Permeation Properties of Water Vapor through Graphene Oxide/Polymer Substrate Composite Membranes

Graphene oxide (GO) has attracted attention as an excellent membrane material for water treatment and desalination owing to its high mechanical strength, hydrophilicity, and permeability. In this study, composite membranes were prepared by coating GO on various polymeric porous substrates (polyethersulfone, cellulose ester, and polytetrafluoroethylene) using suction filtration and casting methods. The composite membranes were used for dehumidification, that is, water vapor separation in the gas phase. GO layers were successfully prepared via filtration rather than casting, irrespective of the type of polymeric substrate used. The dehumidification composite membranes with a GO layer thickness of less than 100 nm showed a water permeance greater than 1.0 x 10(-6) mol/(m(2) s Pa) and a H2O/N-2 separation factor higher than 10(4) at 25 ? and 90-100% humidity. The GO composite membranes were fabricated in a reproducible manner and showed stable performance as a function of time. Furthermore, the membranes maintained high permeance and selectivity at 80 degrees C, indicating that it is useful as a water vapor separation membrane.

Automated summary

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was coated on various polymeric porous substrates to prepare composite membranes for water vapor separation. The membranes showed high water permeance and selectivity, with a reproducible and stable performance. The GO composite membranes also maintained their performance at high temperatures, making them useful for water vapor separation applications.