Multilayered surface modification of anion exchange membrane by MoS2 flakes for improved antifouling performance

Surface modification of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) is a classic method to improve antifouling performance. However, the transport resistance of ions is elevated due to the addition of modified layer. Herein, a series of antifouling AEMs were designed via multilayered surface modification of commercial AEMs. Owing to the inherent hydrophilicity and electronegativity, MoS 2 flakes are picked as functional materials and electrodeposited on the surface of commercial AEMs to improve the antifouling performance. Meanwhile, rigid, irregular, and small-sized MoS 2 flakes tend to the formation of loose structure, thus decreasing the loss of ion transport ability. Polydopamine (PDA) is coated on the surface of MoS 2 modified AEMs to enhance the long-term stability of AEMs. Compared to commercial AEMs, the obtained AEMs display superior antifouling performance without obviously affecting desalination performance. Particularly, PDA@MoS 2 modified AEM only offers a 9% reduction in desalination rate, while the desalination rate is 1.88 times of that of commercial AEMs after antifouling experiments. This study may provide a source of inspiration for fabricating high-performance membranes with improved antifouling performance among various separation applications.