Nanoscale water-polymer interactions tune macroscopic diffusivity of water in aqueous poly(ethylene oxide) solutions.

ABSTRACT: The separation and anti-fouling performance of water purification membranes is governed by both macroscopic and molecular-scale water properties near polymer surfaces. However, even for poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) - ubiquitously used in membrane materials - there is little understanding of whether or how the molecular structure of water near PEO surfaces affects macroscopic water diffusion. Here, we probe both time-averaged bulk and local water dynamics in dilute and concentrated PEO solutions using a unique combination of experimental and simulation tools. Pulsed-Field Gradient NMR and Overhauser Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (ODNP) capture water dynamics across micrometer length scales in sub-seconds to sub-nanometers in tens of picoseconds, respectively. We find that classical models, suc

SUBMITTER: Moon JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10866362 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature