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Polymeric Membrane Science and Surface Modification Technologies
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Polymeric Membrane Science and Surface Modification Technologies

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2025) | Viewed by 7687

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Chaocan Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: nanomaterials and nanocomposites; functional and fine polymer materials; gradient functional polymer materials; adsorption and separation functional materials; liquid crystal polymer materials; photonic crystal materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Lili Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: polymers; surface modification; nanocomposite polymer materials; fine polymer materials; polyurethane
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Membrane science is a crucial branch of modern materials science and engineering. This Special Issue focuses on the design, fabrication, and application of polymeric membrane materials. These technologies play a vital role in water treatment, gas separation, energy storage, and biomedical applications, driving technological advancements in these fields. The extensive applications of membrane technologies include nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, water treatment, hydrogen purification, carbon dioxide capture, fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.

Surface modification technologies are key to enhancing membrane performance. Techniques such as plasma treatment, chemical plating, coating, and nanomaterial modification significantly improve membrane properties. They enhance hydrophilicity, antifouling properties, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility, while also improving selectivity, flux, durability, and chemical stability.

Recent research has focused on developing nanocomposite membranes, functionalized polymer membranes, and smart responsive materials. These innovations optimize membrane performance and broaden their application scope.

This Special Issue will highlight the latest advancements in polymeric membrane science and surface modification technologies. We invite researchers in related fields to submit original research and review articles, contributing to the ongoing progress of membrane science and surface modification technologies.

Prof. Dr. Chaocan Zhang
Dr. Lili Wu
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

  • membrane technology
  • surface modification
  • nanocomposite membranes
  • functionalized polymer membranes
  • water treatment
  • gas separation
  • energy storage
  • biomedical applications
  • plasma treatment
  • nanomaterial modification
  • selectivity
  • flux
  • stability
  • hydrophilicity
  • antifouling
  • coating technology
  • biocompatibility
  • tissue engineering
  • drug delivery
  • mechanical strength
  • durability

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 4606 KiB  
Article
A Study of Thin Films Based on Polylactide and Vanillic Acid-Crucial Properties Relevant to Packaging
by Ewa Olewnik-Kruszkowska, Magdalena Wrona and Anna Rudawska
Polymers 2025, 17(7), 882; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070882 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 219
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on packaging made from biodegradable materials. These materials not only help to reduce environmental impact, but also extend the shelf life of food products, thereby contributing to a significant reduction in food waste. In [...] Read more.
In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on packaging made from biodegradable materials. These materials not only help to reduce environmental impact, but also extend the shelf life of food products, thereby contributing to a significant reduction in food waste. In order to develop novel biodegradable polymeric films for use as active packaging, polylactide materials filled with vanillic acid were prepared. Analyses were conducted to determine the influence of vanillic acid on the structural morphology and key food storage properties of the resulting films, including water vapor resistance, mechanical properties, UV barrier properties, opacity, and antioxidant activity. The effect of the vanillic acid on the firmness of blueberries packed in films with and without the additive was evaluated. The research demonstrated that incorporating vanillic acid into polylactide significantly enhanced the UV barrier properties of the resulting materials. Furthermore, the resulting antioxidant activity contributed to extending the freshness of the stored blueberries. The addition of vanillic acid did not substantially affect the transparency of the films, maintaining the visibility of the fruit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Membrane Science and Surface Modification Technologies)
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26 pages, 12520 KiB  
Article
Optimizing β-Phase Content in PVDF Membranes via Modification of Dope Solution with Citric Acid/Nano-TiO2 Using Nonsolvent-Induced Phase Separation Method
by Md. Nahid Parvez Roni, Tanvir Ahmed Neshath, Md. Azizul Hakim, Md. Mahadi Hasan, M. Habibur Rahman, Md. Shamim Hossan, A. A. S. Mostofa Zahid, Md. Nur E Alam and Most. Halima Khatun
Polymers 2025, 17(4), 481; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17040481 - 12 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1173
Abstract
The morphology of Poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes prepared via the nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) method was modulated by altering the dope solution with citric acid (CA) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) to optimize the β-phase content. Three series of dope [...] Read more.
The morphology of Poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes prepared via the nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) method was modulated by altering the dope solution with citric acid (CA) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) to optimize the β-phase content. Three series of dope solutions were prepared in dimethyl acetamide (DMAc): (i) TONx series contained 0.0–10% citric acid, (ii) Mx series contained 0.0–0.4% nano-TiO2, and (iii) TAx series contained 5% CA and 0.0–0.40% nano-TiO2. A field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) study revealed that CA enhances pore opening, and nano-TiO2 transforms the sponge-like uneven porous structures into a compact, relatively regular honeycomb structure in the PVDF membranes. The combined effect of CA and nano-TiO2 in the dope solution made the channels and chambers of the membrane well organized, and the walls of the channels transformed from solid fibrils to cross-woven nanofiber-like entities. Porosity initially peaked at 84% in the TAx series, gradually decreasing to 72% with increasing nano-TiO2 concentrations. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) revealed the presence of a combined relative amount of the β- and γ-polymorphs of 84% in a neat PVDF membrane, 88% in an Mx, and 96% in a TAx series membrane, with the β-PVDF constituting nearly the entire portion of the combined polymorphs. The presence of 96% electroactive polymorph content in the PVDF membrane is noteworthy, highlighting its potential biomedical and industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Membrane Science and Surface Modification Technologies)
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20 pages, 10537 KiB  
Article
Composite Films Based on Linear Polyethyleneimine Polymer and Starch or Polysaccharides from DDGS: Synthesis, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Studies
by Gonzalo Galaburri, Antonia Infantes-Molina, Cynthia M. Melian Queirolo, Andrea Mebert, María V. Tuttolomondo, Enrique Rodríguez-Castellón and Juan M. Lázaro-Martínez
Polymers 2025, 17(4), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17040458 - 9 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1146
Abstract
Different films were synthesized from starch or polysaccharides extracted from distillers dried grains with soluble (DDGS) in combination with different percentages of linear polyethyleneimine (PEI) hydrochloride polymer to assess the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of the resulting composites. Moreover, a simple method for [...] Read more.
Different films were synthesized from starch or polysaccharides extracted from distillers dried grains with soluble (DDGS) in combination with different percentages of linear polyethyleneimine (PEI) hydrochloride polymer to assess the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of the resulting composites. Moreover, a simple method for the extraction of the polysaccharide content from DDGS is reported. The materials obtained were characterized by ATR-FTIR, NMR, and XPS spectroscopy, swelling capacity, and by organic elemental analysis. In particular, the stability of the film prepared with only DDGS in copper ion solutions was improved by the incorporation of PEI. 13C HRMAS NMR studies evidenced the incorporation of the PEI polymer in the new films. Moreover, the release of PEI molecules from the films was studied by 1H NMR experiments in D2O to explain the antimicrobial properties of the PEI-based films against Staphylococcus aureus, with the DDGS–10% PEI films being the most active surface. Furthermore, the incorporation of copper ions into the different films enhanced their antimicrobial activity. Additionally, the starch–10% PEI film exhibited good swelling capacity in deionized water (~1500%), which decreased with the addition of salts (~250%). Instead, the DDGS–10% PEI film showed low swelling capacity in deionized water (~80%), with this capacity increasing with the addition of salts (~250%). The mechanical properties of the films improved considerably when 3% PEI was used. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Membrane Science and Surface Modification Technologies)
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16 pages, 5210 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of a Free-Standing Ternary WO3/CNT/ZnO–Chitosan Composite Photocatalytic Membrane for the Mitigation of Protein Fouling in Membranes
by Wei Tze Chong, Sze Mun Lam, Yit Thai Ong and Trong-Ming Don
Polymers 2025, 17(4), 437; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17040437 - 7 Feb 2025
Viewed by 660
Abstract
The application of membrane filtration, particularly micro- and ultra-filtration, in food and pharmaceutical industries often faces the issue of protein fouling. In this study, we aimed to fabricate a free-standing ternary tungsten trioxide/carbon nanotube/zinc oxide (WO3/CNT/ZnO)–chitosan composite photocatalytic membrane via wet [...] Read more.
The application of membrane filtration, particularly micro- and ultra-filtration, in food and pharmaceutical industries often faces the issue of protein fouling. In this study, we aimed to fabricate a free-standing ternary tungsten trioxide/carbon nanotube/zinc oxide (WO3/CNT/ZnO)–chitosan composite photocatalytic membrane via wet processing and infiltration techniques to address the fouling issue. Infiltration with low molecular weight chitosan was found to enhance the mechanical stability of the ternary composite photocatalytic membrane. The ternary composite photocatalytic membrane with a 0.16 g ternary photocatalyst load demonstrated 86% efficiency in the degradation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) under sunlight irradiation for 120 min. A reduction in permeation flux accompanied by an increase in BSA rejection was observed as the loading of the ternary photocatalyst in the ternary composite photocatalytic membrane was increased. This can be associated with the decreased average porosity and mean pore radius. The ternary composite photocatalytic membrane demonstrated reasonably good antifouling behavior with an Rfr of 82% and an Rif of 18%. The antifouling property demonstrated by the ternary composite photocatalytic membrane is important in maintaining the reusability of the membrane. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Membrane Science and Surface Modification Technologies)
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22 pages, 8374 KiB  
Article
Tackling the Problem of Tendon Adhesions: Physical Barriers Prepared from α-Amino Acid-Based Poly(ester amide)s
by Sofia Saraiva, Francisca Rénio, Patrícia Pereira, Patrícia Santos, Carlos T. B. Paula, Amílcar Ramalho, Arménio C. Serra and Ana C. Fonseca
Polymers 2025, 17(3), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17030395 - 1 Feb 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 602
Abstract
In this work, electrospun membranes of α-amino acid based poly(ester amide)s (AAA-PEAs) from L-alanine (PEA_ala) or L-phenylalanine (PEA_phe) were successfully prepared to be used as physical barriers in the orthopedic field. Also, blends of these two polymers were used in different weight ratios [...] Read more.
In this work, electrospun membranes of α-amino acid based poly(ester amide)s (AAA-PEAs) from L-alanine (PEA_ala) or L-phenylalanine (PEA_phe) were successfully prepared to be used as physical barriers in the orthopedic field. Also, blends of these two polymers were used in different weight ratios (25:75, 50:50 and 75:25) to obtain physical barriers with different properties. All membranes had a suitable pore size to prevent fibroblast infiltration, and their porosity and permeability values were in a range that allowed the passage of nutrients. The membrane made from a blend of 25%wt of PEA_ala and 75% wt of PEA_phe showed the highest value of swelling capacity, suggesting a higher lubricant feature. The same membrane suffered a more pronounced degradation, as evidenced by the in vitro enzymatic degradation tests. All membranes showed suitable toughness values, a crucial property with regard to application. In vitro cytotoxicity tests performed with a NIH3T3 fibroblast cell line revealed decreased cell viability after 7 days, suggesting that these membranes are not ideal substrates to promote fibroblast adhesion and proliferation. These membranes as physical barriers represent a significant advance in the field given the limited literature on electrospun AAA-PEAs and their use to prevent tendon adhesion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Membrane Science and Surface Modification Technologies)
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26 pages, 38777 KiB  
Article
Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of a Novel Composite PVC-ZnO Membrane for Ciprofloxacin Removal by Polymer-Enhanced Ultrafiltration
by Sirisak Seansukato, Gangasalam Arthanareeswaran and Wirach Taweepreda
Polymers 2024, 16(24), 3551; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16243551 - 19 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1127
Abstract
Water pollution is a major global issue, and antibiotic drugs released into aquatic environments by the pharmaceutical industry, such as ciprofloxacin, have negative consequences on both human health and the ecosystem. In this study, the performance of PVA as a polymer ligand for [...] Read more.
Water pollution is a major global issue, and antibiotic drugs released into aquatic environments by the pharmaceutical industry, such as ciprofloxacin, have negative consequences on both human health and the ecosystem. In this study, the performance of PVA as a polymer ligand for ciprofloxacin (CPFX) removal is evaluated through polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration using a novel composite PVC-ZnO membrane. The initial concentration of the ciprofloxacin solution, pH, ionic strength, ideal polymer concentration, duration, and maximum retention capacity were among the factors that were examined. In order to remove ciprofloxacin from water, PVA is utilized as a polymeric binding agent in a complex manufacturing process. In this instance, the PVC-ZnO membrane with 1.0 weight percent ZnO had a 96.77% ciprofloxacin clearance rate. PVA polymer has a high clearance rate of 99.98% in 1wt% of ZnO in this composite membrane when added to the ciprofloxacin solution. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to analyze the production and features of composite PVC-ZnO membranes. It is anticipated that this study’s discussion will be crucial to the development of higher-quality membrane technologies that remove pharmaceutical active chemicals from wastewater in an environmentally responsible manner without endangering the ecosystem. This investigation showed that composite PVC-ZnO membranes were effective materials for efficient removal of ciprofloxacin (CPFX). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Membrane Science and Surface Modification Technologies)
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22 pages, 10544 KiB  
Article
Diamine Crosslinked Addition-Type Diblock Poly(Norbornene)s-Based Anion Exchange Membranes with High Conductivity and Stability for Fuel Cell Applications
by Quan Li, Xiaohui He, Ling Feng, Jia Ye, Wenjun Zhang, Longming Huang and Defu Chen
Polymers 2024, 16(24), 3534; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16243534 - 18 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1045
Abstract
Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) as a kind of important functional material are widely used in fuel cells. However, synthetic AEMs generally suffer from low conductivity, poor alkaline stability, and poor dimensional stability. Constructing efficient ion transport channels is widely regarded as one of [...] Read more.
Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) as a kind of important functional material are widely used in fuel cells. However, synthetic AEMs generally suffer from low conductivity, poor alkaline stability, and poor dimensional stability. Constructing efficient ion transport channels is widely regarded as one of the most effective strategies for developing AEMs with high conductivity and low swelling ratio. Herein we demonstrate a versatile strategy to prepare the AEMs with both high conductivity and excellent alkali stability via all-carbon hydrogen block copolymer backbone hydrophilic crosslinking and introducing flexible alkoxy spacer chains. Additionally, we investigated the impact of the crosslinking degree on the AEMs’ performances. It was found that the dosage of the hydrophilic crosslinker has a significant impact on the construction of efficient ion transport channels in the AEMs. Amazingly, the CL30-aPNB-TMHDA-TMA exhibited the highest hydroxide conductivity (138.84 mS cm−1), reasonable water uptake (54.96%), and a low swelling ratio (14.07%) at 80 °C. Meanwhile, the membrane showed an excellent alkaline stability in a 1 M NaOH solution at 80 °C for 1008 h (ion exchange capacity (IEC) and OH− conductivity remained at 91.9% and 89.12%, respectively). The single cells assembled with CL30-aPNB-TMHDA-TMA exhibited a peak power density of 266.2 mW cm−2 under a current density of 608 mA cm−2 at 80 °C. The novel developed composite strategy of flexible alkoxy side chains with hydrophilic crosslinking modification is potentially promised to be an effective approach to develop the high-performance AEMs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Membrane Science and Surface Modification Technologies)
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18 pages, 7999 KiB  
Article
Development of Antioxidant-Active Sericin–Curcumin-Loaded Sodium Alginate/Polyvinyl Alcohol Films Crosslinked with Calcium Chloride as a Promising Wound Dressing Application
by Rungnapha Yamdech, Vareesa Terahsongkran, Varis Terahsongkran, Sarocha Cherdchom and Pornanong Aramwit
Polymers 2024, 16(22), 3197; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16223197 - 18 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1265
Abstract
Silk sericin (SS) and curcumin (Cur) possess significant antioxidant properties, making them highly beneficial for wound healing applications. This study aimed to develop SS–Cur-loaded sodium alginate/polyvinyl alcohol (SA/PVA) films crosslinked with calcium chloride, creating a biomaterial with enhanced stability and antioxidant properties. Wound [...] Read more.
Silk sericin (SS) and curcumin (Cur) possess significant antioxidant properties, making them highly beneficial for wound healing applications. This study aimed to develop SS–Cur-loaded sodium alginate/polyvinyl alcohol (SA/PVA) films crosslinked with calcium chloride, creating a biomaterial with enhanced stability and antioxidant properties. Wound dressings containing SS-Cur were fabricated by mixing SA and PVA at different ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, and 1:6. The resulting films were then crosslinked with calcium chloride in an ethanol solution to enhance film integrity. These films were characterized using several techniques, revealing that the presence of ethanol in calcium chloride affected film properties, including the gel fraction, swelling, film thickness, and FTIR analysis. The presence of ethanol in calcium chloride revealed the highest drug content in the SA/PVA films. In vitro release studies demonstrated sustained release of SS-Cur from all formulations. Cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity tests showed that SS–Cur-loaded SA/PVA films with ethanol in calcium chloride increased cell viability and enhanced antioxidant effects in L929 cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the presence of ethanol in the crosslinking solution improved the functionality of SS–Cur-loaded SA/PVA films, making them promising candidates for wound healing and soft tissue regeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Membrane Science and Surface Modification Technologies)
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