(567c) Graphene Oxide Nanoplatelets Embedded Polyamide Thin Films for Water Desalination

Polyamide thin film membranes are used in water desalination applications. Incorporation of graphene oxide nanoplatelets in the polyamide layer can alter the surface characteristics, enhance the mechanical properties, and can improve the permeability and selectivity of the membranes. Here, we present a modular fabrication method to incorporate nanomaterials in polyamide thin films. In this study, a layer-by-layer (LbL) synthesis technique has been used for embedding graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GONPs) in the polyamide thin films. We have synthesized alternating layers of GONPs and polyamide, and GONPs on top of the polyamide layer. The LbL technique allowed us control the thickness of these films, also the locations of GONPs within the films. Incorporation of GONPs resulted in an increase of surface hydrophilicity, as captured by the change of contact angle. The presence of GONPs in the synthesized membranes has been confirmed by SEM and TEM. Water flux and salt rejection properties of synthesized membranes have been investigated by using a dead-end cell. The GONP embedded membranes have been found to enhance the salt rejection while keeping water flux similar compared to the pristine membranes also fabricated through the LbL synthesis technique.