Tailored PVDF nanocomposite membranes using exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets for improved permeation and antifouling performance

• Published in: New journal of chemistry Vol. 41; no. 23; pp. 14315 - 14324
• Main Authors: Sri Abirami Saraswathi, Meenakshi Sundaram, Rana, Dipak, Vijayakumar, Prabu, Alwarappan, Subbiah, Nagendran, Alagumalai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 2017
• Subjects: Antifouling; Atomic force microscopy; Atomic structure; Contact angle; Membranes; Moisture content; Molybdenum disulfide; Nanocomposites; Nanosheets; Penetration; Polyvinylidene fluorides; Porosity; Serum albumin; Surface structure; Ultrafiltration; Vinylidene fluoride; Water treatment
• DOI: 10.1039/c7nj03193a
• ISSN: 1144-0546

Exfoliated molybdenum disulfide (E-MoS 2 ) nanosheets were synthesized from bulk MoS 2 . Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) was incorporated into E-MoS 2 to yield nanocomposite ultrafiltration (UF) membranes by the phase inversion technique. Various proportions of E-MoS 2 (0.1, 0.5 and 0.8 wt%) were prepared and were characterized in terms of permeation and antifouling properties. FT-IR and XRD studies confirmed the presence of E-MoS 2 in the membranes. Moreover, SEM and FESEM/EDX analysis of the membranes confirmed the increase in the porosity and presence, respectively, of E-MoS 2 . Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images confirmed that the membrane with 0.5 wt% E-MoS 2 exhibited a uniform surface structure with ( R a = 35 nm), compared to the pure PVDF membrane ( R a = 37.6 nm). In addition, the membrane with 0.5 wt% E-MoS 2 , exhibited higher pure water flux (PWF) (105.1 L m −1 h −1 ), water content (73.7%), porosity (12.24%), bovine serum albumin (BSA) solute rejection (92.3%), least mechanical stability (1.13 MPa), hydraulic resistance (7.44 kPa L −1 m −2 h −1 ) and contact angle (72.8°). From all these, it is evident that the overall PVDF membrane performance was enhanced by the E-MoS 2 addition, and the membrane with 0.5 wt% E-MoS 2 outperformed the other counterparts due to its versatile characteristics and superior potential in the water treatment. Exfoliated molybdenum disulfide (E-MoS 2 ) nanosheets were synthesized from bulk MoS 2 .