Controlling Nanoscale Pore Size and Wall Composition in Polycarbonate Membranes via Atomic Layer Deposition and Sequential Infiltration Synthesis: Implications for High Water Permeance

Pathak, Rajesh; Rozyyev, Vepa; Shevate, Rahul; Mane, Anil U.; Elam, Jeffrey W.

doi:10.1021/acsanm.3c03161

Title: Controlling Nanoscale Pore Size and Wall Composition in Polycarbonate Membranes via Atomic Layer Deposition and Sequential Infiltration Synthesis: Implications for High Water Permeance

Journal Article · 19 September 2023 · ACS Applied Nano Materials

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.3c03161 · OSTI ID:2352214

Pathak, Rajesh ^[1]; Rozyyev, Vepa ^[2];

^[1]; Mane, Anil U. ^[1];

^[1]

Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Univ. of Chicago, IL (United States)

Polymer membranes have a wide variety of applications, ranging from water treatment to energy storage. Many of these applications require precise control over the membrane porosity and surface chemistry. In this study, we explore the modification of isoporous polycarbonate (PC) track-etched membranes (PCTEs) by atomic layer deposition (ALD) and sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) to tune the pore size and the pore wall surface chemistry. We first performed a detailed study of Al₂O₃ ALD and SIS in PCTE using a variety of in situ and ex situ measurements. We discovered that short precursor exposure times are critical to achieve conformal Al₂O₃ ALD in the PCTE nanopores, while longer precursor exposure times resulted in Al₂O₃ SIS within the bulk of the PC leaving the membranes brittle. Next, we tuned the PCTE pore size via Al₂O₃ ALD and studied its effect on the water contact angle and the water permeance. Here, we found that the membranes became more hydrophilic, and the permeance decreased with increasing ALD Al₂O₃ cycles. Finally, we studied the effect of hydrophilic (SnO₂)/hydrophobic (In₂O₃) ALD metal oxide coatings on membrane properties. We found that the most hydrophilic SnO₂ showed the highest water flux and the least hydrophilic In₂O₃ showed the lowest water flux through the PCTE membranes. Our results demonstrate that ALD is an effective method to tune the surface and transport properties of PCTE membranes, but care must be exercised to avoid SIS and bulk modification of the polymer.

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Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM); Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems (AMEWS)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-06CH11357

OSTI ID:: 2352214

Journal Information:: ACS Applied Nano Materials, Journal Name: ACS Applied Nano Materials Journal Issue: 19 Vol. 6; ISSN 2574-0970

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
atomic layer deposition
in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry
polycarbonate track-etched membrane
sequential infiltration synthesis
water contact angle measurement
water permeance

Title: Controlling Nanoscale Pore Size and Wall Composition in Polycarbonate Membranes via Atomic Layer Deposition and Sequential Infiltration Synthesis: Implications for High Water Permeance

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