In
the electrofiltration process, membrane conductivity plays a
decisive role in improving the antifouling performance of the membrane.
In this paper, combining the preparation of graphene (Gr) with the
fabrication of the Gr layer on the surface of a polyaniline (PANI)
membrane, a graphene/PANI (Gr/PANI) conductive membrane was prepared
creatively by the one-step electrochemical method. The properties
of the as-prepared Gr/PANI membrane were studied systematically. By
the tests of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy,
X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy, it was confirmed that
Gr was successfully produced and was combined with the PANI membrane
well. Field scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray
analysis further confirmed that the top surface and the upper layer
pore walls of the membrane were randomly covered by Gr. The antifouling
performance of the prepared membrane was evaluated by studying the
permeation flux of the yeast suspension, compared with the ones with
no electric field: the total permeation flux at 1 V direct current
(dc) increased by 109%; besides, under 1 V dc, the average flux of
the Gr/PANI membrane was approximately 1.4 times that of the PANI
membrane. This approach may provide a promising strategy for the combination
of Gr with conductive polymers to produce separation membranes.