Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125214
Tao Xu , Lei Zou , Zeheng Yang , Weixin Zhang
Composite current collector (CCC) with a “metal-polymer-metal” sandwich-like structure is considered a promising material to replace the traditional metal foil as the current collector material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), due to its demonstrated capabilities in enhancing both safety and power density. In this study, cathode CCCs with single-layer and multi-layer conductive Al layers were prepared on the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using industrial roll-to-roll vacuum evaporation. The phase composition, microstructure, conductivity, and mechanical properties of the CCCs were investigated. Their application performances were further evaluated in LIBs with Si/C-based anodes. The results show that the conductivity, tensile strength, and elongation of the CCC decreased with increasing interfaces within the Al layer. The CCC with a single-layer Al exhibited better structural stability under strain. The CCCs can improve the power density and safety performance of the battery regardless of the conductive layer structure, while the cell using the CCC with a single-layer Al had a superior capacity retention rate of higher than 93 % after 600 cycles compared to that of the cells using CCCs with multi-layer Al layers. The findings provide theoretical guidance for CCC material applications in high power density LIBs with expanding electrodes.
{"title":"A comparative study on polymer-based cathode composite current collector with single-layer and multi-layer conductive Al layers","authors":"Tao Xu , Lei Zou , Zeheng Yang , Weixin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125214","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Composite current collector (CCC) with a “metal-polymer-metal” sandwich-like structure is considered a promising material to replace the traditional metal foil as the current collector material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), due to its demonstrated capabilities in enhancing both safety and power density. In this study, cathode CCCs with single-layer and multi-layer conductive Al layers were prepared on the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using industrial roll-to-roll vacuum evaporation. The phase composition, microstructure, conductivity, and mechanical properties of the CCCs were investigated. Their application performances were further evaluated in LIBs with Si/C-based anodes. The results show that the conductivity, tensile strength, and elongation of the CCC decreased with increasing interfaces within the Al layer. The CCC with a single-layer Al exhibited better structural stability under strain. The CCCs can improve the power density and safety performance of the battery regardless of the conductive layer structure, while the cell using the CCC with a single-layer Al had a superior capacity retention rate of higher than 93 % after 600 cycles compared to that of the cells using CCCs with multi-layer Al layers. The findings provide theoretical guidance for CCC material applications in high power density LIBs with expanding electrodes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Membrane Science","volume":"744 ","pages":"Article 125214"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125224
Yuyang Yao , Hongyu Liu , Yitao Chen , Shuang Chai , Yueyue Lu , Jiabo Wang , Ruifen Tian , Yuanhui Tang , Jiangnan Shen , Xiaolin Wang , Yakai Lin
Anionic organic fouling of rigid anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) limits electrodialysis (ED) for treating high-salinity organic wastewater, particularly in streams containing aromatic surfactants. Here, a poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) interlayer is constructed on a BPPO-based AEM via a homogeneous spray-coating strategy, where PSS is blended into the casting solution and co-deposited onto the same substrate membrane. The sprayed layer forms a continuous, defect-free coating without observable delamination, while the ion-exchange capacity, water uptake, swelling ratio, surface resistance, and limiting current density remain essentially unchanged. Fouling tests using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) (50–150 mg·L−1, 10–30 mA·cm−2) show that, although the transmembrane voltages of pristine and PSS-modified membranes are broadly comparable, the PSS-modified membranes exhibit substantially lower post-fouling area resistance; in SDBS solutions, the resistance increase is attenuated by up to two orders of magnitude. Scanning electron microscopy, optical observation, and molecular dynamics simulations consistently indicate that the PSS-enriched interlayer suppresses compact deposit build-up and limits foulant penetration into the membrane phase. This work provides a simple and scalable approach to mitigate anionic organic fouling on rigid AEMs.
{"title":"Negatively charged poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) interlayer deposited by spray coating on rigid anion exchange membranes for organic fouling mitigation","authors":"Yuyang Yao , Hongyu Liu , Yitao Chen , Shuang Chai , Yueyue Lu , Jiabo Wang , Ruifen Tian , Yuanhui Tang , Jiangnan Shen , Xiaolin Wang , Yakai Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anionic organic fouling of rigid anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) limits electrodialysis (ED) for treating high-salinity organic wastewater, particularly in streams containing aromatic surfactants. Here, a poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) interlayer is constructed on a BPPO-based AEM via a homogeneous spray-coating strategy, where PSS is blended into the casting solution and co-deposited onto the same substrate membrane. The sprayed layer forms a continuous, defect-free coating without observable delamination, while the ion-exchange capacity, water uptake, swelling ratio, surface resistance, and limiting current density remain essentially unchanged. Fouling tests using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) (50–150 mg·L<sup>−1</sup>, 10–30 mA·cm<sup>−2</sup>) show that, although the transmembrane voltages of pristine and PSS-modified membranes are broadly comparable, the PSS-modified membranes exhibit substantially lower post-fouling area resistance; in SDBS solutions, the resistance increase is attenuated by up to two orders of magnitude. Scanning electron microscopy, optical observation, and molecular dynamics simulations consistently indicate that the PSS-enriched interlayer suppresses compact deposit build-up and limits foulant penetration into the membrane phase. This work provides a simple and scalable approach to mitigate anionic organic fouling on rigid AEMs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Membrane Science","volume":"744 ","pages":"Article 125224"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125215
Di Wang , Qingbai Chen , Bingbing He , Huiqin Fan , Haoran Zhang , Ping Li , Jianyou Wang
The discharge of acidic wastewater containing high concentrations of heavy metal ions and inorganic acids poses severe environmental risks. Selectrodialysis (SED) based on monovalent-selective cation exchange membranes (MSCEMs) offers a promising approach to recovery acid from such streams. However, the performance of MSCEMs is limited by the fundamental selectivity-permeability trade-off. This report develops a novel composite MSCEM prepared by blending hydrogen manganese oxide (HMO) with proton transport channels with sulfonated poly (dimethyl phenylene oxide), followed by in situ self-polymerization to generate a positively charged surface layer. This enables a dual mechanism of size sieving and electrostatic repulsion that ensures high proton/divalent cation selectivity. The MSCEM developed in this work exhibits a high proton selectivity of 112.5 ± 3.0 in HCl/FeCl2 mixture, which is approximately 19 times higher than that of the commercial MSCEM. Additionally, the HMO on the membrane surface guides the formation of a V-shaped polyaniline transport channels layer, enabling reduced proton transport resistance and contributing to a proton flux of 4.25 ± 0.2 mol m−2 h−1. The prepared MSCEM also demonstrates universal H-permselectivity across various coexisting cation systems (Fe2+/Cu2+/Ni2+) and anion systems (SO42−/Cl−). The novel MSCEM with composite structure exhibited superior proton conductivity and permselectivity, thus paving the way for efficient utilization of waste acid resources via SED.
{"title":"Hydrogen manganese oxide-induced construction of polyaniline nano-cone array composite membrane for highly efficient acid recovery via selective electrodialysis","authors":"Di Wang , Qingbai Chen , Bingbing He , Huiqin Fan , Haoran Zhang , Ping Li , Jianyou Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125215","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125215","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The discharge of acidic wastewater containing high concentrations of heavy metal ions and inorganic acids poses severe environmental risks. Selectrodialysis (SED) based on monovalent-selective cation exchange membranes (MSCEMs) offers a promising approach to recovery acid from such streams. However, the performance of MSCEMs is limited by the fundamental selectivity-permeability trade-off. This report develops a novel composite MSCEM prepared by blending hydrogen manganese oxide (HMO) with proton transport channels with sulfonated poly (dimethyl phenylene oxide), followed by in situ self-polymerization to generate a positively charged surface layer. This enables a dual mechanism of size sieving and electrostatic repulsion that ensures high proton/divalent cation selectivity. The MSCEM developed in this work exhibits a high proton selectivity of 112.5 ± 3.0 in HCl/FeCl<sub>2</sub> mixture, which is approximately 19 times higher than that of the commercial MSCEM. Additionally, the HMO on the membrane surface guides the formation of a V-shaped polyaniline transport channels layer, enabling reduced proton transport resistance and contributing to a proton flux of 4.25 ± 0.2 mol m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>. The prepared MSCEM also demonstrates universal H-permselectivity across various coexisting cation systems (Fe<sup>2+</sup>/Cu<sup>2+</sup>/Ni<sup>2+</sup>) and anion systems (SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup>/Cl<sup>−</sup>). The novel MSCEM with composite structure exhibited superior proton conductivity and permselectivity, thus paving the way for efficient utilization of waste acid resources via SED.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Membrane Science","volume":"744 ","pages":"Article 125215"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125242
Ning Zhang , Chuanlong Jin , Shangping Wang , Junjiang Bao , Xiaopeng Zhang , Gaohong He
A polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM) membrane that commonly remains both highly permeable and mechanically robust under aggressive CO2 feeds is still an unmet challenge. Here this work proposes a novel crosslinking strategy with dual-function compensation that simultaneously preserves free volume and enhances CO2 dissolution for microporous membrane preparation. Amino-functionalized ZIF-8 (ZIF-8-NH2) nanoparticles are dispersed in bromomethylated PIM (PIM-BM) and subsequently thermally crosslinked via Hofmann alkylation. The incorporated ZIF-8-NH2 therefore acts simultaneously as covalent crosslinking nodes that restrict chain mobility and suppress physical aging/plasticization, and permanent CO2-philic pores (0.34 nm) that compensate the free volume loss upon crosslinking network formation. The optimal c-PIM/ZIF-9 wt% membrane exhibits an exceptional CO2 permeability 6803.53 Barrer as well as CO2/N2 selectivity of 29 with equimolar mixed gas. Meanwhile, the membrane also demonstrates remarkable resistance to both physical aging and plasticization. This work presents a novel strategy that offers a promising avenue for developing high-performance microporous membranes for particle carbon capture.
{"title":"Crosslinked microporous membrane with dual-function compensation for long-term and efficient CO2 separation","authors":"Ning Zhang , Chuanlong Jin , Shangping Wang , Junjiang Bao , Xiaopeng Zhang , Gaohong He","doi":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125242","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125242","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM) membrane that commonly remains both highly permeable and mechanically robust under aggressive CO<sub>2</sub> feeds is still an unmet challenge. Here this work proposes a novel crosslinking strategy with dual-function compensation that simultaneously preserves free volume and enhances CO<sub>2</sub> dissolution for microporous membrane preparation. Amino-functionalized ZIF-8 (ZIF-8-NH<sub>2</sub>) nanoparticles are dispersed in bromomethylated PIM (PIM-BM) and subsequently thermally crosslinked via Hofmann alkylation. The incorporated ZIF-8-NH<sub>2</sub> therefore acts simultaneously as covalent crosslinking nodes that restrict chain mobility and suppress physical aging/plasticization, and permanent CO<sub>2</sub>-philic pores (0.34 nm) that compensate the free volume loss upon crosslinking network formation. The optimal c-PIM/ZIF-9 wt% membrane exhibits an exceptional CO<sub>2</sub> permeability 6803.53 Barrer as well as CO<sub>2</sub>/N<sub>2</sub> selectivity of 29 with equimolar mixed gas. Meanwhile, the membrane also demonstrates remarkable resistance to both physical aging and plasticization. This work presents a novel strategy that offers a promising avenue for developing high-performance microporous membranes for particle carbon capture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Membrane Science","volume":"745 ","pages":"Article 125242"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-08DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125230
Yafei Cheng , Lei Yuan , Xiang'an Yue , Zhijin Su , Jiajie Zheng , Jing Chen , Bin Wu , Xiaocheng Lin
The alkaline electrocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is a promising route for biomass valorization, yet the coexistence of FDCK (the potassium salt of FDCA) with excess alkali remains a key challenge, making efficient alkali recovery essential. To address this issue, an asymmetric porous cross-linked cation exchange membrane (CEM), featuring a dense ultrathin selective layer supported on a highly porous substrate, was fabricated via a two-step approach: first, preparing a porous base membrane from a chloromethylated/sulfonated polyethersulfone (CMPES/SPES) blend by non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS); second, functionalizing it through crosslinking with tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) to form a sub-3 μm selective layer and then post-sulfonation with propane sultone (PS) for charge regulation. The optimal membrane exhibits remarkable diffusion dialysis (DD) alkali recovery performance, achieving a KOH permeability () of 23.8 × 10−3 m/h and a KOH/FDCK separation factor () of 55.6. These values represent enhancements by factors of 40–119 and 4–9, respectively, relative to the typical ranges of commercial dense CEMs. Moreover, it maintains stable performance over eight consecutive cycles. This work provides a novel membrane strategy for HMF electrocatalytic oxidation, enabling efficient alkali recovery while preventing valuable FDCA loss, thereby promoting resource efficiency in biomass refining.
{"title":"Porous cross-linked cation exchange membranes for efficient alkali recovery in biomass-based 5-hydroxymethylfurfural alkaline electrocatalytic systems","authors":"Yafei Cheng , Lei Yuan , Xiang'an Yue , Zhijin Su , Jiajie Zheng , Jing Chen , Bin Wu , Xiaocheng Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125230","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125230","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The alkaline electrocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is a promising route for biomass valorization, yet the coexistence of FDCK (the potassium salt of FDCA) with excess alkali remains a key challenge, making efficient alkali recovery essential. To address this issue, an asymmetric porous cross-linked cation exchange membrane (CEM), featuring a dense ultrathin selective layer supported on a highly porous substrate, was fabricated via a two-step approach: first, preparing a porous base membrane from a chloromethylated/sulfonated polyethersulfone (CMPES/SPES) blend by non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS); second, functionalizing it through crosslinking with tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) to form a sub-3 μm selective layer and then post-sulfonation with propane sultone (PS) for charge regulation. The optimal membrane exhibits remarkable diffusion dialysis (DD) alkali recovery performance, achieving a KOH permeability (<span><math><mrow><msub><mi>U</mi><msup><mrow><mi>O</mi><mi>H</mi></mrow><mo>−</mo></msup></msub></mrow></math></span>) of 23.8 × 10<sup>−3</sup> m/h and a KOH/FDCK separation factor (<span><math><mrow><msub><mi>S</mi><mrow><msup><mrow><mi>O</mi><mi>H</mi></mrow><mo>−</mo></msup><mo>/</mo><msup><mrow><mi>F</mi><mi>D</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn><mo>−</mo></mrow></msup></mrow></msub></mrow></math></span>) of 55.6. These values represent enhancements by factors of 40–119 and 4–9, respectively, relative to the typical ranges of commercial dense CEMs. Moreover, it maintains stable performance over eight consecutive cycles. This work provides a novel membrane strategy for HMF electrocatalytic oxidation, enabling efficient alkali recovery while preventing valuable FDCA loss, thereby promoting resource efficiency in biomass refining.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Membrane Science","volume":"745 ","pages":"Article 125230"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125231
Zhenshu Si , Ming Liu , Zhe Zhang , Tong Ju , Qinghua Liu , Wei Luo , Congcong Yin , Mingjie Wei , Jun Huang , Yong Wang
Turing-structured covalent organic framework (COF) membranes featuring ordered nanopores and internal cavities are appealing for high-efficient ionic nanofiltration, while the efficient and controllable preparation remains challenging. Herein, we report Turing-structured COF membranes with amplified inner cavities for fast and selective ion sieving. A modulation layer is constructed that allows catalyst and water to transport from the inner pores to the reaction zone, triggering local activation via rapid COF formation. The as-formed COF sheets further obstruct the diffusion of reactants, enabling long-range inhibition to meet the essential for Turing structures. An unexplored Turing structure with seamlessly bridged nanobowls and amplified inner cavities are created, delivering exceptional separation performances that can be operated under extremely low pressures. The resulting membrane exhibits 6-fold enhancement on methanol permeation compared to the non-Turing membrane, and high selectivity for rare metal ions of up to 75.5 (Cs+/La3+). This work provides a pathway to unlock the potential of Turing-structured COF membranes for various task-specific separations.
{"title":"Amplified Turing structures of covalent organic frameworks for ionic nanofiltration under extremely low pressures","authors":"Zhenshu Si , Ming Liu , Zhe Zhang , Tong Ju , Qinghua Liu , Wei Luo , Congcong Yin , Mingjie Wei , Jun Huang , Yong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125231","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125231","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Turing-structured covalent organic framework (COF) membranes featuring ordered nanopores and internal cavities are appealing for high-efficient ionic nanofiltration, while the efficient and controllable preparation remains challenging. Herein, we report Turing-structured COF membranes with amplified inner cavities for fast and selective ion sieving. A modulation layer is constructed that allows catalyst and water to transport from the inner pores to the reaction zone, triggering local activation via rapid COF formation. The as-formed COF sheets further obstruct the diffusion of reactants, enabling long-range inhibition to meet the essential for Turing structures. An unexplored Turing structure with seamlessly bridged nanobowls and amplified inner cavities are created, delivering exceptional separation performances that can be operated under extremely low pressures. The resulting membrane exhibits 6-fold enhancement on methanol permeation compared to the non-Turing membrane, and high selectivity for rare metal ions of up to 75.5 (Cs<sup>+</sup>/La<sup>3+</sup>). This work provides a pathway to unlock the potential of Turing-structured COF membranes for various task-specific separations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Membrane Science","volume":"745 ","pages":"Article 125231"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146116634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ultrafiltration membrane fouling remains a critical constraint on the long-term operation of suspended photocatalytic-membrane reactor (SPMR). Herein, an integrated SPMR comprising a photocatalytic zone, a catalyst separation/reflux zone, and an ultrafiltration zone was developed. During 32 days of cumulative effective operation (catalyst dosage of 1 g/L, membrane flux of 20 LMH, light power density of 4.58 mW/cm2), the membrane fouling mitigation efficacy and underlying mechanisms of SPMR during the treatment of effluent organic matter (EfOM) were investigated, with particular focus on the influence of EfOM transformation properties, catalyst deposition on the membrane, and microbial proliferation. Results indicated that SPMRs achieved average removal efficiencies exceeding 57% for UV254 and 21% for DOC, with photocatalytic process primarily responsible for degrading protein-like and humic-like fluorescent substances, and organic fractions with molecular weights <1000 Da. Photocatalysis disrupted the aromatic structure of EfOM, reduced ultrafiltration fouling load, and simultaneously suppressed cake layer microbial activity, leading to decreased microbial community richness and diversity, and weakened interspecific cooperation. The synergistic action of these mechanisms reduced EPS content in the cake layer while increasing the protein-to-polysaccharide ratio, resulting in a thinner and more porous cake layer configuration. These transformations were accompanied by a reduction in polar functional groups such as –CO and amide groups, which collectively diminished foulant adhesion propensity and self-aggregation tendency. Consequently, the reversible fouling resistance in the SPMRs were reduced by exceeding 65.0% compared to direct ultrafiltration. Meanwhile, BTP particles (d50 = 45.7 μm), with sizes substantially larger than ultrafiltration membrane pores, formed a high-porosity deposition layer without exacerbating membrane fouling. These findings elucidate the fouling mitigation mechanisms in continuously operated SPMRs and underscore their potential significance for advanced treatment of secondary effluent.
{"title":"Unveiling mitigation mechanism of multi-dimension fouling of suspended photocatalytic-membrane reactor for advanced treatment of secondary effluent","authors":"Tianyang Wang, Zhiwei Zhou, Shenbin Cao, Xing Li, Yuantian Zhao, Nan Wang, Jiawei Ren","doi":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125221","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125221","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ultrafiltration membrane fouling remains a critical constraint on the long-term operation of suspended photocatalytic-membrane reactor (SPMR). Herein, an integrated SPMR comprising a photocatalytic zone, a catalyst separation/reflux zone, and an ultrafiltration zone was developed. During 32 days of cumulative effective operation (catalyst dosage of 1 g/L, membrane flux of 20 LMH, light power density of 4.58 mW/cm<sup>2</sup>), the membrane fouling mitigation efficacy and underlying mechanisms of SPMR during the treatment of effluent organic matter (EfOM) were investigated, with particular focus on the influence of EfOM transformation properties, catalyst deposition on the membrane, and microbial proliferation. Results indicated that SPMRs achieved average removal efficiencies exceeding 57% for UV<sub>254</sub> and 21% for DOC, with photocatalytic process primarily responsible for degrading protein-like and humic-like fluorescent substances, and organic fractions with molecular weights <1000 Da. Photocatalysis disrupted the aromatic structure of EfOM, reduced ultrafiltration fouling load, and simultaneously suppressed cake layer microbial activity, leading to decreased microbial community richness and diversity, and weakened interspecific cooperation. The synergistic action of these mechanisms reduced EPS content in the cake layer while increasing the protein-to-polysaccharide ratio, resulting in a thinner and more porous cake layer configuration. These transformations were accompanied by a reduction in polar functional groups such as –C<img>O and amide groups, which collectively diminished foulant adhesion propensity and self-aggregation tendency. Consequently, the reversible fouling resistance in the SPMRs were reduced by exceeding 65.0% compared to direct ultrafiltration. Meanwhile, BTP particles (d<sub>50</sub> = 45.7 μm), with sizes substantially larger than ultrafiltration membrane pores, formed a high-porosity deposition layer without exacerbating membrane fouling. These findings elucidate the fouling mitigation mechanisms in continuously operated SPMRs and underscore their potential significance for advanced treatment of secondary effluent.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Membrane Science","volume":"745 ","pages":"Article 125221"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146116635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-11DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125274
Junjiao Li , Yuzheng Lu , Qiyan Xu , Guomin Zhu , M.A.K. Yousaf Shah , Chunhua Lu
High entropy oxide materials are attractive due to disorder, and dislocation leads to synergistic effects that are beneficial for electrochemical energy devices. This study demonstrates the Pr0.1Fe0.1Co0.1Al0.1Gd0.1Ce0.5O2-δ (PFCAGC) high-entropy fluorite oxide (HEFO) as a high-performance proton-conducting electrolyte. Fabricated by sol-gel, it achieves a remarkable ionic conductivity of 0.18 S/cm at 520 °C. The nature of its protonic conduction is definitively proven via isotopic exchange and the deployment of a BCZYYb (BaCe0.7Zr0.1Y0.1Yb0.1O3) electronic filtering layer. The prepared HEFO electrolyte demonstrates a favorable power-output of 974 mW/cm2 and an 835 mW/cm2 protonic performance at 520 °C. EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) and XPS (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) show a higher number of oxygen vacancies. Density functional theory (DFT) results show lower oxygen formation energy and more states near to fermi level. Energy band alignment supports the charge transport in the HEFO lattice, and the conduction mechanism has been elaborated in detail. The mechanism of protonic conduction was elucidated through various experiments, including hydrogen concentration tests, current-time (I-t) curve, proton filtering layer approaches, analysis of the hydration-dependent conductivity via EIS and observation of a characteristic isotope effect upon replacing H2O with D2O. This HEFO electrolyte strategy provides a promising pathway for advanced LT-CFCs, enabling high ionic conductivity at low temperatures to boost efficiency and durability for viable renewable energy technology.
{"title":"High-entropy fluorite oxide membranes with exceptional proton conductivity for low-temperature SOFCs","authors":"Junjiao Li , Yuzheng Lu , Qiyan Xu , Guomin Zhu , M.A.K. Yousaf Shah , Chunhua Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125274","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125274","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High entropy oxide materials are attractive due to disorder, and dislocation leads to synergistic effects that are beneficial for electrochemical energy devices. This study demonstrates the Pr<sub>0.1</sub>Fe<sub>0.1</sub>Co<sub>0.1</sub>Al<sub>0.1</sub>Gd<sub>0.1</sub>Ce<sub>0.5</sub>O<sub>2-δ</sub> (PFCAGC) high-entropy fluorite oxide (HEFO) as a high-performance proton-conducting electrolyte. Fabricated by sol-gel, it achieves a remarkable ionic conductivity of 0.18 S/cm at 520 °C. The nature of its protonic conduction is definitively proven via isotopic exchange and the deployment of a BCZYYb (BaCe<sub>0.7</sub>Zr<sub>0.1</sub>Y<sub>0.1</sub>Yb<sub>0.1</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) electronic filtering layer. The prepared HEFO electrolyte demonstrates a favorable power-output of 974 mW/cm<sup>2</sup> and an 835 mW/cm<sup>2</sup> protonic performance at 520 °C. EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) and XPS (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) show a higher number of oxygen vacancies. Density functional theory (DFT) results show lower oxygen formation energy and more states near to fermi level. Energy band alignment supports the charge transport in the HEFO lattice, and the conduction mechanism has been elaborated in detail. The mechanism of protonic conduction was elucidated through various experiments, including hydrogen concentration tests, current-time (I-t) curve, proton filtering layer approaches, analysis of the hydration-dependent conductivity via EIS and observation of a characteristic isotope effect upon replacing H<sub>2</sub>O with D<sub>2</sub>O. This HEFO electrolyte strategy provides a promising pathway for advanced LT-CFCs, enabling high ionic conductivity at low temperatures to boost efficiency and durability for viable renewable energy technology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Membrane Science","volume":"746 ","pages":"Article 125274"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125147
Guijing Chen , Zhaoyang Song , Xiaoqi Wang , Shengchi Bai , Yi Deng , Quanxun Liang , Songmiao Liang , Alberto Tiraferri , Baicang Liu
New nanofiltration membrane with larger volume output is one of the key parameters for selection in drinking water treatment applications. Moreover, evaluating the separation performance of NF membranes is crucial for ensuring the continued safety of effluent water quality when responding to sudden changes in water quality. In this study, the melamine, a highly reactive monomer containing a triazine ring, participates in the interfacial polymerization reaction between the piperazine and 1,3,5-benzenetricarbonyl trichloride, thus providing an opportunity to tune the polyamide layer properties. The reaction with melamine changes the structural parameters and decrease the diffusion rate of piperazine, while introducing more intermolecular hydrogen bonds in new hybrid polyamide layer compared to the conventional polyamide layer. These strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds are crucial for enabling high Na2SO4 rejection in melamine-modified membranes. This strategy resulted in membrane permeance of 2.5 times that of commercial membranes (VNF1 and NF270) and unmodified membrane in a complex mixed salts solution, with Cl−/SO42‒ selectivity factor increasing form 7.5 to 44.6. Furthermore, the new membrane can remove most dissolved substances from ultrafiltration effluent in treating drinking water source (Hulukou Reservoir) impacted by sudden shale gas wastewater spill, ensuring the safety of the treated water. The purified water quality parameters are inferior to those of the VNF1 and NF270 membranes, but slightly superior to the unmodified membrane. However, water recovery experiments revealed that all membranes suffered from severe scaling issues. Overall, the results suggest that melamine may be utilized to tune the performance of nanofiltration membrane through the scalable one-step polymerization procedure, providing an effective strategy for preparing high-performance membranes.
{"title":"Enhancing nanofiltration membranes performance by melamine modification for emergency treating deteriorated water quality in drinking water source","authors":"Guijing Chen , Zhaoyang Song , Xiaoqi Wang , Shengchi Bai , Yi Deng , Quanxun Liang , Songmiao Liang , Alberto Tiraferri , Baicang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>New nanofiltration membrane with larger volume output is one of the key parameters for selection in drinking water treatment applications. Moreover, evaluating the separation performance of NF membranes is crucial for ensuring the continued safety of effluent water quality when responding to sudden changes in water quality. In this study, the melamine, a highly reactive monomer containing a triazine ring, participates in the interfacial polymerization reaction between the piperazine and 1,3,5-benzenetricarbonyl trichloride, thus providing an opportunity to tune the polyamide layer properties. The reaction with melamine changes the structural parameters and decrease the diffusion rate of piperazine, while introducing more intermolecular hydrogen bonds in new hybrid polyamide layer compared to the conventional polyamide layer. These strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds are crucial for enabling high Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> rejection in melamine-modified membranes. This strategy resulted in membrane permeance of 2.5 times that of commercial membranes (VNF1 and NF270) and unmodified membrane in a complex mixed salts solution, with Cl<sup>−</sup>/SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2‒</sup> selectivity factor increasing form 7.5 to 44.6. Furthermore, the new membrane can remove most dissolved substances from ultrafiltration effluent in treating drinking water source (Hulukou Reservoir) impacted by sudden shale gas wastewater spill, ensuring the safety of the treated water. The purified water quality parameters are inferior to those of the VNF1 and NF270 membranes, but slightly superior to the unmodified membrane. However, water recovery experiments revealed that all membranes suffered from severe scaling issues. Overall, the results suggest that melamine may be utilized to tune the performance of nanofiltration membrane through the scalable one-step polymerization procedure, providing an effective strategy for preparing high-performance membranes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Membrane Science","volume":"742 ","pages":"Article 125147"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have emerged as a critical platform for molecular separation, especially carbon capture from point-emission sources. In this study, a series of novel MMMs were fabricated by incorporating the bimetallic Ag/Zn-ZIF-8 nanoparticles into the poly (ether-block-amide) (Pebax) matrix for efficient CO2/N2 separation. The SEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, XPS, TGA, N2 adsorption-desorption measurements were employed to elucidate the microstructures and physicochemical properties of the resultant nanoparticles and membranes. The bimetallic coordination-induced optimization modulated the inherent structure of ZIF-8 framework and enhanced CO2 affinity, thereby forming the CO2-selective transport channels over N2. The incorporation of Ag + promoted the uniform dispersion of Ag/Zn-ZIF-8 nanoparticles in Pebax matrix, indicating the excellent polymer-filler interfacial compatibility. Impressively, the resulting membrane achieved the superior separation performance with a CO2 permeability of 359 Barrer and a CO2/N2 selectivity of 53, which were 2.5 and 1.4 times higher than that of the pristine Pebax membrane. Besides, the introduction of Ag/Zn-ZIF-8 nanoparticles enhanced the thermal and mechanical stability of the membrane, ensuring the potential for long-term operation. These findings herein advance the rational design and preparation of high-performance MMMs for sustainable carbon capture.
{"title":"Bimetallic engineering in Ag/Zn-ZIF-8/Pebax mixed matrix membranes for enhanced CO2 separation","authors":"Qian-Qian Li, Yang Li, Heng Mao, Yan-Mei Zhang, Qiu-Ying Zhang, Xin-Ru Chen, Zi-Cong Shan, Xian-Zhe Zhou, Li-Hao Xu, Zhi-Ping Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.memsci.2025.125046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.memsci.2025.125046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have emerged as a critical platform for molecular separation, especially carbon capture from point-emission sources. In this study, a series of novel MMMs were fabricated by incorporating the bimetallic Ag/Zn-ZIF-8 nanoparticles into the poly (ether-block-amide) (Pebax) matrix for efficient CO<sub>2</sub>/N<sub>2</sub> separation. The SEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, XPS, TGA, N<sub>2</sub> adsorption-desorption measurements were employed to elucidate the microstructures and physicochemical properties of the resultant nanoparticles and membranes. The bimetallic coordination-induced optimization modulated the inherent structure of ZIF-8 framework and enhanced CO<sub>2</sub> affinity, thereby forming the CO<sub>2</sub>-selective transport channels over N<sub>2</sub>. The incorporation of Ag <sup>+</sup> promoted the uniform dispersion of Ag/Zn-ZIF-8 nanoparticles in Pebax matrix, indicating the excellent polymer-filler interfacial compatibility. Impressively, the resulting membrane achieved the superior separation performance with a CO<sub>2</sub> permeability of 359 Barrer and a CO<sub>2</sub>/N<sub>2</sub> selectivity of 53, which were 2.5 and 1.4 times higher than that of the pristine Pebax membrane. Besides, the introduction of Ag/Zn-ZIF-8 nanoparticles enhanced the thermal and mechanical stability of the membrane, ensuring the potential for long-term operation. These findings herein advance the rational design and preparation of high-performance MMMs for sustainable carbon capture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Membrane Science","volume":"741 ","pages":"Article 125046"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145734324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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