Graphene Oxide Membranes—Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Inorganic Membranes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2024) | Viewed by 7717

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
2. Chair of Chemical Kinetics, Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
Interests: spin probe technique; molecular organized systems; graphite oxide; graphene oxide membranes

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Co-Guest Editor
N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kosygin st. 4, 119991 Moscow, Russia
Interests: catalysis; photocatalysis; metal oxides; doping; nano-semiconductors; EPR sprctroscopy
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Taking into account the growing interest of fundamental science and applied materials science in graphene oxide membranes, we are planning to publish a special issue entitled «Graphene Oxide Membranes - Synthesis, Properties, and Application», and we invite you to participate in this project. Now days it is well known that graphene oxide membranes have an unique selective permeability for liquids, gases, and hydrated ions, and the membranes have a high potential for practical applications. It has been shown that the properties of these materials are largely dependent on their internal structure, which, in turn, can be controlled by the synthesis conditions. The time has come to combine our knowledge of the macroscopic properties of graphene oxide membranes with the results of studies of lamellar structure of the membranes, their orientational order, and the properties of substances intercalated into the inter-plane and inter-lamellar spaces.

We welcome both original scientific articles and review publications. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

  1. Comparative characteristics of various methods for the membranes synthesis.
  2. Permeability of the membranes for various substances (liquids, gases, hydrated ions, etc.)
  3. Internal structure of the membranes (orientational order, lamellar structure, defectiveness, etc.)
  4. Dependence of the structure and properties of the membranes on characteristics of the graphite oxide from which they were made (method of the material synthesis, composition of functional groups, defects in the structure of graphene planes, etc.)
  5. Experimental and calculated data on the properties of substances of various nature intercalated into the inter-plane and inter-lamellar spaces of the membranes. Mobility of guest molecules inside the membranes and their interaction with the inner surface of graphene oxide is of special interest.
  6. Application of graphene oxide membranes in science and technology.

Dr. Natalia Chumakova
Prof. Dr. Alexander Kokorin
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Membranes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • graphene oxide membrane
  • synthesis methods
  • permeability for various substances
  • internal structure of the membranes
  • properties of substances intercalated into the inter-plane and inter-lamellar spaces
  • application of graphene oxide membranes

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 195 KiB  
Editorial
Graphene Oxide Membranes—Synthesis, Properties, and Applications
by Natalia Chumakova and Alexander Kokorin
Membranes 2023, 13(9), 771; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13090771 - 31 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1090
Abstract
Graphene oxide (GO) is a layered material composed of graphene planes randomly decorated by oxygen-containing groups—carbonyl, hydroxyl, epoxy, carboxyl, etc [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene Oxide Membranes—Synthesis, Properties, and Applications)

Research

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13 pages, 2836 KiB  
Article
X-ray-Fluorescence-Based Screening Method for Uranium in Contaminated Brackish Water Using Graphene Oxide Nanosheets
by Hiroshi Yoshii, Kodai Takamura, Tetsuaki Uwatoko and Yasuhiro Sakai
Membranes 2023, 13(3), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13030299 - 03 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1281
Abstract
In the event of uranium release into the environment due to an accident, confirming the presence of uranium contamination is difficult because uranium is a naturally occurring element. In this study, we developed a method based on X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for the facile [...] Read more.
In the event of uranium release into the environment due to an accident, confirming the presence of uranium contamination is difficult because uranium is a naturally occurring element. In this study, we developed a method based on X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for the facile screening of uranium in brackish water samples in the event of an accident in a coastal area. Graphene oxide nanosheets were added to uncontaminated brackish water sampled from different sites to adsorb the uranium present in the samples, if any. The graphene oxide nanosheets were then collected using a membrane filter and analyzed using XRF. The results revealed that the signal intensity of the U Lα peak was proportional to the salinity. Hence, uranium contamination could be confirmed when the intensity of the U Lα peak was significantly greater than that derived from the background uranium content, as estimated from the salinity value. Thus, in the event of an accident, the salinity of the collected brackish water should be measured, and XRF analysis should be performed using our developed method. This method is useful for screening brackish water for uranium contamination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene Oxide Membranes—Synthesis, Properties, and Applications)
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12 pages, 3564 KiB  
Article
Sorption of Polar Sorbents into GO Powders and Membranes
by A. V. Kaplin, A. T. Rebrikova, E. A. Eremina, N. A. Chumakova, N. V. Avramenko and M. V. Korobov
Membranes 2023, 13(1), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13010053 - 01 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1113
Abstract
The comparative study of sorption of polar substances acetonitrile and water into powders and membranes (>10 μm thick) of modified Hummers (HGO) and Brodie (BGO) graphite oxides was performed using isopiestic method (IM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Additional sorption data were obtained [...] Read more.
The comparative study of sorption of polar substances acetonitrile and water into powders and membranes (>10 μm thick) of modified Hummers (HGO) and Brodie (BGO) graphite oxides was performed using isopiestic method (IM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Additional sorption data were obtained for pyridine and 1-octanol. Sorption measurements were accompanied by conventional XRD and XPS control. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) was additionally used to characterize ordering of the membranes. The impact on sorption of synthetic procedure (Brodie or Hummers), method of making membranes, chemical nature of the sorbent, and method of sorption was systematically examined. It was demonstrated that variations in synthetic procedures within both Hummers and Brodie methods did not lead to changes in the sorption properties of the corresponding powders. Sorption of acetonitrile and pyridine was reduced by approximately half when switching from powders to membranes at ambient temperature. DSC measurements at a lower temperature gave equal sorption of acetonitrile into HGO powder and membranes. Water has demonstrated unique sorption properties. Equal sorption of water was measured for HGO membranes and powders at T = 298 K and at T = 273 K. It was demonstrated that lowering the orientational alignment of the membranes led to the increase of sorption. In practice this could allow one to tune sorption/swelling and transport properties of the GO membranes directly by adjusting their internal ordering without the use of any composite materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene Oxide Membranes—Synthesis, Properties, and Applications)
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9 pages, 1707 KiB  
Article
Novel Orientation-Sensitive Spin Probes for Graphene Oxide Membranes Study
by Natalia A. Chumakova, Tamas Kalai, Anastasiya T. Rebrikova, Cecília Sár and Alexander I. Kokorin
Membranes 2022, 12(12), 1241; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12121241 - 08 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 945
Abstract
Spin probe EPR spectroscopy is currently the only method to quantitatively report on the orientational ordering of graphene oxide membranes. This technique is based on the analysis of EPR spectra of a membrane containing stable radicals sorbed on oxidized graphene planes. The efficiency [...] Read more.
Spin probe EPR spectroscopy is currently the only method to quantitatively report on the orientational ordering of graphene oxide membranes. This technique is based on the analysis of EPR spectra of a membrane containing stable radicals sorbed on oxidized graphene planes. The efficiency of the method depends on the spin probe structure; therefore, it is important to find stable paramagnetic substances that are most sensitive to the alignment of graphene oxide membranes. In the present work, three novel stable nitroxide radicals containing aromatic fragments with two nitrogen atoms were tested as spin probes to study graphene oxide membranes. The spin-Hamiltonian parameters of the radicals in graphite oxide powder and orientational order parameters of the probes inside graphene oxide membrane were determined. The sensitivity of one of these radicals to membrane orientational ordering was found to be higher than for any of spin probes used previously. A likely reason for this higher sensitivity is the presence of heteroatoms which can facilitate interaction between paramagnetic molecules and oxygen-containing groups on the inner surface of the membrane. The new high-sensitivity spin probe may significantly increase the potential of EPR spectroscopy for studying the internal structure of graphene oxide membranes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene Oxide Membranes—Synthesis, Properties, and Applications)
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17 pages, 5083 KiB  
Article
Al3+ Modification of Graphene Oxide Membranes: Effect of Al Source
by Ellen J. Robertson, Yijing Y. Stehle, Xiaoyu Hu, Luke Kilby, Katelyn Olsson, Minh Nguyen and Rebecca Cortez
Membranes 2022, 12(12), 1237; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12121237 - 07 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1299
Abstract
Graphene oxide (GO) membranes are promising materials for water filtration applications due to abundant nanochannels in the membrane structure. Because GO membranes are unstable in water, metal cations such as Al3+ are often introduced to the membrane structure to promote cross-linking between [...] Read more.
Graphene oxide (GO) membranes are promising materials for water filtration applications due to abundant nanochannels in the membrane structure. Because GO membranes are unstable in water, metal cations such as Al3+ are often introduced to the membrane structure to promote cross-linking between individual GO sheets. Here, we describe a simple yet versatile method to incorporate Al3+ into GO membranes formed via a slow self-assembly process. Specifically, we directly added aluminum to acidic GO sheet solutions from a variety of sources: Al2O3, AlCl3 and Al foil. Each species reacts differently with water, which can affect the GO solution pH and thus the density of carboxylate groups on the sheet edges available for cross-linking to the Al3+ cations. We demonstrate through characterization of the GO sheet solutions as well as the as-formed membranes’ morphologies, hydrophobicities, and structures that the extent to which the Al3+ cross-links to the GO sheet edges vs. the GO sheet basal planes is dependent on the Al source. Our results indicate that greatest enhancements in the membrane stability occur when electrostatic and coordination interactions between Al3+ and the carboxylate groups on the GO sheet edges are more extensive than Al3+–π interactions between basal planes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene Oxide Membranes—Synthesis, Properties, and Applications)
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13 pages, 3287 KiB  
Article
Oxidized Carbon-Based Spacers for Pressure-Resistant Graphene Oxide Membranes
by Ekaterina A. Chernova, Konstantin E. Gurianov, Dmitrii I. Petukhov, Andrei P. Chumakov, Rishat G. Valeev, Victor A. Brotsman, Alexey V. Garshev and Andrei A. Eliseev
Membranes 2022, 12(10), 934; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12100934 - 26 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1258
Abstract
In this study, we report the influence of carbon-based spacer-oxidized derivatives of fullerenes (fullerenols) C60(OH)26–32 and graphene oxide nanoribbons on the performance and pressure stability of graphene-oxide-based composite membranes. The impact of the intercalant shape and composition on the permeance [...] Read more.
In this study, we report the influence of carbon-based spacer-oxidized derivatives of fullerenes (fullerenols) C60(OH)26–32 and graphene oxide nanoribbons on the performance and pressure stability of graphene-oxide-based composite membranes. The impact of the intercalant shape and composition on the permeance of the selective layers for water vapors has been studied under pressure gradients. It is shown that the insertion of ball-shaped fullerenols between graphene oxide nanoflakes allows a suppression in irreversible permeance loss to 2–4.5% and reversible permeance loss to <25% (at 0.1 MPa), while retaining large H2O/N2 selectivities of up to ~30,000. The demonstrated approach opens avenues for the highly effective stabilization of GO membranes at elevated pressures for industrial-scale dehumidification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene Oxide Membranes—Synthesis, Properties, and Applications)
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