Thermo-responsive graft copolymer PSf-g-PNIPM: Reducing the structure parameter via morphology control of forward osmosis membrane substrates

An amphiphilic graft copolymer, consisting of a polysulfone (PSf) main chain and poly(n-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPM) grafts, was synthesized via combination atom transfer radical polymerization click chemistry. The copolymer's structure characteristics (PNIPM length content) substantially impacts membrane morphology performance, were optimized firstly. resulting copolymer PSf-g-PNIPM with the best used as an additive in fabrication PSf porous substrates by phase inversion. effect on physicochemical performance substrate thoroughly studied. pure water permeability displays temperature dependency for 20 wt% PSf-g-PNIPM, maximum above LCST PNIPM side chains. Thin film composite membranes formed these interfacial show significantly improved flux during forward osmosis operation. modified can be further tuned casting medium temperature. Membranes below higher porosity flux. • (PSf-g-PNIPM) ATRP reaction. incorporated into using NIPS. parameters investigated. showed thermo-dependent