Surface Segregation Methods toward Molecular Separation Membranes

As a highly promising approach to solving the issues of energy and environment, membrane technology has gained increasing attention in various fields including water treatment, liquid separations, and gas separations, owing to its high energy efficiency and eco-friendliness. Surface segregation, a phenomenon widely found in nature, exhibits irreplaceable advantages in membrane fabrication since it is an in situ method for synchronous modification of membrane and pore surfaces during the membrane forming process. Meanwhile, combined with the development of synthesis chemistry and nanomaterial, the group has developed surface segregation as a versatile membrane fabrication method using diverse surface segregation agents. In this review, the recent breakthroughs in surface segregation methods and their applications in membrane fabrication are first briefly introduced. Then, the surface segregation phenomena and the classification of surface segregation agents are discussed. As the major part of this review, the authors focus on surface segregation methods including free surface segregation, forced surface segregation, synergistic surface segregation, and reaction-enhanced surface segregation. The strategies for regulating the physical and chemical microenvironments of membrane and pore surfaces through the surface segregation method are emphasized. The representative applications of surface segregation membranes are presented. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives are highlighted. The development of synthesis chemistry and nanomaterial accelerates the application of surface segregation methods in molecular separation membranes. This review highlights the development of surface segregation agents and surface segregation methods including free surface segregation, forced surface segregation, synergistic surface segregation, and reaction-enhanced surface segregation and their application in water treatment, liquid separations, and gas separations.image

Automated summary

As a highly promising approach, membrane technology has gained increasing attention in various fields due to its high energy efficiency and eco-friendliness. Surface segregation, a versatile membrane fabrication method, has been developed using diverse surface segregation agents. This review highlights the recent breakthroughs in surface segregation methods and their applications in membrane fabrication, and emphasizes the strategies for regulating the physical and chemical microenvironments of membrane and pore surfaces through surface segregation.