Fig. 2: Fabrication and structural characterization of membranes. | Nature Communications

Fig. 2: Fabrication and structural characterization of membranes.

From: Transforming Ti3C2Tx MXene’s intrinsic hydrophilicity into superhydrophobicity for efficient photothermal membrane desalination

Fig. 2

a A schematic illustration of the interfacial engineering to fabricate the PM-PVDF membrane. MXene was synthesized by etching-exfoliation method and then engineered onto C-PVDF membrane by a facile electrospraying process. b Electrically conductive MXene-directed self-assembly of polymeric nanospheres by electrospraying. The formation of polymeric nanospheres involves three steps including the formation of charged droplets, coulombic explosion, and phase separation. The high electrical conductivity and sufficient surface functional groups of MXene play a structure-directing for the assembly of polymeric nanospheres, which can only be generated when PDMS and highly molecular PVDF are both present. c Cross-sectional SEM image of the PM-PVDF. d SEM image of the C-PVDF and (e) PM-PVDF. f TEM image of 2D MXene nanosheets decorated with polymeric nanospheres. g Corresponding EDS line scan on the polymeric nanospheres with spherical elements distribution. h GIXRD patterns. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

Back to article page