Synthesis of graphene oxide membranes and their behavior in water and isopropanol

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) membrane has been synthesized on commercial polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes (Pore size: 17 nm) using the drop casting method followed by baking at 90 C for 24 h. Baking resulted in the reduction of GO and removal of bulk water intercalated in the GO sheets. Deposited GO film showed high stability under shear stress variation. This work shows that water adsorption on the GO membrane determines its permeation performance. Despite the higher viscosity of isopropyl alcohol (IPA), its permeability was 7 times higher than water through the baked (“dry”) GO membranes, which were never contacted with water. However, IPA permeability of GO membranes dropped to 44% (of deionized water) when contacted with water (“hydrated” or “wet” GO membranes). Extensive size exclusion (rejection) studies with various dye and dendrimer molecules showed pore size reduced from 3.3 nm in the “dry” state to 1.3 nm in the “wet” state of GO membranes. FT-IR characterization of GO membrane suggested adsorption of water on the nanochannels of the active layer. Also, significant decay in flux was observed for water (82% of its initial flux) as compared to IPA (38% of its initial flux) for initially dry GO membranes.

Solvent Transport Behavior of Shear Aligned Graphene Oxide Membranes and Implications in Organic Solvent Nanofiltration

“…1b and Supplementary Table 2). We also observe a significant drop in water permeability with time which can be attributed to water sorption and hydration of the GO membranes, as these experiments begin with a dried membrane 23 . Irrespective of the solvents, the retention of the membrane for the solutes is consistent with molecular weight with the highest retention for Tannic acid, followed by Rose Bengal, Rhodamine B, and Methyl Red, respectively (Fig.…”

“…Some of this behavior is evidenced in the surfactant-like properties of GO and good dispersability including liquid crystalline behavior in polar protic and aprotic solvents 19,21 . While there have been a few studies reporting organic solvent transport properties of GO membranes 22,23 , further investigation is needed as it is not hard to recognize the potential of GO membranes for nanofiltration in organic solvents given the chemical inertness of carbon. Further understanding is required of how the interactive forces in GO govern the transport and separation characteristics in different environments.…”

Reduced graphene oxide–metal nanoparticle composite membranes for environmental separation and chloro-organic remediation

“…First, reduction of GO enhances the pi-pi stacking of the deposited sheets, preventing them from dislodging off the substrate. 50 Second, reduction of GO is essential for improving the resistance of these materials towards oxidizing radicals. Functionalities present on GO, such as hydroxyl and epoxy are more susceptible to cleave from the backbone.…”

Polymer Nanocomposite Membranes of Sulfonated Poly(Styrene‐Isobutylene‐Styrene) With Sulfonated Graphene Oxide for Fuel Cell and Protective Clothing Applications

“…GO has been extensively studied as organic filler to a variety of polymer matrices as a mean of improving or modifying the properties of the polymers for different applications including fuel cells [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Polyethylene oxide was modified with 0.5% GO to create a proton conducting membrane with enhanced properties [25].…”