Tailoring graphene oxide nanofiltration membrane with adjustable nanochannels for enhanced molecule separation

Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheet-based membranes have attracted attention for molecular separation, yet the challenge of balancing permeance and rejection limits practical use. We report a method that involves MoS2 nanosheets assembly onto GO nanosheets to create a tailoring GO-based nanofiltration membrane. This strategy aims to enhance the high-performance molecular separation capabilities of the GO membrane. The resulting tailoring nanofiltration membrane demonstrates significant improvements: a 27-fold permeance increase (744 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) with 98% rejection for Brilliant Yellow in water, and a 55-fold permeance increase (436 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) with 99% rejection for Rose Bengal in acetone compared to GO membranes at the same mass density. Incorporating MoS2 nanosheets enhances interconnections and introduces extra nanochannels, improving permeability without sacrificing separation efficiency. Materials studio simulations confirm stable and enhanced nanochannels in facilitating effective molecular separation. This technique holds promise for enhancing purification processes using GO-based membranes.