US 12,357,951 B2
Composite membrane and methods of fabrication thereof
Guimin Shi, Singapore (SG); and Tai-Shung Neal Chung, Singapore (SG)
Assigned to NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE, Singapore (SG)
Appl. No. 17/795,746
Filed by National University of Singapore, Singapore (SG)
PCT Filed Jan. 29, 2021, PCT No. PCT/SG2021/050043
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 27, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/158173, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10202001089U (SG), filed on Feb. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0093327 A1, Mar. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. B01D 71/36 (2006.01); B01D 61/36 (2006.01); B01D 67/00 (2006.01); B01D 69/02 (2006.01); B01D 69/10 (2006.01); B01D 69/12 (2006.01); B01D 71/26 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 71/36 (2013.01) [B01D 61/362 (2013.01); B01D 61/363 (2022.08); B01D 67/0002 (2013.01); B01D 67/0095 (2013.01); B01D 69/02 (2013.01); B01D 69/105 (2013.01); B01D 69/106 (2022.08); B01D 69/107 (2022.08); B01D 69/1216 (2022.08); B01D 71/261 (2022.08); B01D 2323/12 (2013.01); B01D 2323/219 (2022.08); B01D 2323/46 (2013.01); B01D 2323/50 (2013.01); B01D 2325/04 (2013.01); B01D 2325/06 (2013.01); B01D 2325/20 (2013.01); B01D 2325/38 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of fabricating a composite membrane comprising a perfluorinated polymer layer physisorbed on a surface of a polymer substrate layer, the method, comprising:
a) contacting a perfluorinated polymer solution with a surface of the polymer substrate layer in a drying chamber; and
b) drying the perfluorinated polymer solution in the drying chamber to form the perfluorinated polymer layer physisorbed on the surface of the polymer substrate layer;
wherein the perfluorinated polymer solution comprises a perfluorinated polymer and a C5-C18 perfluorinated solvent;
wherein the perfluorinated polymer solution is dried under an air flow of about 0.05 m/s to about 1.5 m/s, at a relative humidity of less than 20% and at ambient temperature in order to form the perfluorinated polymer layer, the layer having a surface morphology of 0% to 10% of its surface comprising micro-structures;
wherein the perfluorinated polymer layer has a thickness of about 5 nm to about 500 nm;
wherein the perfluorinated polymer layer comprises a perfluorinated polymer or a copolymer or blend thereof; and
wherein the polymer substrate layer comprises a non-perfluorinated polymer, or copolymer, or blend thereof.