METHOD AND MEMBRANE FOR NANOPOROUS, BICONTINUOUS CUBIC LYOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMER MEMBRANES THAT ENABLE FACILE FILM PROCESSING AND PORE SIZE CONTROL

摘要

A method of forming a nanoporous membrane includes preparing a solution of a gemini Imidazolium Lyotropic Liquid Crystal (LLC) monomer, a polar low-volatility organic solvent, and a radical photo-initiator in a volatile organic solvent; solvent-casting the solution onto a porous material, evaporating the volatile organic solvent; heating such that the gemini imidazolium monomer forms a Q-phase material and photopolymerizing the imidazolium monomer by exposing the radical photo-initiator to UV light; and exchanging the polar low-volatility organic solvent. Also disclosed is a membrane composed of polymerized gemini imidazolium LLC monomers, and a thin-film composite membrane having the Q-phase material supported on a porous supporting membrane.