Covalently modified MoS2 for the fabrication of interlayered thin film composite membranes with excellent structural stability against swelling and drying in organic solvent nanofiltration

Thin film nanocomposite (TFNi) membranes interlayered with 2D nanomaterials are promising for organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) applications. However, swelling and drying problems can arise due to the instability of the 2D nanomaterial interlayer in different solvents and humidity conditions. To address this issue, covalently modified molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) nanosheets (MoS 2 –COOH and MoS 2 –CONH 2 ) were used as interlayers in the fabrication of TFNi membranes. The covalent groups acted as spacers to stabilize the interlayer spacing of the MoS 2 interlayer and regulate its structural stability in diverse solvents and drying conditions. The TFNi membranes interlayered with MoS 2 –COOH and MoS 2 –CONH 2 nanosheets demonstrated excellent structural stability and maintained their high permeance even after exposure to various solvents and drying conditions. The TFNi-MoS 2 -CONH 2 membrane exhibited the highest permeance of 8.60 ± 0.23 L m −2  h −1  bar −1 for MeOH, with a high rejection of 87.1 ± 1.3 % for Evans Blue (EB). Furthermore, the TFNi membranes exhibited sustained separation performance throughout the 72 h test, demonstrating their structural stability. This study highlights the potential of TFNi membranes interlayered with covalently modified MoS 2 nanosheets for OSN applications, providing high permeance and structural stability in diverse solvents and drying conditions.