Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods for treating porous membranes. In an embodiment, a method of treating a porous membrane is provided. The method includes flushing the membrane with a first fluid comprising a hydroxide ion and hypochlorite ion, flushing the membrane with water, flushing the membrane with a second fluid comprising an organic peroxide, organic peroxide ion, or both, and flushing the membrane with water.

There is provided a graphene-based membrane where the mechanical properties, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and/or three-dimensional curvature of the membrane have been tuned according to the desired application of the membrane. Methods of accelerating the vacuum-assisted self-assembly (VASA) process for graphene-based membranes and methods for accelerating the process of removing liquid from a graphene-based dispersion are also provided. The method can include two steps of reduction to both minimize the filtration time and to substantially restore the electrical and thermal properties of a graphene-based membrane at low temperature.