Nanostructured polyelectrolytes for ion-selective membranes
| DWPI Title: Fabricating ion-selective membrane used for electrodialysis cell and energy storage by providing nanoporous membrane, and layer-by-layer depositing polyelectrolyte bilayer containing polymer layer on side of nanoporous membrane |
| Abstract: Nanostructured polyelectrolyte bilayers deposited by Layer-by-Layer deposition on nanoporous membranes can be selectively crosslinked to modify the polyelectrolyte charge density and control ionic selectivity independent of ionic conductivity. For example, the polyelectrolyte bilayer can comprise a cationic polymer layer, such as poly(ethyleneimine), and an anionic polymer layer, such as poly(acrylic acid). Increasing the number of bilayers increases the cation selectivity when the poly(ethyleneimine) layer is crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. Crosslinking the membranes also increases the chemical and mechanical strength of the polyelectrolyte films. This controllable and inexpensive method can be used to create ion-selective and mechanically robust membranes on porous supports for a wide range of applications. |
| Use: Fabrication of ion-selective membrane used for electrodialysis cell (all claimed) and energy storage. |
| Advantage: The ion transport properties of nanoporous polycarbonate membranes can be tuned by sequentially dip coating layers of cationic polyethyleneimine and anionic poly(acrylic acid) onto the membranes. The cationic and anionic polymers are self-assembled through electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions and can be mechanically stabilized by crosslinking the polymer layers together. Increased polyelectrolyte thickness can increase the selectivity for ionic transport through the membranes. The method provides mechanically robust, highly conductive, ion-selective membranes on inexpensive porous supports. |
| Novelty: An ion-selective membrane is fabricated by providing a nanoporous membrane; and layer-by-layer depositing ≥ 1 polyelectrolyte bilayer on ≥ 1 side of nanoporous membrane, where the polyelectrolyte bilayer comprises a cationic polymer layer and anionic polymer layer. |
| Filed: 9/11/2018 |
| Application Number: US16128081A |
| Tech ID: SD 14678.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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