Multifunctional nanocomposite hollow fiber membranes by solvent transfer induced phase separation.

The decoration of porous membranes with a dense layer of nanoparticles imparts useful functionality and can enhance membrane separation and anti-fouling properties. However, manufacturing of nanoparticle-coated membranes requires multiple steps and tedious processing. Here, we introduce a facile single-step method in which bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsions are used to form nanoparticle-functionalized hollow fiber membranes.

Amphiphilic Graft Copolymer Nanospheres: From Colloidal Self-Assembly to CO2 Capture Membranes.

Colloidal nanosphere self-assembly effectively generates ordered nanostructures, prompting tremendous interest in many applications such as photonic crystals and templates for inverse opal fabrication. Here we report the self-assembly of low-cost, graft copolymer nanospheres for CO2 capture membranes. Specifically, poly(dimethylsiloxane)-graft-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PDMS-g-P4VP) is synthesized via one-pot, free radical dispersion polymerization to give discrete monodisperse nanospheres.

High-performance Polymer Membranes with Multi-functional Amphiphilic Micelles for CO2 Capture.

Herein, we report a high performance polymer membrane with simultaneously large improvements in the CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 selectivity. These improvements are obtained by incorporation of a multi-functional amphiphilic comb copolymer micelle, that is, poly(dimethylsiloxane)-g-poly(oxyethylene methacrylate) (PDMS-g-POEM), into a poly(amide-b-ethylene oxide) (Pebax) matrix. Both CO2 and N2 permeabilities continuously increased with PDMS-g-POEM content, whereas the CO2/N2 selectivity increased up to 40 wt % of PDMS-g-POEM, which enabled the maximum performance to approach the upper bound limit (2008).

Well-organized meso-macroporous TiO2/SiO2 film derived from amphiphilic rubbery comb copolymer.

We report the facile synthesis of a well-organized meso-macroporous TiO2/SiO2 thin film with high porosity and good interconnectivity from a binary mixture (i.e., titania precursor and polymer template).

Improved electron transfer and plasmonic effect in dye-sensitized solar cells with bi-functional Nb-doped TiO2/Ag ternary nanostructures.

TiO2 nanoparticles are surface-modified via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with a hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene)methacrylate (POEM), which can coordinate to the Ag precursor, i.e. silver trifluoromethanesulfonate (AgCF3SO3).

One-step synthesis of vertically aligned anatase thornbush-like TiO2 nanowire arrays on transparent conducting oxides for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells.

Herein, we report a facile synthesis of high-density anatase-phase vertically aligned thornbush-like TiO2 nanowires (TBWs) on transparent conducting oxide glasses. Morphologically controllable TBW arrays of 9 μm in length are generated through a one-step hydrothermal reaction at 200 °C over 11 h using potassium titanium oxide oxalate dehydrate, diethylene glycol (DEG), and water. The TBWs consist of a large number of nanoplates or nanorods, as confirmed by SEM and TEM imaging.

Nanocomposites with graft copolymer-templated mesoporous MgTiO3 perovskite for CO2 capture applications.

Mesoporous MgTiO3 perovskite with a high porosity and interfacial properties were synthesized via a solvothermal reaction at 150 °C for 10 h using a graft copolymer, i.e., poly(vinyl chloride)-g-poly(oxyethylene methacrylate) (PVC-g-POEM) with a well-ordered micellar morphology as a structure-directing agent.