Research Highlights - GAP 3 (M-WET project years 2018 to 2021)
Compositional Control of Crosslinked Polyether Networks
Cross-linked polyether networks of varying hydrophilicity have been synthesized using photo-induced cationic polymerizations and will be used to determine how polyether composition can influence water dynamics.
Salt permeation in ligand-functionalized polymer membranes
We show that partitioning dominates over diffusivity to dictate ideal salt permeation in ligand-functionalized polymer membranes.
Connecting Solute Diffusion to Membrane Morphology
Computer simulations reveal that solute diffusion strongly correlates with simple geometric measures of porous triblock copolymer membranes.
Influence of Membrane Architecture on Fluid Transport
Self-Consistent Field and Dissipative Fluid Dynamics simulations and polymer synthesis/membrane characterization probe the impact of pore morphology and pore wall coatings on water transport in a nanoporous membrane.
Role of Side-Chain Architecture in Poly(ethylene oxide)-based Copolymers
The design, synthesis, and characterization of a series of copolymers comprising a poly(ethylene oxide) backbone with discrete linear/cyclic oligo(ethylene oxide) side chains is reported.
Simulations Reveal Asymmetric Membrane Formation Mechanisms in Nonsolvent-Induced Phase Separation
Phase-field simulations demonstrate that mass-transfer-driven spinodal decomposition, thermal fluctuations, and structural arrest are essential to the formation of asymmetric polymer membranes in the Nonsolvent-Induced Phase Separation process.
Versatile Synthetic Platform for Building Membrane Libraries
A robust and efficient synthetic strategy permits development of wide libraries of membrane structures with well-controlled functionality.