Citation: Siyu Cao, Yufei Shu, Li Wang, Qi Han, Meng Zhang, Mengxia Wang, How Yong Ng, Zhongying Wang. Controlling nanomaterial distribution and aggregation in thin-film nanocomposite membranes: Role of substrate pore's relative size with nanomaterials[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2025, 36(10): 110793. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110793 shu

Controlling nanomaterial distribution and aggregation in thin-film nanocomposite membranes: Role of substrate pore's relative size with nanomaterials

Siyu Cao ^{a, b} ,
Yufei Shu ^a ,
Li Wang ^a ,
Qi Han ^a ,
Meng Zhang ^a ,
Mengxia Wang ^a ,
How Yong Ng ^{b, c, *,} ,
Zhongying Wang ^{a, *,}

a.
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
b.
Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
c.
Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China

huanghy@bnu.edu.cn

wangzy6@sustech.edu.cn

Received Date: 26 August 2024
Revised Date: 30 October 2024
Accepted Date: 20 December 2024
Available Online: 20 December 2024

Figures(7)

Thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes have garnered considerable attention for their potential to improve separation performance by incorporating nanomaterials. However, challenges such as these materials' uneven distribution and aggregation have hindered practical applications. While prior studies have largely concentrated on modifying nanosheets for compatibility with polymer matrices, the role of substrate pore size in influencing nanosheet distribution has been overlooked. In this work, MoS₂ nanosheets were dispersed in an aqueous phase to fabricate TFN membranes, investigating the effect of substrate pore size relative to the nanosheets. By systematically varying the particle size of MoS₂ and the pore size of the substrate, we reveal how these factors impact material distribution and structural uniformity within the membranes. Our findings reveal that larger substrate pores allow the MoS₂-containing monomer solution to infiltrate more effectively, minimizing nanosheet aggregation. This enhances membrane performance by promoting better dispersion. Our results underscore the importance of considering the relative size of substrate pores and nanosheets in TFN membrane design, providing a pathway to improved material integration and higher membrane efficiency.
- Nanofiltration,
- Thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes substrate,
- Pore size,
- Aggregation,
- MoS₂ nanosheet
1. [1]
  D.M. Warsinger, S. Chakraborty, E.W. Tow, et al., Prog. Polym. Sci. 81 (2018) 209–237.
2. [2]
  Y.K. Ong, T.S. Chung, Environ. Sci. Technol. 48 (2014) 13933–13940. doi: 10.1021/es503258s
3. [3]
  Y. Du, Y. Lv, W.Z. Qiu, et al., Chem. Commun. 52 (2016) 8589–8592.
4. [4]
  H.B. Park, J. Kamcev, L.M. Robeson, et al., Science 356 (2017) eaab0530.
5. [5]
  B.E. Logan, M. Elimelech, Nature 488 (2012) 313–319. doi: 10.1038/nature11477
6. [6]
  R. Zhang, J. Tian, S. Gao, et al., J. Mater. Chem. A 8 (2020) 8831–8847. doi: 10.1039/d0ta02510k
7. [7]
  H. Wu, B. Tang, P. Wu, J. Phys. Chem. C 114 (2010) 16395–16400. doi: 10.1021/jp107280m
8. [8]
  Z. Yang, H. Guo, C.Y. Tang, J. Membr. Sci. 590 (2019) 117297.
9. [9]
  Y. Liu, Y. Zhao, X. Wang, et al., J. Membr. Sci. 582 (2019) 274–283.
10. [10]
  H. Abadikhah, E.N. Kalali, S. Behzadi, et al., Polymer 154 (2018) 200–209.
11. [11]
  S. Islam, K. Touati, S. Rahaman, ACS EST Engin. 1 (2021) 467–477.
12. [12]
  M. Ghanbari, D. Emadzadeh, W.J. Lau, et al., Desalination 371 (2015) 104–114.
13. [13]
  T. Li, Y. Xiao, D. Guo, et al., J. Colloid Interface Sci. 572 (2020) 114–121. doi: 10.3390/pr8010114
14. [14]
  S.M. Xue, Z.L. Xu, Y.J. Tang, et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 8 (2016) 19135–19144. doi: 10.1021/acsami.6b05545
15. [15]
  H. Wu, H. Sun, W. Hong, et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 9 (2017) 32255–32263. doi: 10.1021/acsami.7b09680
16. [16]
  S. Bano, A. Mahmood, S.-J. Kim, et al., J. Mater. Chem. A 3 (2015) 2065–2071.
17. [17]
  W. Zhao, H. Liu, N. Meng, et al., J. Membr. Sci. 565 (2018) 380–389.
18. [18]
  Y. Li, J. Jiao, Q. Wu, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 33 (2022) 5001–5012.
19. [19]
  H. Liu, M. Zhang, H. Zhao, et al., RSC Adv. 10 (2020) 4045–4057. doi: 10.1039/c9ra09672h
20. [20]
  H. Liu, B. Li, P. Zhao, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 34 (2023) 108369.
21. [21]
  S.Y. Fang, P. Zhang, J.L. Gong, et al., Chem. Eng. J. 385 (2020) 123400.
22. [22]
  D. Emadzadeh, W.J. Lau, M. Rahbari-Sisakht, et al., Desalination 368 (2015) 106–113.
23. [23]
  Z. Zhang, J. Hu, S. Liu, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 32 (2021) 2882–2886.
24. [24]
  S. Abdikheibari, W. Lei, L.F. Dumée, et al., J. Mater. Chem. A 6 (2018) 12066–12081. doi: 10.1039/c8ta03446j
25. [25]
  S. Yang, Q. Jiang, K. Zhang, J. Membr. Sci. 604 (2020) 118052.
26. [26]
  M.Q. Ma, C. Zhang, C.Y. Zhu, et al., J. Membr. Sci. 591 (2019) 117316.
27. [27]
  X. Wu, R.W. Field, J.J. Wu, et al., J. Membr. Sci. 540 (2017) 251–260.
28. [28]
  Q. Xie, W. Shao, S. Zhang, et al., RSC Adv. 7 (2017) 54898–54910.
29. [29]
  Z. Yang, H. Guo, Z. Yao, et al., Environ. Sci. Technol. 53 (2019) 5301–5308. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b00473
30. [30]
  B. Rajaeian, A. Rahimpour, M.O. Tade, et al., Desalination 313 (2013) 176–188.
31. [31]
  S. Yang, K. Zhang, J. Membr. Sci. 595 (2020) 117526.
32. [32]
  Y. Qin, H. Liu, Y. Liu, et al., J. Membr. Sci. 604 (2020) 118064.
33. [33]
  M.E.A. Ali, L. Wang, X. Wang, et al., Desalination 386 (2016) 67–76.
34. [34]
  H.R. Chae, C.H. Lee, P.K. Park, et al., J. Membr. Sci. 525 (2017) 99–106.
35. [35]
  K. Zarshenas, H. Dou, S. Habibpour, et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interface 14 (2022) 1838–1849. doi: 10.1021/acsami.1c16229
36. [36]
  R. Xu, F. Gao, Y. Wu, et al., Sep. Purif. Technol. 281 (2022) 119884.
37. [37]
  A.K. Ghosh, E.M.V. Hoek, J. Membr. Sci. 336 (2009) 140148.
38. [38]
  L.E. Peng, Z. Yao, Z. Yang, et al., Environ. Sci. Technol. 54 (2020) 6978–6986. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c01427
39. [39]
  S. Cao, A. Deshmukh, L. Wang, et al., Environ. Sci. Technol. 56 (2022) 8807–8818. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00551
40. [40]
  R. Dai, Z. Yang, Z. Qiu, et al., J. Membr. Sci. 662 (2022) 120966.
41. [41]
  C. Jiang, X. Ma, L. Zhang, et al., J. Membr. Sci. 653 (2022) 120522.
42. [42]
  S. Zhao, L. Li, M. Wang, et al., Sep. Purif. Technol. 258 (2021) 118029.
43. [43]
  K. Chen, F. Li, T. Wei, et al., J. Membr. Sci. 684 (2023) 121882.
44. [44]
  S. Karan, Z. Jiang, A.G. Livingston, Science 348 (2015) 1357–1351.
45. [45]
  X. Song, B. Gan, S. Qi, et al., Env. Sci. Technol. 54 (2020) 3559–3569. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b05892
46. [46]
  J. Wang, R. Xu, F. Yang, et al., J. Membr. Sci. 556 (2018) 374–383.
47. [47]
  H.J. Kim, M.Y. Lim, K.H. Jung, et al., J. Mater. Chem. A 3 (2015) 6798–6809.
48. [48]
  J. Schaep, B. Van der Bruggen, C. Vandecasteele, et al., Sep. Purif. Technol. 14 (1998) 155–162.
49. [49]
  B. Mi, Science 343 (2014) 740–742. doi: 10.1126/science.1250247
50. [50]
  G.S. Lai, W.J. Lau, S.R. Gray, et al., J. Mater. Chem. A 4 (2016) 4134–4144.
51. [51]
  Z. Wang, Q. Tu, S. Zheng, et al., Nano Lett. 17 (2017) 7289–7298. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b02804
52. [52]
  K. Yuan, Y. Liu, H. Feng, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 35 (2024) 109022.
53. [53]
  Z. Yang, X. Huang, X. Ma, et al., J. Membr. Sci. 570–571 (2019) 314–321.
54. [54]
  K.P. Schlichting, D. Poulikakos, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 12 (2020) 36468–36477. doi: 10.1021/acsami.0c07277
55. [55]
  B. Liu, Q. Han, L. Li, et al., Environ. Sci. Technol. 55 (2021) 16379–16389. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03576
56. [56]
  H. Wu, B. Tang, P. Wu, J. Membr. Sci. 428 (2013) 341–348.
57. [57]
  S. Sorribas, P. Gorgojo, C. Téllez, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 135 (2013) 15201–15208. doi: 10.1021/ja407665w
58. [58]
  G.N.B. Baroña, J. Lim, M. Choi, et al., Desalination 325 (2013) 138–147.
59. [59]
  M. Amini, J. Membr. Sci. 435 (2013) 233–241.
60. [60]
  J. Yin, G. Zhu, B. Deng, Desalination 379 (2016) 93–101.
1. [1]
  Xin Lu , Haoran Sun , Xiaomeng Li , Chunrui Li , Jinfeng Wang , Dandan Zhou . C14-HSL limits the mycelial morphology of pathogen Trichosporon cells but enhances their aggregation: Mechanisms and implications. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(6): 108936-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108936
2. [2]
  Xuejian Xing , Pan Zhu , E Pang , Shaojing Zhao , Yu Tang , Zheyu Hu , Quchang Ouyang , Minhuan Lan . D-A-D-structured boron-dipyrromethene with aggregation-induced enhanced phototherapeutic efficiency for near-infrared fluorescent and photoacoustic imaging-guided synergistic photodynamic and photothermal cancer therapy. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(10): 109452-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109452
3. [3]
  Shuqi Yu , Yu Yang , Keisuke Kuroda , Jian Pu , Rui Guo , Li-An Hou . Selective removal of Cr(Ⅵ) using polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyacrylamide co-modified MoS₂ composites by adsorption combined with reduction. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(6): 109130-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109130
4. [4]
  Pingping HAO , Fangfang LI , Yawen WANG , Houfen LI , Xiao ZHANG , Rui LI , Lei WANG , Jianxin LIU . Hydrogen production performance of the non-platinum-based MoS₂/CuS cathode in microbial electrolytic cells. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(9): 1811-1824. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240054
5. [5]
  Junan Pan , Xinyi Liu , Huachao Ji , Yanwei Zhu , Yanling Zhuang , Kang Chen , Ning Sun , Yongqi Liu , Yunchao Lei , Kun Wang , Bao Zang , Longlu Wang . The strategies to improve TMDs represented by MoS₂ electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(11): 109515-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109515
6. [6]
  Xian-Rui Meng , Qian Chen , Mei-Feng Wu , Qiang Wu , Su-Qin Wang , Li-Ping Jin , Fan Zhou , Ren-Li Ma , Jian-Ping Zou . Nano-flowers FeS/MoS2 composites as a peroxymonosulfate activator for efficient p-chlorophenol degradation. Chinese Journal of Structural Chemistry, 2025, 44(3): 100543-100543. doi: 10.1016/j.cjsc.2025.100543
7. [7]
  Jun-Jie Fang , Zheng Liu , Yun-Peng Xie , Xing Lu . Superatomic Ag₅₈ nanoclusters incorporating a [MS₄@Ag₁₂]²⁺ (M = Mo or W) kernel show aggregation-induced emission. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(10): 109345-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109345
8. [8]
  Yunli Xu , Xuwen Da , Lei Wang , Yatong Peng , Wanpeng Zhou , Xiulian Liu , Yao Wu , Wentao Wang , Xuesong Wang , Qianxiong Zhou . Ru(Ⅱ)-based aggregation-induced emission (AIE) agents with efficient ¹O₂ generation, photo-catalytic NADH oxidation and anticancer activity. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(5): 110168-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110168
9. [9]
  Kexin Yuan , Yulei Liu , Haoran Feng , Yi Liu , Jun Cheng , Beiyang Luo , Qinglian Wu , Xinyu Zhang , Ying Wang , Xian Bao , Wanqian Guo , Jun Ma . Unlocking the potential of thin-film composite reverse osmosis membrane performance: Insights from mass transfer modeling. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(5): 109022-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109022
10. [10]
  Ting WANG , Peipei ZHANG , Shuqin LIU , Ruihong WANG , Jianjun ZHANG . A Bi-CP-based solid-state thin-film sensor: Preparation and luminescence sensing for bioamine vapors. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(8): 1615-1621. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240134
11. [11]
  Feifei Yang , Wei Zhou , Chaoran Yang , Tianyu Zhang , Yanqiang Huang . Enhanced Methanol Selectivity in CO₂ Hydrogenation by Decoration of K on MoS₂ Catalyst. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(7): 2308017-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202308017
12. [12]
  Xinyu Guo , Chang Li , Wenjun Deng , Yi Zhou , Yan Chen , Yushuang Xu , Rui Li . Phase engineering and heteroatom incorporation enable defect-rich MoS₂ for long life aqueous iron-ion batteries. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(3): 109715-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109715
13. [13]
  Qingwang LIU . MoS₂/Ag/g-C₃N₄ Z-scheme heterojunction: Preparation and photocatalytic performance. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(4): 821-832. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240148
14. [14]
  Yayun Shi , Congcong Liu , Zhijun Zuo , Xiaowei Yang . Self-assembled ultrathick MoS₂ conductive hydrogel membrane via ionic gelation for superior capacitive energy storage. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(6): 109772-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109772
15. [15]
  Zheng Zhang , Lei Shi , Bin Wang , Jingyuan Qu , Xiaoling Wang , Tao Wang , Qitao Jiang , Wuhong Xue , Xiaohong Xu . Epitaxial growth of full-vdW α-In₂Se₃/MoS₂ heterostructures for all-in-one sensing and memory-computing artificial visual system. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(3): 109687-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109687
16. [16]
  Kun Rong , Cuilian Wen , Jiansen Wen , Xiong Li , Qiugang Liao , Siqing Yan , Chao Xu , Xiaoliang Zhang , Baisheng Sa , Zhimei Sun . Hierarchical MoS₂/Ti₃C₂T_x heterostructure with excellent photothermal conversion performance for solar-driven vapor generation. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(6): 100053-0. doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100053
17. [17]
  Chaochao Wei , Ru Wang , Zhongkai Wu , Qiyue Luo , Ziling Jiang , Liang Ming , Jie Yang , Liping Wang , Chuang Yu . Revealing the size effect of FeS₂ on solid-state battery performances at different operating temperatures. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(6): 108717-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108717
18. [18]
  Chang LIU , Chao ZHANG , Tongbu LU . Small-size Au nanoparticles anchored on pyrenyl-graphdiyne for N₂ electroreduction. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(1): 174-182. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240305
19. [19]
  Hongxia Li , Xiyang Wang , Du Qiao , Jiahao Li , Weiping Zhu , Honglin Li . Mechanism of nanoparticle aggregation in gas-liquid microfluidic mixing. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(4): 108747-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108747
20. [20]
  Min LI , Xianfeng MENG . Preparation and microwave absorption properties of ZIF-67 derived Co@C/MoS₂ nanocomposites. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(10): 1932-1942. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240065

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Metrics

PDF Downloads(0)
Abstract views(90)
HTML views(0)

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142