Graphene is a one-atom-thick planar sheet of sp²-bonded carbon atoms that are densely packed in a two-dimensional crystal. As the building block for various macroscopic membranes, graphene has been known as a rising star in the area of membrane separation. The preparation and application of graphene based separation membrane are discussed in this review. Particular emphasis is directed to the wide application of graphene based membrane in the field of water treatment, gas separation, desalination and so on. Compared to traditional polymer membrane, graphene based separation membrane has the advantage of anti-fouling, high flux and good selectivity. Moreover, the application of other emerging 2D materials such as BN, MoS₂ and WS₂ in separation technology is also discussed. Finally, the future opportunities and challenges for the wide application of graphene based membrane are also discussed along with perspectives for future research in these fields.
Contents
1 Introduction
2 The preparation of graphene based membranes
2.1 Vacuum filtration method
2.2 Spin coating/spraying method
2.3 Layer-by-layer self-assembly method
2.4 Blending method
3 The application of graphene based membranes
3.1 Gas separation
3.2 CO₂ capture
3.3 Water purification
3.4 Desalination
3.5 Isotope removal
4 Membrane modification and performance improvement
4.1 Antifouling properties
4.2 Flux increase
4.3 Balance between the selectivity and flux
5 Separation membranes based on other emerging two-dimensional materials
6 Conclusion