(35d) Tailored Integration of Water Processable Charged Covalent Organic Framework into Polyamide Membranes for Efficient Clean Water Production Via Desalination

Introducing well-structured and selective channels with charged groups into the polyamide (PA) layer during interfacial polymerization (IP) shows promise for boosting the Donnan and steric exclusion effects, thus enhancing performance. Herein, we propose a novel method to precisely adjust charged groups within the PA layer by incorporating water-processible and charged covalent organic frameworks (COFs) during IP. The COFs' processability and charged nature enhance compatibility with PA, enabling a high loading (10 wt. %) without compromising membrane integrity. Additionally, COF integration during IP results in PA membranes with reduced thickness, increased negative charge density, and increased hydrophilicity. Consequently, PA membranes containing 10 wt. % COF (PA-COF₁₀) demonstrated exceptional water permeance (0.98 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹·bar⁻¹), surpassing pristine PA membranes (0.39 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹·bar⁻¹), while maintaining over 98% rejection for NaCl. Moreover, PA-COF₁₀ membranes exhibit outstanding operational stability and resistance to fouling. This synergistic enhancement of permeance and salt rejection through charged COF integration offers a practical and eco-friendly approach for advanced desalination membrane development, facilitating rapid clean water production.