Breakthrough Concepts on Nanofibrous Membranes with Directed Water Channels for Energy-Saving Water Purification

技术概述：该EAGER提案旨在研究一种新型薄膜纳米纤维复合材料（TFNC）聚合物膜的突破性概念，该膜含有用于高通量水净化（例如纳滤（NF）和反渗透（RO））的定向水通道。这种纳米纤维膜与传统的聚合物膜截然不同，尚未经过测试，但它代表了一种潜在的革命性技术，可用于重大的节能和成本效益的水净化应用。这两个截然不同的膜设计新概念包括：(1)用高通量功能纳米纤维支架取代传统的限制通量的多孔基板层，该支架包含具有相互连接的空隙形态的不对称结构；(2)创建更薄、更强、功能更强的纳米复合屏障层，嵌入相互连接和定向的水通道。虽然新的膜形式适用于所有液体过滤，但拟议的研究将集中在涉及NF和RO的水净化。这种独特的纳米纤维膜用于超滤（UF）应用的分层设计和组装的初步实验已经显示出非常有前途的潜力。例如，通过使用亲水性纳米复合屏障层、不对称电纺纳米纤维中间层支架和无纺布微纤维支架，这种尚未优化的膜系统的通量率已经比所有已知的传统超滤介质中最好的通量率高3-10倍，同时又不失高截留率和低污染标准。非技术概述：该EAGER提案旨在研究一种新型聚合物膜的突破性概念，该膜包含纳米纤维支架和纳米复合涂层，用于非常高通量的水净化（例如纳滤（NF）和反渗透（RO））。这项研究将使我们能够验证这一革命性的、“高风险-高回报”的概念，并对受限通道中动态分子水团的运输获得新的见解。该研究的成功将为高通量液体过滤在化学、材料、能源和生物医学等行业的应用提供切实可行的手段，为社会带来重大效益。拟议的高通量水净化技术可以立即在生活质量和健康问题以及能源节约方面获益。例如，人们越来越关注世界各地饮用水源中出现的新污染物。这些挑战为我们提供了开发新型节能膜产品和改进水处理技术的新机遇。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:This EAGER proposal aims to investigate breakthrough concepts on a new format of thin-film nanofibrous composite (TFNC) polymeric membranes containing directed water channels for high-flux water purification (e.g. nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO)). Such nanofibrous membranes, radically different from conventional polymer membranes, are untested but represent a potentially transformative technology for significant energy-saving and cost-effective water purification applications. The two new concepts for the radically different membrane design involve (1) the replacement of the conventional flux-limited porous substrate layer with a high-flux functional nanofibrous scaffold containing an asymmetric structure with inter-connected void morphology, and (2) the creation of a thinner, stronger and functional nanocomposite barrier layer, imbedded with interconnected and directed water channels. Although the new membrane format is applicable to all liquid filtration, the proposed research will focus on water purification involving NF and RO. Preliminary experiments on the hierarchical design and assembly of this unique nanofibrous membrane for ultrafiltration (UF) application have already revealed very promising potentials. For example, by using a hydrophilic nanocomposite barrier layer, an asymmetric electrospun nanofibrous mid-layer scaffold and a non-woven microfibrous support, the flux rate of this not yet optimized membrane system is already 3-10 times better than that of the best among all known conventional UF media without losing the high rejection and low fouling criteria. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:This EAGER proposal aims to investigate breakthrough concepts on a new format of polymeric membranes, containing nanofibrous scaffolds and nanocomposite coatings, for very high-flux water purification (e.g. nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO)). The research shall allow us to verify this revolutionary and "high risk-high payoff" concept, as well as to gain new insights into the transportation of dynamic molecular water clusters in confined channels. The success of the proposed research can bring significant benefits to society by providing practical means for high-flux liquid filtration applications in the chemical, materials, energy and biomedical industries. The proposed high-flux technology on water purification can immediately reap benefits on the quality-of-life and health concerns as well as energy savings. For example, there are increasing concerns on the presence of emerging contaminants in drinking water sources all over the world. These challenges offer us new opportunities to develop novel and innovative energy saving membrane products as well as improved water processing technologies.