Two-dimensional WS2 membranes constructed on different substrates for efficient dye desalination

Two-dimensional (2D) membranes have been widely used in water purification due to their excellent separation performance. Herein, 2D WS 2 membranes were constructed on polyamide (PA) and anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) substrates for efficient dye desalination . Different with previous reports, we discovered that the dry PA supported WS 2 (WS 2 /PA) membrane still permitted water to pass through, relating to the rougher surface of PA than that of AAO, which formed more larger interlayer spacing of 1.18 nm in the WS 2 /PA membrane. Moreover, the WS 2 /PA membrane had a higher water permeance and a lower salt rejection compared with that of AAO supported WS 2 (WS 2 /AAO) membrane with similar dye rejection, and a water permeance of 597 L/m 2 ·h·bar was achieved through a 250 nm-thick WS 2 /PA membrane with a Rose Bengal (RosB) rejection of 98.5% and a NaCl rejection of 0.3%. And this water permeance is approximately one order of magnitude higher than that through reduced graphene oxide membranes in a solvation state (S-rGO) with similar dye and salt rejections, indicating their promising prospect in the application of dye desalination.