Nanoporous membranes generated from self‐assembled block polymer precursors: Quo Vadis?

Abstract

Nanoporous membranes based on self‐assembled block polymer precursors are an emerging class of promising separation, purification, and sensing devices due to the ability of researchers to control the nanostructure and chemistry of these multifunctional materials and devices. In fact, modern polymer chemistry provides techniques for the facile, controlled synthesis of the block polymers that constitute these devices. These designer macromolecules, in turn, can then self‐assemble into functional nanostructures depending upon the chemical identity of the synthesized block polymers and the thin film fabrication methods employed. After fabrication, these nanoporous membranes offer a highly tunable platform for applications that require high throughput, high surface area, homogeneous pore size, and varying material properties. And, with these readily tunable chemical and structural properties, block polymer membranes will allow for significant improvements in myriad applications. In this Review, we summarize the key advances, with a specific emphasis on the previous 5 years of work, that have allowed block polymer‐based membranes to reach their current level of technology. Furthermore, we project how these state‐of‐art, self‐assembled block polymer membrane technologies can be utilized in present‐day and future application arenas. In this way, we aim to demonstrate that the rigorous work performed on block polymer‐based membranes has laid a strong foundation that will allow these macromolecular systems to: (1) be major avenues of fundamental scientific research and (2) be parlayed into transferable technologies for the betterment of society in the imminent future. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41683.

Performance study of isoporous membranes with tailored pore sizes

“…[18] When experimental data for the rejection of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and calculated solvent flow and solute rejection is fitted to Zydney´s Plot, SNIPS made membranes are superior to commercial ones. [19] Sharper molecular weight cut offs (MWCO) than for commercial membranes made by phase-inversion can be found depending on the block copolymer used for SNIPS made membranes. [20,21] One of the most used and understood diblock copolymers for the formation of UF membranes through the SNIPS technique is polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP).…”

Fit-for-purpose block polymer membranes molecularly engineered for water treatment

“…28,99 As detailed in some of the examples above, these chemical alterations can modify the physical properties of membranes fabricated from block polymers such that they display excellent size-selective separation abilities. In addition, the block polymer system can be modified using straightforward schemes for controlled properties that go beyond the size of the membrane pores.…”

“…26,27 This combination of properties could allow for the development of block polymer membranes that exceed the upper bound developed for commercial ultrafiltration membranes made using non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) processes. [28][29][30] Because the potential of these membranes is related directly to their nanostructure, the deliberate design of the macromolecular architecture of the precursor block polymers is essential to the development of block polymer membranes. 31 A fundamental criterion in this design is that the material microphase separates such that it forms ordered structures at the nanoscale.…”

Electrochemical Applications of Microphase‐Separated Block Copolymer Thin Films

“…These aggregates have been employed as drug carriers, [12] templates for nanoparticle synthesis, [20] and precursors for the fabrication of isoporous separation membranes. [11,36,37] 3. [22][23][24] Microdomains formed from the redox-active seg-ments serve as nanoscale charge transport pathways based on redox-mediated mechanisms (vide infra) in electrochemical applications.…”