Rigid-flexible coupling poly (phenylene sulfide) fiber membrane: a highly stable chemical and thermal material for energy and environmental applications

The poly (phenylene sulfide) (PPS) fiber membrane is composed of interwoven fibers, with a three-dimensional porous structure. The three-dimensional porous structure makes PPS fiber membranes have high porosity and large specific surface area, which stands out in the field of membrane separation. A PPS fiber is a high-performance fiber with excellent chemical and thermal stability. These characteristics allow PPS fiber membranes to be used in harsh membrane separation environments such as strong acids, alkalis, and high temperatures. However, the corrosion resistance and high-temperature stability of PPS fibers also make the preparation of PPS fibers and their membranes challenging. In this paper, the preparation method is summarized, including two direct methods to make a PPS fiber membrane: melt-blown spinning and melt electrostatic spinning, and two indirect methods: wet papermaking and weaving. Additionally, the applications of PPS fiber membranes are summarized in detail in energy and environmental fields, such as lithium-ion batteries, alkaline water electrolysis, air filtrations, chemical catalyst substrates, and oil-water separations. This review provides an insightful understanding of PPS fiber membrane preparation methods and the interconnections between these preparation methods and specific applications, thus laying a solid foundation for further advancing the range of PPS fiber membrane applications.