Synchronous Engineering for Biomimetic Murray Porous Membranes Using Isocyanate
Xueyuan Liu, Huiqing Wu, Peiyi Wu
Abstract
Highly permselective and durable membranes are desirable for massive separation applications. However, currently most membranes prepared using nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) suffer from low permeability and a high fouling tendency due to the great challenges in a rational design and also practical approach for membrane optimization. Inspired by the natural Murray network from vascular plants, we developed a hierarchical membrane via a straightforward yet robust strategy, using isocyanate as a multifunctional additive. Thanks to the integrated functions of a phase separation regulator, blowing agent, cross-linker, and functionalization anchor of isocyanate, our strategy is featured as a perfect combination of a phase separation and chemical reaction, and it enables synchronous engineering of the membrane hierarchy on porosity and components. The representative membrane exhibits superior water permeance (334 L/m2·h·bar), protein retention (>98%), and antifouling ability (flux recover ratio ∼ 98%). This work highlights a versatile path for pursuing a highly enhanced performance of NIPS-made membranes, from the fancy perspective of Murray bionics.