High Performance Polymer Membranes II

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2024 | Viewed by 6034

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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Enhanced Heat Transfer and Energy Conservation of Education Ministry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Interests: PEM-based electrolytic air dehumidifier; liquid/air contact dehumidifier; solid desiccant adsorption; green buildings
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

High-performance and multifunctional polymer membranes are desirable in many applications, such as electrolyzers, fuel cells, gas separation and water treatments. Researchers have made many efforts, including theoretical/numerical modelling, experiments and material manipulations, to improve membrane performance (permeability, selectivity, conductivity, stability, etc.). The economic characteristics and feasibility of a large-scale production must also be addressed. This Special Issue aims to address a broad range of research areas around high-performance polymer membranes and seeks contributions to assess the state-of-the-art and future developments in this field. Topics include, but are not limited to, material development, membrane modification, molecular simulation, transport phenomena, membrane module fabrication and characterization, and technoeconomic analysis.

Prof. Dr. Ronghui Qi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • high-performance
  • polymer membranes
  • membrane modification
  • membrane module fabrication
  • technoeconomic analysis

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 8122 KiB  
Article
Using a Carbon Quantum Dot Suspension as a New Solvent for Clear Hydrophobic Surface Coating on Hydrophilic PVA Films
by Yena Oh, Kitae Park, Jamilur R. Ansari and Jongchul Seo
Polymers 2024, 16(17), 2513; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16172513 - 4 Sep 2024
Viewed by 710
Abstract
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a popular material used in the packaging industry. However, it is vulnerable to moisture, which can affect its performance and durability. Introducing hydrophobic substances, such as tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS), on the top layer of PVA can [...] Read more.
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a popular material used in the packaging industry. However, it is vulnerable to moisture, which can affect its performance and durability. Introducing hydrophobic substances, such as tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS), on the top layer of PVA can help maintain the excellent properties of PVA under high-humidity conditions. The low compatibility of hydrophobic materials with the hydrophilic layers allows them to aggregate more easily. To overcome these issues, we focused on the effects of particle size when increasing the coating suspension’s dispersibility. A carbon quantum dot (CQD) suspension is an appropriate novel solvent for hydrophobic TEOS/HDTMS coating suspensions because its particles are small and light and exhibit good dispersibility. The CQD suspension formed a smooth hydrophobic coating on the TEOS/HDTMS materials. Furthermore, the uniformly coated PVA with the CQD suspension exhibited a water contact angle of 110°. The water droplets remained intact without being absorbed, confirming the effectiveness of the surface coating facilitated by CQDs. These results suggested that CQDs improved the dispersibility and enhanced the coating quality of TEOS/HDTMS on PVA. Enhancing the hydrophobicity of PVA is ideal for applications in packaging and other fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Performance Polymer Membranes II)
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16 pages, 4595 KiB  
Article
Modified Composite Biodegradable Mulch for Crop Growth and Sustainable Agriculture
by Bo Guo, Liyan Zhu, Xiaochan He, Xiaojun Zhou, Boru Dong and Jialei Liu
Polymers 2024, 16(9), 1295; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16091295 - 5 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1331
Abstract
Using biodegradable films as a substitute for conventional polyolefin films has emerged as a crucial technology to combat agricultural white pollution. To address the shortcomings in the tensile strength, water vapor barrier properties, and degradation period of PBAT-based biodegradable films, this investigation aimed [...] Read more.
Using biodegradable films as a substitute for conventional polyolefin films has emerged as a crucial technology to combat agricultural white pollution. To address the shortcomings in the tensile strength, water vapor barrier properties, and degradation period of PBAT-based biodegradable films, this investigation aimed to create a composite film that could improve the diverse properties of PBAT films. To achieve this, a PBAT/PLA-PPC-PTLA ternary blend system was introduced in the study. The system effectively fused PBAT with PLA and PPC, as evidenced by electron microscopy tests showing no apparent defects on the surface and cross-section of the blended film. The developed ternary blend system resulted in a 58.62% improvement in tensile strength, a 70.33% enhancement in water vapor barrier properties, and a 30-day extension of the functional period compared to pure PBAT biodegradable films. Field experiments on corn crops demonstrated that the modified biodegradable film is more suitable for agricultural production, as it improved thermal insulation and moisture retention, leading to a 5.45% increase in corn yield, approaching the yield of traditional polyolefin films. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Performance Polymer Membranes II)
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11 pages, 3884 KiB  
Article
Generation of PVP Membranes Using Extracts/Phenolic Fraction of Dysphania ambrosioides, Opuntia ficus-indica, and Tradescantia pallida
by Orlando Zaca Moran, Wendy Argelia García Suastegui, Jonathan Hillel Cruz San Juan, Lawrence Christopher López Méndez and Valentin López Gayou
Polymers 2023, 15(24), 4720; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15244720 - 15 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1095
Abstract
In the present work, electrospun membranes of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers were manufactured using extracts and phenolic fractions of Dysphania ambrosioides (epazote), Opuntia ficus-indica (nopal), and Tradescantia pallida (chicken grass). The characterization of the membranes was carried out by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier [...] Read more.
In the present work, electrospun membranes of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers were manufactured using extracts and phenolic fractions of Dysphania ambrosioides (epazote), Opuntia ficus-indica (nopal), and Tradescantia pallida (chicken grass). The characterization of the membranes was carried out by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The membranes synthesized through the use of the extracts generally showed a slight decrease in the diameter of the fibers but an increase in the size of the pores due to the presence of nanoparticles (rosaries) on the surface of the fibers, while the membranes synthesized using the phenolic fraction demonstrated an inversely proportional relationship between the compounds of this family with the diameter of the fibers and the size of the pore, allowing to elucidate part of the polymerization mechanisms of PVP nanofibers, in addition to proposing a reaction mechanism in the interaction between PVP and phenolic compounds for surface functionalization. Likewise, we demonstrate that the generation of reaction seeds through functionalization allows the addition of other compounds to the fibers in the membranes synthesized using the complete extract. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Performance Polymer Membranes II)
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Review

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26 pages, 7011 KiB  
Review
A Review of Polymer-Based Environment-Induced Nanogenerators: Power Generation Performance and Polymer Material Manipulations
by Shuanghong Xie, Huping Yan and Ronghui Qi
Polymers 2024, 16(4), 555; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16040555 - 18 Feb 2024
Viewed by 2030
Abstract
Natural environment hosts a considerable amount of accessible energy, comprising mechanical, thermal, and chemical potentials. Environment-induced nanogenerators are nanomaterial-based electronic chips that capture environmental energy and convert it into electricity in an environmentally friendly way. Polymers, characterized by their superior flexibility, lightweight, and [...] Read more.
Natural environment hosts a considerable amount of accessible energy, comprising mechanical, thermal, and chemical potentials. Environment-induced nanogenerators are nanomaterial-based electronic chips that capture environmental energy and convert it into electricity in an environmentally friendly way. Polymers, characterized by their superior flexibility, lightweight, and ease of processing, are considered viable materials. In this paper, a thorough review and comparison of various polymer-based nanogenerators were provided, focusing on their power generation principles, key materials, power density and stability, and performance modulation methods. The latest developed nanogenerators mainly include triboelectric nanogenerators (TriboENG), piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENG), thermoelectric nanogenerators (ThermoENG), osmotic power nanogenerator (OPNG), and moist-electric generators (MENG). Potential practical applications of polymer-based nanogenerator were also summarized. The review found that polymer nanogenerators can harness a variety of energy sources, with the basic power generation mechanism centered on displacement/conduction currents induced by dipole/ion polarization, due to the non-uniform distribution of physical fields within the polymers. The performance enhancement should mainly start from strengthening the ion mobility and positive/negative ion separation in polymer materials. The development of ionic hydrogel and hydrogel matrix composites is promising for future nanogenerators and can also enable multi-energy collaborative power generation. In addition, enhancing the uneven distribution of temperature, concentration, and pressure induced by surrounding environment within polymer materials can also effectively improve output performance. Finally, the challenges faced by polymer-based nanogenerators and directions for future development were prospected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Performance Polymer Membranes II)
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