Revealing Optical Properties of Amorphous Two-Dimensional Colloidal Nanosheets for Altering Nanochannels

Abstract

The metastable state of any solution is a key component for achieving well-distributed nanochannels in membrane technology. This state affects the robustness and performance of the membrane in the long run in electrochemical systems. Here, we describe a method for producing a stable colloidal solution of amorphous metal-free nanosheets for the preparation of hybrid membranes. We demonstrate that the colloidal suspension hardly affects the width of the nanochannel in the membrane under the hydrated condition. We further show that the scattering of light in a colloidal suspension provides insights into the interaction between the nanosheet and the ionomer. Under the hydrated condition, a significant increase in the diffusion coefficient with efficient radial distribution between two different particles is noticed. A stable suspension of amorphous 2D nanosheets in the ionomer solution not only avoids the deteriorating mechanical stability of the membrane but also acts as an active material for reducing fuel crossover in the electrochemical cell.

High-Temperature Proton Conduction in Covalent Organic Frameworks Interconnected with Nanochannels for Reverse Electrodialysis

“…The aromatic types of the membrane show enormous potential in terms of mechanical stability, such as polybenzimidazole, , polysulfone, , polyphosphazene, , polyimides, , poly­(arylene ether ketone), , and poly (ether ether ketone). , A wide range of other kinds of membranes has been developed and reported in various literature studies. , Compared to the COF, membranes mentioned above possess poor pore interconnectivity, disorder nanopores, and tortuous porosity that limit the membrane’s ion transport properties. , An extensive focus has been made to tune the nanochannel size and its well-ordered uniformity across the membrane, − but unable to achieve an ideal interconnected network due to the semicrystalline or amorphous nature of the polymer material. Several metal-free, lightweight materials have been incorporated, mainly composed of B, C, Si, N, and O elements through a stable covalent bond, to achieve uniform pore or uniformly distributed nanochannel inside the membrane. − Utilizing these organic materials as nanofillers causes enormous challenges like agglomeration, compatibility, and interfacial defects. From an application point of view, the selected nanofiller material must be stable under acidic and basic conditions.…”