Fig. 1: Concept, morphology and characterization of the smart hybrid membranes.
From: Smart dynamic hybrid membranes with self-cleaning capability
A Chemical structure of the smart membrane components: polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), glutaraldehyde (GA) and 1,2,4,5-tetrabromobenzene (TBB). B Schematic illustration of the process for preparation of the hybrid membranes. C Optical image of one of the membranes (sample P-P-T 1.0). D Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) profile of TBB showing a thermal signature of the reversible TS phase transition at 39–46 °C. E Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of TBB microcrystals before incorporation. F SEM micrograph of TBB crystals embedded in the hydrogel layer of the hybrid membrane (sample P-P-T 0.5). G Zeta potential (ζ) of the membranes surface as a function of the pH for composite membranes with different TBB loading (P-P stands for PVDF-PVA and P-P-T for PVDF-PVA-TBB). H Schematic cross-section of a composite membrane (sample P-P-T 2.0) along with false-colored SEM image showing the main components of the hybrid membrane in different colors. The membrane composition with the acronyms that refer to the TBB loading are provided in Fig. 2A.
