Novel nanohybrid polysulfone membrane embedded with silver nanoparticles on graphene oxide nanoplates

Combining silver nanoparticles with graphene oxide (GO) nanoplates may provide a more uniform distribution of silver in membranes. GO nanoplates were synthesised using natural graphite powder according to Hummers method. Silver-decorated GO was prepared by reducing silver nitrate in the presence of aqueous sodium borohydride solution. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to investigate the silver-decorated GO. The membranes were fabricated by the wet-phase inversion method and were mixed with different amounts (0.00-1.00 wt%) of silver-decorated GO. Membrane properties such as hydrophilicity, pure water flux, and rejection were enhanced for all of the nanohybrid membranes. The optimum amounts of silver-decorated GO for optimum membrane properties was 0.5 wt%, which resulted in a lower contact angle as well as higher flux and porosity. The nanohybrid membranes also showed excellent antibacterial properties, which could delay or prevent the formation of biofouling on the membrane surface and provide an opportunity for new applications in the future. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.