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Polymers
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Polymeric Membranes: Advances in Synthesis, Characterization and Applications
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Polymeric Membranes: Advances in Synthesis, Characterization and Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Membranes and Films".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2025) | Viewed by 1885

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Nan Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemistry, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
Interests: membrane separations; nanofiltration membrane preparation; intelligent and functional membrane materials; cyclodextrin chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Zhao Dai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
Interests: membrane preparation; nanofibrous membranes; thin-film composite membranes; nanofiber composite membranes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on “Polymeric Membranes: Advances in Synthesis, Characterization and Applications” seeks to showcase the latest advancements in the field of polymeric membranes. With a focus on innovation in synthesis techniques, improved characterization methods, and expanding application areas, this Special Issue invites contributions that address novel polymeric membrane formations, surface modifications, and functional applications in environmental, medical, and industrial sectors. We aim to collate research that demonstrates significant advancements in membrane technology, such as enhanced separation efficiency, stability, and sustainability. By bringing together research from around the globe, we hope to spur further innovation and collaboration in the development of next-generation polymeric membranes.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Nan Li
Prof. Dr. Zhao Dai
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polymeric membranes
  • membrane synthesis
  • membrane characterization
  • environmental applications
  • medical applications
  • industrial separation
  • surface modification
  • membrane technology
  • sustainable materials
  • hybrid membranes

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 51238 KiB  
Article
Effect of Choline Chloride-Based DES on the Pore-Forming Ability and Properties of PVDF Membranes Prepared with Triethyl Phosphate as Green Solvent
by Alejandro Gálvez-Subiela, Ramón Jiménez-Robles, Jose David Badia-Valiente, Marta Izquierdo and Amparo Chafer
Polymers 2025, 17(7), 984; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070984 - 4 Apr 2025
Viewed by 253
Abstract
This study explores the influence of various additives on the morphological, chemical, and thermal properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes prepared via the non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) technique. The use of a green solvent such as triethyl phosphate (TEP) was shown to [...] Read more.
This study explores the influence of various additives on the morphological, chemical, and thermal properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes prepared via the non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) technique. The use of a green solvent such as triethyl phosphate (TEP) was shown to be successful. A particular focus was dedicated to pore formers based on choline chloride–based deep eutectic solvents (DES) in combination with ethylene glycol and glycerol, i.e., ChCl/EG and ChCl/GLY, and its benchmark with traditional counterparts such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and glycerol (GLY). Comprehensive characterization was conducted using FESEM, FTIR, XRD, and DSC techniques to evaluate changes in membrane morphology, porosity, and crystallinity. PEG acted as a pore-forming agent, transitioning the internal structure from spherulitic to sponge-like with consistent pore sizes, while GLY produced a nodular morphology at higher concentrations due to increased dope solution viscosity. DES induced significant shifts in crystalline phase composition, decreasing α-phase fractions and promoting β-phase formation at higher concentrations. While the overall porosity remained unaffected by the addition of GLY or PEG, it was dependent on the DES concentration in the dope at lower values than those obtained by GLY and PEG. Membrane pore size with ChCl/GLY was lower than with ChCl/EG and GLY. All membranes showed performance at the hydrophobic regime. The findings demonstrate that ChCl/EG and ChCl/GLY can tailor the structural and thermal properties of TEP-driven PVDF membranes, providing a green and versatile approach to customize the membrane properties for specific applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Membranes: Advances in Synthesis, Characterization and Applications)
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18 pages, 5009 KiB  
Article
CNN-Optimized Electrospun TPE/PVDF Nanofiber Membranes for Enhanced Temperature and Pressure Sensing
by Ming Ma, Ce Jin, Shufang Yao, Nan Li, Huchen Zhou and Zhao Dai
Polymers 2024, 16(17), 2423; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16172423 - 27 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1226
Abstract
Temperature and pressure sensors currently encounter challenges such as slow response times, large sizes, and insufficient sensitivity. To address these issues, we developed tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-doped polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber membranes using electrospinning, with process parameters optimized through a convolutional neural network (CNN). We [...] Read more.
Temperature and pressure sensors currently encounter challenges such as slow response times, large sizes, and insufficient sensitivity. To address these issues, we developed tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-doped polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber membranes using electrospinning, with process parameters optimized through a convolutional neural network (CNN). We systematically analyzed the effects of PVDF concentration, spinning voltage, tip–to–collector distance, and flow rate on fiber morphology and diameter. The CNN model achieved high predictive accuracy, resulting in uniform and smooth nanofibers under optimal conditions. Incorporating TPE enhanced the hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of the nanofibers. Additionally, the fluorescent properties of the TPE-doped nanofibers remained stable under UV exposure and exhibited significant linear responses to temperature and pressure variations. The nanofibers demonstrated a temperature sensitivity of −0.976 gray value/°C and pressure sensitivity with an increase in fluorescence intensity from 537 a.u. to 649 a.u. under 600 g pressure. These findings highlight the potential of TPE-doped PVDF nanofiber membranes for advanced temperature and pressure sensing applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Membranes: Advances in Synthesis, Characterization and Applications)
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