The effect of crosslinking on ion transport in nanocellulose-based membranes

Ion selective membranes are at the heart of energy conversion and harvesting, water treatment, and biotechnologies. The currently available membranes are mostly based on expensive and non-biodegradable polymers. Here, we report a cation-selective and low-cost membrane prepared from renewable nanocellulose and 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid which simultaneously serves as crosslinker and source of anionic surface groups. Charge density and structure of the membranes are studied. By using different degrees of crosslinking, simultaneous control over both the nanochannel structure and surface charge concentration is achieved, which in turn determines the resulting ion transport properties. Increasing negative charge concentration via higher crosslinker content, the obtained ion conductivity reaches up to 8 mS/cm (0.1 M KCl). Optimal ion selectivity, also influenced by the solution pH, is achieved at 20 wt% crosslinker addition (with ion conductivity of 1.6 mS/cm). As regular ~1.4 nm nanochannels were formed at this composition, nanofluidic contribution to ion transport is likely.