Synergistic effects of CNT and GO on enhancing mechanical properties and separation performance of polyelectrolyte complex membranes

Publication date: 5 April 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 119
Author(s): Jia-Kai Wu, Chun-Chun Ye, Tao Liu, Quan-Fu An, Yi-Hu Song, Kueir-Rarn Lee, Wei-Song Hung, Cong-Jie Gao
High strength polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) nanocomposite membranes were prepared via synergistic ionic complexation between graphene oxide/carbon nanotubes nanofillers (GO/CNT) and oppositely charged polyelectrolytes of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and poly(2-methacryloyloxy ethyl trimethylammonium chloride) (PDMC). Ultraviolet-visible, Raman spectroscopy and microscopies results demonstrated that the combination of one-dimensional CNTs and two-dimensional GO nanosheets lead to an integrated three-dimensional network through π-π interaction with GO distributed parallel to the surface of PEC membranes. Besides, CNTs and GO nanosheets are tightly encapsulated by PEC matrix through electrostatic interactions. The tensile strength of PEC/GO-CNT nanocomposite membrane containing 3wt% GO-CNT (1:1, w/w) was 155.4MPa, showing 2.3 and 1.6 times as high as that of PEC/CNT and PEC/GO membranes, respectively. Moreover, PEC/GO-CNT membranes showed improved separation performance and operation stability with introduction of the three-dimensional network constructed by GO and CNT.

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