Electrosensitive permeability of membranes with oriented polyelectrolyte nanodomains

The nanocomposite membranes consisting of a hydrophobic matrix with oriented polyelectrolyte nanodomains grafted within possess electrosensitive permeability, while maintaining mechanical stability on the same order of magnitude as the matrix, were analyzed. These membranes were synthesized using an oxygen plasma-initiated surface graft polymerization technique. Polyester track-etched (PETE) membranes were used as the matrix, while 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) and N.N'-,methylenebis (acrylamide) (BisA) were used as the monomer and crosslinker, respectively. The result has shown that there was no changes in mechanical properties of the hydrophobic PETE membrane, after being exposed to water. The PAMPS gel, however, lost its strength by many orders of magnitude after hydration. The resulting composite, by grafting PAMPS get within the pores of the PETE matrix, shows a breaking strength in the dry state and a lower strength in the hydrated state.