Artificial water channels in supramolecular polymeric membranes, exhibiting high water permeability

Overview & Synopsis

The modular design of supramolecular polymeric membrane materials has attracted a great deal of interest for the optimization of the filtration performances requiring a detailed knowledge of chemical microstructure and nanoscale morphology. In this context, the supramolecular synthesisprovides a powerful tool for the controlled generation of self-organized functional membrane materials.We therefore decided to use this strategy employing a novel supramolecular synthetic route in order to control the formation of Artificial Water Channels -AWC within thin layer polymeric films. Such controlled generation of self-organized channels for water transport has yet to be realized and represent a straightforward approach for the design of a novel class membranes for water purification. Herein we report self-assembled membranes including I-quartet (resulted from self-assembly of four imidazoles with water molecules) and T-channels (resulted from self-assembly of amino-triazoles with water molecules) water channels that are homogeneous, flexible and show both high thermal and chemical stabilities. They were surveyed for their ability to form nanochannels, reaching high water permeation. These results provide new insights into the basic features that control the convergence ofsupramolecular self-organization with the water conduction function and suggest tools for developing the next generation of water purification membranes