Rapid Processing of Silk Nanofibril Membranes for Molecule Rejection and Gas Barrier

A one-step, efficient alkali hydrolysis method was established to mildly exfoliate silk nanofibrils (SNFs) from natural silkworm cocoons on a large scale. The as-prepared SNFs showed an excellent dispersity and stability in various solvents. Two kinds of SNF membranes (i.e., mesoporous and nanoporous membranes) with controlled pore structures were fabricated and functioned for selective interception and protection properties, respectively. The SNF mesoporous membranes were efficient as rejection membranes, while the SNF nanoporous membranes revealed relatively high gas-barrier properties. This work offers a facile and green route for fabricating SNF-based functional-membrane materials and expanding their potential applications in filtration and gas-barrier domains.