Functionalized graphene oxide-based lamellar membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration applications

Abstract

In this study, two-dimensional graphene oxide-based novel membranes were fabricated by modifying the surface of graphene oxide nanosheets with six-armed poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) at room conditions. The as-modified PEGylated graphene oxide (PGO) membranes with unique layered structures and large interlayer spacing (∼1.12 nm) were utilized for organic solvent nanofiltration applications. The as-prepared 350 nm-thick PGO membrane offers a superior separation (>99%) against evans blue, methylene blue and rhodamine B dyes along with high methanol permeance ∼ 155 ± 10 L m⁻² h⁻¹, which is 10–100 times high compared to pristine GO membranes. Additionally, these membranes are stable for up to 20 days in organic solvent. Hence the results suggested that the as-synthesized PGO membranes with superior separation efficiency for dye molecules in organic solvent can be used in future for organic solvent nanofiltration application.