Amphiphilic triblock copolymers, articles containing the amphiphilic triblock copolymers, and methods of making these block copolymers provided. The amphiphilic triblock copolymers contain a first block (an A block) derived from isoprene, a second block (a B block) derived from a vinyl aromatic such as styrene, and a third block (a C block) derived from butadiene that have been subjected to hydrosilylation.

Filtration membranes comprising a microporous sheet of polyolefin grafted with a poloxamer are described. In an embodiment, the poloxamer is that supplied under the trade name PLURONIC™ P-123 and the polyolefin is poly(ethylene). The membranes provide the advantage of being tolerant to the cleaning agents used in clean-in-place protocols and can be used to remove particulates from these aqueous feed streams.

A membrane-based desorption cooling method for passive thermal management is presented. The module includes: (i) a covering layer for thermally conducting and transferring heat from a device to a solution; (ii) a solution layer for confining H.sub.2O/absorbent mixtures in a multi-compartment frame; (iii) a membrane layer configured to act as an interface between the solution and air; and (iv) a supporting layer configured to increase the mechanical strength and including apertures to permit mass transfer from the membrane through the supporting layer. The present membrane-based desorption cooling module is able to be used for thermal management of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, electronics, batteries, or any other devices that require heat removal.

The invention relates to the technical field of membrane separation, in particular to and discloses a preparation method of a high-performance MABR hollow fiber composite membrane, which comprises the following steps: 1) pretreating a supporting membrane, which includes: soaking the supporting membrane in ethanol, then soaking the supporting membrane in pure water, and then removing residual water; 2) preparing a coating solution, which includes: mixing raw silicone rubber and a reinforcing material with a continuous stirring, adding a crosslinking agent and a catalyst and stirring well, adding a solvent to dilute to a required concentration, and perform a vacuum defoaming; 3) coating the pretreated supporting membrane, which includes: coating and pulling; and 4) performing a curing, which includes: placing the membrane in an oven for curing. With the preparation method of the high-performance MABR hollow fiber composite membrane according to this invention, the prepared composite membrane has a higher oxygen permeability and a higher bubble point pressure of the dry membrane, which facilitates the transmission of oxygen across the membrane and enables the composite membrane to bear a higher aeration pressure during its operation, and ensures the operation efficiency of the MABR system, with advantages of a simple and feasible process, a suitability for the microporous support membrane of various materials and a good modification effect.

In accordance with at least selected embodiments, a battery separator or separator membrane comprises one or more co-extruded multi-microlayer membranes optionally laminated or adhered to another polymer membrane. The separators described herein may provide improved strength, for example, improved puncture strength, particularly at a certain thickness, and may exhibit improved shutdown and/or a reduced propensity to split.

An electrochemical cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly and a selectively permeable barrier layer comprising sulfonated polymer is disclosed. The selectively permeable barrier layer is arranged facing at least one electrocatalyst layer, e.g., anode or cathode. The sulfonated polymer layer aids in controlling the movement of fluids and/or their constituents into and out of the electrochemical cell assembly for separation or capture for subsequent use.

The present disclosure is directed to affinity chromatography devices including a fibrillated polymer membrane that contains inorganic particles having a spherical shape and a particle size distribution that has a D90/D10 less than or equal to 3. A blend or a combination of spherical inorganic particles may be utilized. A nominal particle size of the spherical inorganic particles is from about 5 microns to about 20 microns. An affinity ligand may be bonded to the spherical inorganic particles and/or to the fibrillated polymer membrane. Also, the affinity chromatography devices have a hydraulic permeability from about 100 (×10.sup.−12 cm.sup.2) to about 500 (×10.sup.−12 cm.sup.2). Additionally, the affinity chromatography devices have a cycling durability of at least 100 cycles without exceeding an pressure of 0.3 MPa. Manifolds containing multiple affinity chromatography devices in a parallel configuration and multiple manifolds in a parallel configuration are also disclosed.

A super-wet surface is a polypropylene surface, on which a hydrophilic side group is grafted, having a micro-nano structure. The super-wet surface is at least super-hydrophilic and does not contain an initiator residue. The super-wet surface is prepared by grafting, in the absence of an initiator, by means of microwave irradiation, a monomer for forming a side group, on the polypropylene surface, as a grafting base, having a micro-nano structure. In the preparation of the super-wet surface, the molecular weight of polypropylene does not decrease after grafting, there is no residual monomer or initiator residue, and the super-wetting effect of the obtained surface is lasting and stable. The super-wet surface can be used in bonding, spraying, oil-water separation, water treatment, biology, medicine and energy fields.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a production method for a porous membrane including pores, and concave portions having an average opening diameter greater than an average pore diameter of the pores on at least one of a pair of main surfaces, the method including a step of forming the concave portion on a surface to be the main surface.

Described are filter membranes, related systems, and related method useful for producing purified (e.g., ultrapure) water, including membranes, systems, and methods of preparing purified water that will be useable in processes of manufacturing electronic and semiconductor devices.