapes. This work expands the development of next-generation nanofilms generated through interfacial polymerization by incorporating rational molecular design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Technology of Water Treatment is the property of Technology of Water Treatment Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Shenzhen University Science & Engineering is the property of Editorial Department of Journal of Shenzhen University Science & Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To date, smart surfaces with controllable wettability have received extraordinary attention due to their great importance in both fundamental research and practical applications. Chemical composition and surface topography are the two key factors to affect the wettability of solid surfaces. Applying external stimuli to change the surface chemistry and/or topography is considered to be a valuable approach for driving the transition between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of surfaces. In this study, poly o-toluidine nanofibers were synthesized by a facile aqueous/organic interfacial polymerization, and superhydrophobic coatings of poly o-toluidine were prepared via a room-temperature spraying process. The reversible wettability conversion between the superhydrophobic and the hydrophilic state of the obtained poly o-toluidine coating under ultraviolet irradiation and electric stimulation was investigated. From the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, this intelligent switching wetting behavior under ultraviolet light irradiation was confirmed to have a high correlation with the change in surface chemical composition. When the electric stimulation was applied, the wettability switch was caused by the redistribution of charge and electric dipole along the liquid–solid interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofiltration (NF) membrane technology has been widely used in the removal of salts and trace organic pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), due to its superiority. A positive-charged composite NF membrane with an active skin layer was prepared by polyethyleneimine (PEI), trimethyl benzene chloride, and quaternate chitosan (HTCC) through second interfacial polymerization on the polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membrane. The physicochemical properties of the nanocomposite membrane were investigated using surface morphology, hydrophilicity, surface charge, and molecular weight cut-off (MWCO). The influence of the concentration and reaction time of PEI and HTCC was documented. The optimized membrane had a MWCO of about 481 Da and possessed a pure water permeability of 25.37 L·m−2·h−1·MPa−1. The results also exhibited salt rejection ability as MgCl2 > CaCl2 > MgSO4 > Na2SO4 > NaCl > KCl, showing a positive charge on the fabricated membrane. In addition, the membrane had higher rejection to atenolol, carbamazepine, amlodipine, and ibuprofen at 89.46, 86.02, 90.12, and 77.21%, respectively. Moreover, the anti-fouling performance and stability of the NF membrane were also improved. HIGHLIGHTS A positive-charged nanofiltration (NF) membrane was modified by quaternate chitosan (HTCC) via second interfacial polymerization.; HTCC, containing quaternarized chitosan, was prepared with natural chitosan.; Anti-fouling performance and stability were improved.; The NF membrane surface was positively charged.; Salts and trace organic pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products, were removed.;

Fabrication of large‐area thin films through irreversible reactions remains a formidable task. This study reports a breakthrough strategy for in situ synthesis of large‐area, free‐standing, robust and multi‐stimulus responsive thin films through a catalyst‐free and irreversible Katritzky reaction at a liquid–liquid interface. The as resulted films are featured with adjustable thickness of 1–3 μm and an area up to 50 cm2. The thin films exhibit fast photo‐mechanical motions (a response time of ca 0.1 s), vapor‐mechanical motions, as well as photo‐chromic and solvato‐chromic behaviors. It was revealed that the reason behind the observable motions is proton transfer from the imine groups to the carbonyl structures within the film induced by photo‐ and/or dimethyl sulfoxide‐stimulus. In addition, the films can harvest anionic radicals and the radicals as captured can be efficiently degraded under UV light illumination. This study provides a new strategy for fabricating smart thin films via interfacially confined irreversible Katritzky reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofiltration (NF) membranes have aroused great attention in recent years. The most commonly used NF membranes are polyamide (PA) thin-film composite (TFC) membranes based on ultrafiltration membranes. Owing to the high porosity and interconnected pores, electrospun nanofibrous membranes are promising substrates for the fabrication of high-flux nanofiltration membranes, i.e., thin-film nanofibrous composite (TFNC) nanofiltration membranes. In this work, poly-(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibrous membranes with adjustable hydrophilicity were successfully fabricated, and then, a PA layer was synthesized on the surface via the interfacial polymerization between piperazine (PIP) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC). The hydrophilicity of PLLA nanofibrous membranes influences the distribution and adsorption weight of PIP, which further affects the formation and morphology of the PA layer. Results indicate that, as the hydrophilicity of PLLA nanofibrous membranes increases, the adsorption amount of PIP increases, the thickness of the PA layer decreases, and the cross-linking degree increases, which ensures both high permeance and high rejection to Na2SO4. The TFNC membranes exhibit a water permeance of 17.0 L·m–2·h–1·bar–1 and a Na2SO4 rejection of 98.0%. This work achieves the control of substrate hydrophilicity by introducing hydrophilic additives and provides new insights for the fabrication of high-performance nanofiltration membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Micelles were in situ incorporated into the thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane. • The stable and monodispersed micelles can essentially regulate the interfacial polymerization (IP) process. • The structure of polyamide layer was optimized by further refinement of the IP process. • The resultant TFN membrane exhibited high water permeance (20.7 L m-2h−1 bar−1) and superior Na 2 SO 4 rejection (99.3 %). The desalination performance of thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes is significantly influenced by the nature of nanofillers and the structure of the polyamide (PA) layer. Herein, a micelles regulated interfacial polymerization (MRIP) strategy is reported for the preparation of TFN membranes with enhanced nanofiltration (NF) performance. Specially, stable and ultrafine micelles, synthesized from the poly(ethylene oxide)- b -poly(4-vinyl pyridine)- b -polystyrene (PEO-PVP-PS) triblock copolymers, were utilized as regulators in the aqueous phase during the interfacial polymerization (IP) process. TFN membranes were fabricated with varying concentrations of micelles to improve their properties and performances. The structure of the PA layer was further regulated by modulating the content of trimesoyl chloride (TMC), which significantly enhances the performance of the TFN membrane with micelles. Attributable to the homogeneously dispersed micelles and the modified PA layer, the optimized membrane denoted as TFN-2–0.3 exhibits an improved separation performance of 20.7 L m-2h−1 bar−1 and 99.3 % Na 2 SO 4 rejection, demonstrating nearly twice the permeance and 2.7 % higher rejection than that of the original control membrane, respectively. The mechanism of this MRIP strategy was investigated through the diffusion experiments of piperazine (PIP) and interfacial tension tests. The incorporated micelles effectively lower the interfacial tension, promote the diffusion of PIP and accelerate the IP reaction, resulting in a denser and thinner PA layer. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that TFN membranes with micelles exhibit increased roughness, enhanced hydrophilicity, superior rejection to divalent salts, and better acid-base resistance, highlighting their potential applications in the design of TFN membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient thin film composite polyamide (PA) membranes require optimization of interfacial polymerization (IP) process. However, it is challengeable owing to its ultrafast reaction rate coupled with mass and heat transfer, yielding heterogeneous PA membranes with low performance. Herein, a non‐isothermal‐controlled IP (NIIP) method is proposed to fabricate a highly permeable and selective PA membrane by engineering IP at the cryogenic aqueous phase (CAP) to achieve synchronous control of heat and mass transfer in the interfacial region. The CAP also enables the phase transition of the aqueous solution from the liquid to solid state, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the fundamental mechanisms involved in different phase states in the IP process. Consequently, the PA membrane exhibits excellent separation performance with ultrahigh water permeance (42.9 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) and antibiotic desalination efficiency (antibiotic/NaCl selectivity of 159.3). This study provides new insights for the in‐depth understanding of the precise mechanism linking IP to the performance of the targeting membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogel‐based optical waveguides have attracted extensive attention in optogenetics, implantable photomedicine, and biosensors due to their excellent biocompatibility and tissue‐like modulus in compared with traditional SiO2‐based rigid optical fibers. However, the existing ion‐induced supramolecular assembly of alginate‐based hydrogel optical fibers commonly lack of long‐term stability due to poor mechanical property accompanied with swollen. In this paper, a novel catalytic surface polymerization method is developed based on a redox reaction mechanism to in situ grow robust and slippery cladding layer on a core poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel fiber by using the alternative H‐bonding poly(N ‐acryloyl glycinamide) (PNAGA) hydrogels. The resultant hydrogel optical fiber with core‐cladding heterogeneous structure can achieve the desirable total reflection condition, leading to good light transmission and low light loss. The PNAGA cladding with robust H‐bonding network endows the hydrogel optical fiber with high stability and outstanding lubrication in humid environment. More importantly, the hydrogel optical fiber possesses good tissue‐like mechanical performance together with excellent biocompatibility, which shows the great advantages for biomedical applications in compared with traditional glass optical fibers. This work will broaden implantable hydrogel optical fibers in material design and structure processibility, promoting the use of hydrogel‐based optical fibers in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The separation of chiral drugs continues to pose a significant challenge. However, in recent years, the emergence of membrane‐based chiral separation has shown promising effectiveness due to its environmentally friendly, energy‐efficient, and cost‐effective characteristics. In this study, we prepared chiral composite membrane via interfacial polymerization (IP), utilizing β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) and piperazine (PIP) as mixed monomers in the aqueous phase. The chiral separation process was facilitated by β‐CD, serving as a chiral selective agent. The resulting membrane were characterized using SEM, FT‐IR, and XPS. Subsequently, the chiral separation performance of the membrane for DL‐tryptophan (Trp) was investigated. Lastly, the water flux, dye rejection, and stability of the membrane were also examined. The results showed that the optimized chiral PIP0.5β‐CD0.5 membrane achieved an enantiomeric excess percentage (ee%) of 43.0% for D‐Trp, with a solute flux of 66.18 nmol·cm−2·h−1, and maintained a good chiral separation stability. Additionally, the membrane demonstrated positive performance in the selective separation of mixed dyes, allowing for steady operation over a long period of time. This study offers fresh insights into membrane‐based chiral separations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid and mild coating strategy was applied on the millimeter scale calcium alginate capsules (Ca‐SA caps) by in situ interfacial polymerization of ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA). The generated poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) (PECA) coating was initiated by trace water in the surface of the Ca‐SA caps. The effects of ECA content, reaction time, and type of aromatic solvent on the morphology and control‐release property of the resulting PECA‐coated Ca‐SA caps (Ca‐SA caps@PECA) were investigated. The results demonstrated a white PECA layer successfully coated on the surface of Ca‐SA caps. Notably, the Ca‐SA caps@PECA remained consistently pleasing spherical shape as prepared in methylbenzene and ethylbenzene. When the ECA was 6 mL, the thickness of PECA layer of the Ca‐SA caps@PECA was 43.52 μm. Compared with the Ca‐SA caps, the weight retention ratio of water in the Ca‐SA caps@PECA increased by 254.61%, indicating the effective delay of water diffusion from core of the Ca‐SA caps@PECA. Moreover, the PECA coating improved the stability of the Ca‐SA caps@PECA, which achieved release‐controlling of dye at different pH. This method provides solution for surface modification of fragile hydrogel capsules to effectively control the releasing of liquid core, which is highly valuable in the field of food, cosmetic, and medical delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual microcapsule systems, especially those based on the polyurea matrix, have emerged as pivotal components driving innovation in self-healing materials, thanks to the intrinsic properties of polyurea, primarily diamine and diisocyanate, rendering it an optimal choice for enhancing self-healing coatings. However, the encapsulation of polyurea components is fraught with substantial technical hurdles. Addressing these challenges, a novel methodology has been devised, leveraging n-heptane as a solvent in the liquid diamine emulsion process to facilitate the synthesis of diamine microcapsules. These microcapsules exhibit a uniform spherical morphology and a robust shell structure, with an encapsulated core material ratio reaching 39.69%. Analogously, the encapsulation process for diisocyanate has been refined, achieving a core material percentage of 10.05 wt. %. The integration of this bifunctional microcapsule system into diverse polymeric matrices, including epoxy resins and polyurethanes, has been demonstrated to significantly enhance the self-healing efficacy of the resultant coatings. Empirical validation through a series of tests, encompassing scratch, abrasion, and saltwater immersion assays, has revealed self-healing efficiencies of 21.8% and 33.3%, respectively. These results indicate significant improvements in the durability and self-repair capability of coatings, marking a notable advancement in self-healing materials with promising potential for tailored applications in automotive, aerospace, and construction industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, paper coated with a polyamide film containing a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) of benzalkonium chloride (BKC) is prepared. Its BKC adsorption ability and selectivity for BKC adsorption are investigated. The MIP is prepared by agitating an ethylenediamine solution containing an azo initiator, BKC as a template material, and methacrylic acid (MAA) as the functional monomer. First, filter paper soaked in this mixture is impregnated with a cyclohexane solution of terephthaloyl chloride and a BKC–MAA–MIP‐containing polyamide film is prepared on the surface of the paper. Paper containing BKC–MAA–MIP adsorbs BKC. The paper with the highest BKC removal efficiency is prepared under the following conditions: 4 mL MAA functional monomer, 2.5 w/v% ethylenediamine, and 10 min MIP synthesis time. The paper with BKC–MAA–MIP selectively adsorbs BKC from a solution containing BKC, tetracycline hydrochloride, and caffeine. Thus, a polyamide film containing BKC‐MAA‐MIP formed on paper can effectively and selectively remove BKC from aqueous environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spiropyran photochromic materials have been widely studied in military camouflage, optical data storage, information encryption, and fashion ornaments. The non‐photochromism and low endurance of solid spiropyran make the challenges of their application. Photochromic microcapsules with a butyl acetate solution of spiropyran as core and polyurethane as shell are synthesized via interfacial polymerization. The optimized polyurethane photochromic microcapsules are prepared with a Tween 20 concentration of 4 wt%, core–shell ratio of 16:5, and spiropyran concentration of 0.40 wt%. Polyurethane photochromic microcapsules with a mean particle diameter of 0.33 μm are obtained. The morphology shows smooth spheres, and the core–shell structure is observed. Butyl acetate in the microcapsule core does not evaporate at a temperature lower than 218.01°C as the microcapsule shell insulates heat. The polyurethane photochromic microcapsules are mixed with adhesive, thickener, and water into a paste and screen‐printed on cotton fabric. The printed fabric shows the ΔE of 17.56, 11.93, and 6.96 after 80s irradiation with the xenon lamp intensity of 102, 68, and 34 mW cm−2. The light stability of the photochromic fabric is excellent as ΔE decreases about 8.28% after 20 cycles of UV‐Vis irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hollow fiber (HF) organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membranes have recently attracted significant interest in the field of membrane technology. Their popularity stems from comparative advantages, such as high packing density, fouling resistance, and easier scalability for larger applications, unlike flat-sheet/spiral-wound OSN membranes, which may present challenges in these aspects. The combination of interfacial polymerization (IP) and HF configuration has opened up new opportunities for developing advanced membranes with enhanced separation performance that can be tailored for various OSN applications. The objective of this review is to discuss the latest advancements in developing thin film composite (TFC) HF membranes, with a focus on the IP method. Novel materials and processes are discussed in detail, emphasizing the fabrication of greener, interfacially polymerized HF OSN membranes. In addition, the commercial viability and limitations of TFC HF membranes are highlighted, providing perspectives on future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Vacuum assistance is used for filtering solid substances onto porous substrates to create composite membranes typically. However, the potential of this approach has rarely been assessed in facilitating the distribution of liquids within those porous substrates to fabricate composite membranes in typical interfacial polymerization. In this work, we demonstrate the advantages of vacuum-assisted interfacial polymerization (VAIP) in terms of substrate universality, monomer concentration range, and performance reproducibility in the fabrication of polyimide nanofiltration membranes. Aqueous solutions of PIP can be homogeneously distributed by vacuum filtration on diverse microfiltration substrates of polyether sulfone (PES), Nylon-66, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), cellulose acetate (CA), and mixed cellulose esters (MCE), respectively. Interfacial polymerization is then performed on these substrates using different concentrations of piperazine (PIP, 0.0075–0.1000 wt%) and trimoyl chloride (TMC, 0.0112–0.1500 wt%). Remarkably, a uniform and ultra-thin polyamide layer with a thickness of 15 nm can be achieved at an exceptionally low PIP concentration of 0.0250 wt%, exhibits a rejection rate of over 98.8 % for Na 2 SO 4 and a water permeance of 25.8 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1. The membranes with a diameter of 30 cm demonstrate reproducibility in nanofiltration performance and satisfactory long-term stability. This method offers a simple yet effective strategy for regulating the liquid distribution and optimizing interfacial polymerization in fabricating polyamide composite membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Water pollution due to fluoride (F−) is a significant threat worldwide. Fluoride contamination affects many life forms (both plants and humans) when they enter the food chain. Poly(piperazine-amide) membranes have a promising role in nanofiltration activities. However, piperazine, as a cyclic secondary aliphatic amine, reacts with 1,3,5-trimesoyl chloride (TMC) in the interfacial polymerization. The physical characterization of the membranes was performed through different analytical tools like Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and contact angle analyzer. The selectivity in separating bivalent and monovalent salts is well observed in this composite membrane. The composite membranes show their potentiality in defluoridation. The rejection profile is ~ 84% for the feed water (pH 6.5) having 10 mg/L fluoride at pressure 1.034 MPa. The influencing parameters (viz. pH, concentration, applied pressure, nature of water matrix) on separation performances are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With each passing year, water scarcity in the world is increasing, drying up rivers, lakes, and dams. Reverse osmosis technology is a very viable alternative which helps to reduce water shortages. One of the challenges is to make the process more efficient, and this can be achieved by improving the capacity by adapting membranes with nanomaterials in order to increase the permeate flux without exceeding the limits established in the process. In this research, brackish water membranes (BW30) were modified with ZnO nanoparticles by interphase polymerization. The modified membranes and BW30 (unmodified) were characterized by FTIR, AFM, contact angle, and micrometer. The membranes were tested in a cross-flow apparatus using 9000 ppm brackish water, and their permeate flux, salt rejection, and concentration polarization were determined. The salt rejection for the 10 mg ZnO NP membrane was 97.13 and 97.77% at 20 and 30 Hz, respectively, sufficient to generate drinking water. It obtained the best permeate flux of 12.2% compared to the BW30 membrane with 122.63 L m−2 h−1 at 6.24 MPa and 30 Hz, under these conditions, and the concentration polarization increased.

The global shortage of clean water is a major problem, even in water-rich regions. To solve this problem, low-cost and energy-efficient water treatment methods are needed. Membrane separation technology (MST), as a separation method with low energy consumption, low cost, and good separation effect, has been widely used to deal with seawater desalination, resource recovery, industrial wastewater treatment, and other fields. With the continuous progress of scientific and technological innovation and the increasing demand for use, NF/RO membranes based on the TFC structure are constantly being upgraded. This paper presents the recent research progress of NF and RO membranes based on TFC structures and their applications in different fields, especially the formation mechanism and regulation of selective layer structures and the modification methods of selective layers. Our summary provides fundamental insights into the understanding of NF and RO membrane processes and hopefully triggers further thinking on the development of membrane filtration process optimization.