Liu Junxia, Peng Mingxin, Chen Linchun, Li Tian, Liu Bingzhi, Zhao Dongsheng, Wang Zhihong, Ma Jiaying, Chu Huaqiang, Tang Chuyang Y
School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Aug 5;59(30):16056-16065. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c08017. Epub 2025 Jul 23.
Membrane wettability is crucial for filtration performance when treating feedwater containing inorganic particles, organic macromolecules, and microorganisms. Superhydrophilic membranes excel in resisting fouling during filtration, while superhydrophobic membranes are prized for their self-cleaning properties during maintenance. To address these contrasting needs, we herein propose a novel strategy by developing membranes with switchable superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity, enabling on-demand antifouling and self-cleaning. This membrane was created by electrodepositing copper oxides onto a copper mesh, resulting in the formation of hierarchical micro- and nanoscale structures. By applying a reduction voltage of 20 V, the copper oxides were converted into hydrophilic metallic copper, transforming the mesh into a superhydrophilic membrane. This transformation not only facilitated water permeation but also effectively repelled foulants during filtration. Remarkably, the gravity-driven permeation flux of the superhydrophilic membrane reached as high as 30,000 L·m·h. Furthermore, this superhydrophilic membrane demonstrated reasonable separation efficiency, achieving removal rates of 60.0% for total suspended solids, 93.1% for , and 83.0% for poly(vinyl alcohol). Upon heating at 100 °C for 1 h, the membrane surface reverted to a superhydrophobic state, enabling self-cleaning during membrane maintenance. With its facile preparation and smart electro- and thermo-responsive properties, this copper-based membrane, featuring reversibly switchable wettability, holds great promise for scalable applications in water treatment.
在处理含有无机颗粒、有机大分子和微生物的给水时，膜的润湿性对过滤性能至关重要。超亲水膜在过滤过程中抗污染性能优异，而超疏水膜则因其在维护过程中的自清洁特性而备受青睐。为满足这些截然不同的需求，我们在此提出一种新颖的策略，即开发具有可切换超亲水性和超疏水性的膜，实现按需抗污染和自清洁。这种膜是通过将氧化铜电沉积到铜网上制成的，从而形成了分级的微米和纳米级结构。通过施加20 V的还原电压，氧化铜被转化为亲水性金属铜，使铜网转变为超亲水膜。这种转变不仅促进了水的渗透，还在过滤过程中有效地排斥了污垢。值得注意的是，超亲水膜的重力驱动渗透通量高达30,000 L·m·h。此外，这种超亲水膜表现出合理的分离效率，对总悬浮固体的去除率达到60.0%，对[此处原文缺失物质名称]的去除率为93.1%，对聚乙烯醇的去除率为83.0%。在100°C加热1小时后，膜表面恢复为超疏水状态，在膜维护期间实现自清洁。这种基于铜的膜制备简便，具有智能的电响应和热响应特性，其润湿性可逆切换，在水处理的规模化应用中具有巨大潜力。
