A thin film composite membrane (TFC) includes an active layer on a support. The active layer includes at least 8 barrier layers of star-polymers each having at least three linear polymers attached at a central core. Each of the barrier layers has a thickness between 5 and 50 nm, and the barrier layers have alternating charge.

The present invention relates to a layered semipermeable membrane satisfying the conditions below. (A) The maximum peak intensity between 3700 and 2900 cm.sup.1 is 0.08 or greater in the difference spectrum between an IR spectrum measured at 25 C. and 97% relative humidity and an IR spectrum measured at 25 C. and 3% relative humidity. (B) The peak top wavenumber between 3700 and 2900 cm.sup.1 of the aforementioned difference spectrum is 3400 cm.sup.1 to 3550 cm.sup.1. (C) The N1s peak has a maximum value at 401 eV or greater in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in which X-rays are radiated to a coat layer.

A water treatment device includes a tubular member configured to allow water to flow between an inlet on one end side and an outlet on the other end side, and a filter member disposed in the tubular member between the inlet and the outlet. The filter member includes a conductive filter having permeable holes through which water can flow, a pair of electrodes configured to apply a voltage to the conductive filter, and an insulator disposed between the pair of electrodes and configured to insulate between the pair of electrodes.

Disclosed are a membrane structure including a carbon nanomaterial and NASICON-series ceramic particles, wherein an aqueous solution can pass through an electrode and a method of fabricating the same. There is disclosed a membrane structure of a flat membrane or hollow fiber membrane form, wherein the carbon nanomaterials are intertwisted to form a three-dimensional mesh-shaped structure and the NASICON-series ceramic particles material is combined with the three-dimensional mesh-shaped structure as a complex.

The present specification relates to a block polymer and a polymer electrolyte membrane comprising the same, a membrane-electrode assembly comprising the polymer electrolyte membrane, a fuel cell comprising the membrane-electrode assembly, and a redox flow battery comprising the polymer electrolyte membrane.

Disclosed are methods of preparing antifouling coatings on reverse osmosis membranes with initiated vapor deposition or oxidative vapor deposition. The coatings enhance the stability and lifetime of membranes without sacrificing performance characteristics, such as permeability or salt retention.

In one aspect, a composite membrane comprises a polymeric host comprising polybenzimidazole or polybenzimidazole derivative and graphene oxide dispersed in the polymeric host, the graphene oxide at least partially functionalized with phosphonic acid moieties, phosphonate moieties or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the functionalized graphene oxide is homogeneously dispersed in the polymeric host and/or is not agglomerated in the polymeric host.

A method for preparation of conductive polymer/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite nanofiltration (NF) membrane and the use thereof. This conductive polymer/CNT composite NF membrane is obtained by polymerizing conductive polymer into a CNT membrane and then in-situ cross-linking with glutaraldehyde under acidic condition. The synthetic method for the conductive polymer/CNT composite NF membrane is simple and has no need of expensive equipment. The prepared membrane has controllable membrane structure and possesses superior electrical conductivity and electrochemical stability. The membrane can couple with electrochemistry for electrically assisted filtration. With the electrical assistance, the membrane can achieve improved ion rejection performance while retaining high permeability by enhancement of membrane surface charge density, which alleviates the permeability-selectivity trade-off. Furthermore, the electrically assisted NF membrane filtration can also enhance the removal for small molecular organic pollutants.

Described is a polyethylene membrane and in particular an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene member that provides a high air permeability and is hydrophobic. The membranes have small pores and are suitable for sterilization by exposure to gamma radiation. The membranes can be made by methods that involve one or more of stretching the membrane and grafting hydrophobic monomers onto the membrane surface. A perfluorinated monomer, such as perfluoro-n-octyl acrylate, can be grafted to one or more surfaces of the membrane. The membrane have a high flow rate compared to unstretched or ungrafted membranes.

Disclosed herein are porous asymmetric silicon membranes. The membranes are characterized by high structural stability, and as such are useful as anode components in lithium ion batteries.