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Ultrafast Interfacial Engineering for Quantifiable Control of Asymmetric Configurations in Nanostructured Janus
Wenqing Zhang1, Jinhui Xu1, Bo Li1
1Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Jiangsu Research Center of Botanical Medicine Refinement Engineering, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Researchers developed a fast, universal method for creating Janus membranes (JMs) for advanced liquid separations. This technique offers precise control over membrane structure and superior separation performance, overcoming previous fabrication challenges.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Janus membranes (JMs) offer potential for advanced liquid separations.
- Current JM fabrication methods face challenges in speed, substrate compatibility, and precise structural control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an ultrafast and universal interfacial engineering strategy for constructing JMs.
- To achieve precise control over JM micro-nano structures and super-wettability.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a tannic acid/polyethyleneimine (TA/PEI) platform for rapid membrane formation.
- Employed stearoyl chloride (SC) for rapid hydrophobic modification.
- Introduced phytic acid (PA) to modulate interfacial wettability and tension for controlled hydrophilic layer thickness.
Main Results:
- Achieved JMs with significant asymmetric super-wettability (water contact angle difference >157°).
- Demonstrated tunable unidirectional liquid transport capabilities.
- Successfully fabricated JMs on diverse metallic and polymeric substrates with remarkable separation performance and stability.
Conclusions:
- The developed strategy provides a facile, controllable, and universal approach for JM fabrication.
- This method overcomes limitations in speed, substrate universality, and configurational control for JMs.
- Offers a versatile platform for designing nano-engineered functional materials for sophisticated liquid separations.
