Micro-nanostructure tuning of PEEK porous membrane surface based on PANI in-situ growth for antifouling ultrafiltration membranes

As typical solvent-resistant special engineering materials, Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) membranes offer excellent application potential in the field of membrane separations. Nevertheless, the majority of cutting-edge solvent-resistant separation membranes increase the processes involved in preparation and increase the cost of production when creating surface micro-nano separation layers. Herein, this work shows a straightforward, effective, and additive-free method for creating Polyaniline/Polyether ether ketone (PANI/PEEK) porous membranes. In our study, the conversion of polyaryl ether amine (PEEKt) membranes to PANI/PEEK membranes is accomplished by eschewing physical blending and post-modification in favor of a novel in-situ polymerization strategy that modifies the microscopic morphology of the membranes. By modifying the membrane under varying situations, the microstructure of PANI on the surface of PEEK porous membranes was controlled, and the micro-nano separated layers of PANI was also investigated. Based on the tuned optimal experimental circumstances, the pure water flux of PANI/PEEK membrane was 302 ± 5 L m −2 h −1 bar −1 and the rejection of BSA was above 97%. Based on the excellent solvent resistance of PANI/PEEK membranes, it has high separation performance and cycling stability in oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. By creating the surface of PANI/PEEK charge enrichment, the membrane was simultaneously made excellent antifouling, and its flux recovery rate was kept over 80% after three cycles. In this study, high performance PANI/PEEK membranes are created using a straightforward procedure with promising membrane separation and electrocatalytic degradation separation. • Sovlent-resistant PANI/PEEK porous membranes were obtained by a straightforward, effective, and additive-free method in one step. • The integrated growth of PANI realizes the functional modification of the nanostructure on the surface of PEEK membrane, and realizes the regulation of the micro-nanostructure on the surface of the membrane. • The membrane achieves high-efficiency solvent-resistant oil-water separation and excellent anti-fouling properties, with the flux recovery rate of over 80%.