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Transport through composite membranes has been shown to be significantly influenced by the morphologies of both the supporting micro-porous substrate and overlying selective thin-film (i.e., active layer). Recently, the occurrence of water-filled voids within the active layer has been suggested in the literature; however, their effect on transport is hitherto unknown. Here, we theoretically consider, through numerical modeling, the effect that liquid filled-voids have on the pores (with respect to void locations and roughness) strongly impact the flux distribution and, hence, the location of flux hotspots. A strategy for creating high permeability membranes with relatively even flux distributions is identified to be a combination of a rough film with a reduced base thickness, and with thicker regions of the film aligned with the support pore locations. Understanding the role of the voids in determining the transport properties of the membranes provides motivation for controlling their formation.

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