1 research outputs found
Permeate Flux Control of a Conductive Membrane through a PEDOT Redox Switch
A filtration
membrane was modified with a conducting polymer coating
for the permeate flux control through an electric input. The filtration
membrane was first soaked in ferric chloride to load the oxidants
on the membrane surface, followed by vapor-phase polymerization of
3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT). Optimizations were carried out
to balance the filtration performance and the electrical performance
of the conductive membrane. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy confirmed the formation of PEDOT coatings on the membrane
surfaces. Spectroelectrochemistry was carried out to confirm the reversible
redox reactivity of the PEDOT coating when charged and discharged
at +1 and −1 V. The permeate flux of the conductive membrane
showed a switchable behavior during the PEDOT charging/discharging
cycles. The swelling behavior of PEDOT coatings on the membrane in
the charging/discharging cycle was confirmed by electrochemical atomic
force microscopy with the ingress/egress of dopant ions being responsible
for the membrane’s switchable flux properties. The reversible
redox switching behavior of the conductive polymer coating on the
filtration membrane provides a potential application for permeate
flux control through an electric input