Photo-induced sol–gel synthesis of polymer-supported silsesquioxane membranes?

RSC Advances Pub Date: 2017-01-10 DOI: 10.1039/C6RA21161E

Abstract

A novel approach to the preparation of polymer-supported silsesquioxane membranes is developed via photo-induced sol–gel processing. An organically bridged silsesquioxane thin layer by coating a silsesquioxane sol with a photo-acid generator onto a polymeric SPES/PSF composite nanofiltration membrane followed by irradiation with UV at room temperature. This polymer-supported silsesquioxane membrane derived from 1,2-bis(trimethoxysilyl)ethane displays selective water permeation with a water permeance of 3.0 × 10?6 mol m?2 s?1 Pa?1, and shows a separation factor of 99 in the pervaporation of a 90 wt% isopropanol aqueous solution.

Graphical abstract: Photo-induced sol–gel synthesis of polymer-supported silsesquioxane membranes
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