
Nanoscale control of internal inhomogeneity enhances water transport in desalination membranes
Biological membranes can achieve remarkably high permeabilities, while maintaining ideal selectivities, by relying on well-defined internal nanoscale structures in the form of membrane proteins. Here, we apply such design strategies to desalination membranes. A series of polyamide desalination membranes - which were synthesized in an industrial-scale manufacturing line and varied in processing conditions but retained similar chemical compositions - show increasing water permeability and active layer thickness with constant sodium chloride selectivity. Transmission electron microscopy measurements enabled us to determine nanoscale three-dimensional polyamide density maps and predict water permeability with zero adjustable parameters. Density fluctuations are detrimental to water transport, which makes systematic control over nanoscale polyamide inhomogeneity a key route to maximizing water permeability without sacrificing salt selectivity in desalination membranes.
Files
Metadata
Work Title | Nanoscale control of internal inhomogeneity enhances water transport in desalination membranes |
---|---|
Access | |
Creators |
|
License | In Copyright (Rights Reserved) |
Work Type | Article |
Publisher |
|
Publication Date | January 1, 2021 |
Publisher Identifier (DOI) |
|
Deposited | November 23, 2021 |
Versions
Analytics
Collections
This resource is currently not in any collection.