The present invention pertains to a membrane for an electrochemical device, to a process for manufacturing said membrane and to use of said membrane in a process for manufacturing an electrochemical device.

A reverse osmosis composite membrane includes: a porous support; and a reverse osmosis membrane arranged on the porous support and containing a crosslinked polyamide and carbon nanotubes. The reverse osmosis membrane contains the carbon nanotubes that are disentangled in the crosslinked polyamide. A distribution of closest distances between the carbon nanotubes in the reverse osmosis membrane has a peak that is within a range of a thickness of the reverse osmosis membrane, and a half width of the peak is equal to or less than the thickness of the reverse osmosis membrane.

Described herein are mixed matrix filtration membranes and related, compositions, methods and systems and in particular mixed matrix filtration membranes with an embedded polymer network and/or embedded polymeric micro/nanoparticles functionalized with a functionalization polymer covalently and/or non covalently linked to the micro/nanoparticles and related compositions, methods, and systems.

A method of making a metal organic framework (MOF)-polymer composite material includes forming a homogeneous solution comprising a solvent, a metal salt, a polymer which is soluble in the solvent, and a reactant which can be synthesized to provide an organic linker during formation of a MOF structure, synthesizing the homogeneous solution to crystallize a MOF structure in the homogenous solution to yield the MOF structure distributed in a remainder solution, applying an antisolvent to the remainder solution with the MOF structure distributed in the remainder solution to form a polymer-rich phase, where the MOF structure is integrated into the polymer matrix during forming of the polymer matrix to produce a MOF-polymer composite material. The MOF-polymer composite material can be formed on a substrate to produce a MOF structured object, which can be a membrane, film, or other object.

The present invention pertains to a process for manufacturing one or more fluoropolymer fibers, said process comprising the following steps: (i) providing a liquid composition [composition (C1)] comprising: at least one fluoropolymer comprising at least one hydroxyl end group [polymer (F.sub.OH)L and a liquid medium comprising at least one organic solvent [solvent (S)]; (ii) contacting the composition (C1) provided in step (i) with at least one metal compound [compound (M)] of formula (I) here below: X.sub.4mAY.sub.m (I) wherein X is a hydrocarbon group, optionally comprising one or more functional groups, m is an integer from 1 to 4, A is a metal selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti and Zr, and Y is a hydrolysable group selected from the group consisting of an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group and a hydroxyl group, thereby providing a liquid composition [composition (C2)]; (iii) submitting to at least partial hydrolysis and/or polycondensation the composition (C2) provided in step (ii) thereby providing a liquid composition [composition (C3)] comprising at least one fluoropolymer hybrid organic/inorganic composite; (iv) processing the composition (C3) provided in step (iii) by electrospinning thereby providing one or more fluoropolymer fibers; (v) drying the fluoropolymer fiber(s) provided in step (iv); and (vi) optionally, submitting to compression the fluoropolymer fiber(s) provided in step (v) at a temperature comprised between 50 C. and 300 C. The invention also pertains to a process for the manufacture of said fluoropolymer fiber(s) and to uses of said fluoropolymer fiber(s) in various applications.

Synthesis, fabrication, and application of nanocomposite polymers in different form (as membrane/filter coatings, as beads, or as porous sponges) for the removal of microorganisms, heavy metals, organic, and inorganic chemicals from different contaminated water sources.

Provided is a novel continuous single-step method of manufacturing a multilayer sorbent polymeric membrane having superior productivity, properties and performance. At least one layer of the polymeric membrane comprises sorbent materials and a plurality of interconnecting pores. The method includes: (a) coextruding layer-forming compositions to form a multilayer coextrudate; (b) casting the coextrudate into a film; (c) extracting the film with an extractant; and (d) removing the extractant from the extracted film to form the multilayer sorbent polymeric membrane. The sorbent membrane of this disclosure can find a wide range of applications for use in filtration, separation and purification of gases and fluids, CO.sub.2 and volatile capture, structural support, vehicle emission control, energy harvesting and storage, electrolyte batteries, device, protection, permeation, packaging, printing, and etc.

The invention relates in general to porous graphene-based films. In particular, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of a porous graphene-based films comprising reduced graphene oxide. The invention also relates to porous graphene-based films prepared by the process and to uses of such porous graphene-based films, in particular, in filtration applications. The invention further relates to porous multi-zone graphene-based films comprising different zones of different porosity.

Provided herein are methods for forming nanofibers. The current disclosure provides ceramic nanofibers, morphology-controlled ceramic-polymer hybrid nanofibers, morphology-controlled ceramic nanofibers, core-sheath nanofibers and hollow core nanofibers using ceramic precursor materials and polymer materials which are combined and undergo electrospinning. The current disclosure provides for methods of forming these nanofibers at low temperatures such as room temperature and in the presence of oxygen and moisture wherein the ceramic precursor cures to a ceramic material during the electrospinning process. Also disclosed are the nanofibers prepared by the disclosed methods.

Described herein is a graphene material and polymer-based anti-microbial element that provides anti-microbial capabilities. Described is an element that can also comprise a support. Also described is an element where the support can be the article to be protected from microbial buildup. Also described are methods for preventing microbial fouling by applying the aforementioned anti-microbial elements and related devices.