title: From micelle supramolecular assemblies in selective solvents to isoporous membranes.
abstract: The supramolecular assembly of PS-b-P4VP copolymer micelles induced by selective solvent mixtures was used to manufacture isoporous membranes. Micelle order in solution was confirmed by cryo-scanning electron microscopy in casting solutions, leading to ordered pore morphology. When dioxane, a solvent that interacts poorly with the micelle corona, was added to the solution, polymer-polymer segment contact was preferential, increasing the intermicelle contact. Immersion in water gave rise to asymmetric porous membranes with exceptional pore uniformity and high porosity. The introduction of a small number of carbon nanotubes to the casting solution improved the membrane stability and the reversibility of the gate response in the presence of different pH values.
authors.affiliation: Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, 23955-6900 Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Suzana P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Madhavan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karunakaran
authors.forename: Neelakanda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pradeep
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Behzad
authors.forename: Bobby
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hooghan
authors.forename: Rachid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sougrat
authors.forename: Haoze
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Klaus-Viktor
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Peinemann
mesh_terms: D004146:Dioxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D008823:Micelles; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004146:Dioxanes; D008823:Micelles; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents; C025223:1,4-dioxane