Nanomaterials for enhancing thin-film composite: design, fabrication, and application
LI Meng，YAO Yujian，ZHANG Xuan，WANG Lianjun

Abstract:

Membrane-based filtration is the current leading technology for high-end water treatment processes. Nevertheless, the high energy consumption, the “trade-off”relationship between permeability and selectivity, and the low antifouling/antibacterial properties of membranes are challenges that hinder their widespread industrial-scale application. This review summarizes state-of-the-art nanomaterials and the selection principles of them for the fabrication of nanocomposite membranes. An overview on the desalination properties, including separation performance, antifouling/antibacterial characteristics, chlorine resistance, concentration polarization effect, are compared and summarized. Challenges, future research directions, and perspectives on developing high performance nanocomposite membranes are illustrated in detail. It is implicated that more efforts are still needed for the development of next-generation desalination membranes, particularly in the agglomeration, dispersibility, and compatibility of the nanomaterials.

Key words: separation membrane, nano-modification, permeability, selectivity, stability, concentration polarization