Advanced functional polymer membranes

TLDR

Polymeric membranes with advanced or novel functions are increasingly used in liquid and gas separation, biomaterials, catalysis, and lab‑on‑chip technologies, and self‑assembly of macromolecular structures underpins many of these routes. This feature article aims to provide a comprehensive, systematically organized overview of diverse approaches to developing such advanced polymer membranes, drawing heavily on the authors’ own research. The review highlights key strategies, including novel polymer synthesis, tailored surface functionalization, template‑assisted structure creation, and composite membrane fabrication, to achieve desired barrier and functional properties. The authors evaluate these structures and functions in terms of improved or novel performance, and discuss their implications for the future of membrane technology.

Abstract

This feature article provides a comprehensive overview on the development of polymeric membranes having advanced or novel functions in the various membrane separation processes for liquid and gaseous mixtures (gas separation, reverse osmosis, pervaporation, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, microfiltration) and in other important applications of membranes such as biomaterials, catalysis (including fuel cell systems) or lab-on-chip technologies. Important approaches toward this aim include novel processing technologies of polymers for membranes, the synthesis of novel polymers with well-defined structure as 'designed' membrane materials, advanced surface functionalizations of membranes, the use of templates for creating 'tailored' barrier or surface structures for membranes and the preparation of composite membranes for the synergistic combination of different functions by different (mainly polymeric) materials. Self-assembly of macromolecular structures is one important concept in all of the routes outlined above. These rather diverse approaches are systematically organized and explained by using many examples from the literature and with a particular emphasis on the research of the author's group(s). The structures and functions of these advanced polymer membranes are evaluated with respect to improved or novel performance, and the potential implications of those developments for the future of membrane technology are discussed.