Switchable Asymmetric Water Transport in Dense Nanocomposite Membranes.

ABSTRACT: Directional water transport is technologically relevant in separation processes, functional clothing, and other applications. While asymmetric water transport characteristics are a vital feature of leaf cuticles, examples of artificial membranes that display this effect are limited. Here, we report compositionally asymmetric membranes that are based on hydrophobic poly(styrene)-block-poly(butadiene)-block-poly(styrene) (SBS) and hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers and display directional water transport when a high relative humidity (RH) gradient is applied. This effect is caused by the asymmetric structure of the membrane and the fact that the water permeability of PVA depends on the water pressure applied and the extent of plasticization that it causes. The tra

SUBMITTER: Grillo L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10897881 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature