Polycation-Intercalated MXene Membrane with Enhanced Permselective and Anti-Microbial Properties.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Environmental Engineering

Background:

• Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial membranes, particularly MXene, show promise for molecular separation but suffer from low permeability and bio-fouling.
• These limitations hinder the practical application of MXene membranes in water treatment processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate a highly permselective and antibacterial 2D nanofiltration membrane using MXene.
• To address the challenges of low permeability and bio-fouling in MXene-based membranes for water treatment.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a Ti3C2Tx/PDDA composite membrane via electrostatic assembly of polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDDA) into the Ti3C2Tx MXene architecture.
• Characterization of membrane performance, including water permeance, MgCl2 rejection, swelling resistance, and stability.
• Evaluation of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and assessment of anti-fouling properties using bovine serum albumin.

Main Results:

• The Ti3C2Tx/PDDA composite membrane achieved high water permeance (73.4 L m-2 h-1) and MgCl2 rejection (>94.6%).
• The membrane exhibited excellent stability, resistance to swelling, and a high flux recovery ratio (96.1%) after protein fouling.
• Demonstrated significant antibacterial activity with 90% inhibition against E. coli and 95% against S. aureus.

Conclusions:

• The polyelectrolyte-intercalated MXene membrane offers a promising solution for efficient molecular and ion separation in aquatic environments.
• The developed Ti3C2Tx/PDDA membrane overcomes key limitations of traditional MXene membranes, showing potential for advanced water treatment.
• The membrane's combined permselectivity, stability, and antimicrobial properties make it suitable for diverse separation applications.