Methods of membrane modification

Abstract

A porous membrane can include a nanoparticle.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A membrane comprising: a porous polymer layer including a functionalizing agent and a nanoparticle. 
     
     
         18 . The membrane of  claim 17 , wherein the functionalizing agent includes a metal alkoxide. 
     
     
         19 . The membrane of  claim 18 , wherein the functionalizing agent includes a Z-terminated alkoxy and wherein Z is a moiety that is compatible with, soluble within, or reacts with at least one of the nanoparticles or a functional group on the nanoparticles. 
     
     
         20 . The membrane of  claim 19 , wherein Z is hydroxy, sulfhydryl, sulfinate, sulfinic acid, epoxy, sulfonate, sulfonic acid, disulphide, carboxyl, carboxylate, amine, amide, alkoxysilyl, halosilyl, phosphate, phosphonic acid, phosphonate ester, phosphinate, phosphinic acid, or phosphinate ester. 
     
     
         21 . The membrane of  claim 17 , wherein the functionalizing agent is a silane. 
     
     
         22 . The membrane of  claim 21 , wherein the silane includes tetraethylorthosilicate, silicon tetrachloride, silanol-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, chlorine-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, ethoxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, methoxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, triethoxysilylethyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, dimethylamino-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane, or N1-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)diethylenetriamine. 
     
     
         23 . The membrane of  claim 19 , wherein the silane includes a Z-terminated halo silane and wherein Z is a moiety that is compatible with, soluble within, or reacts with at least one of the nanoparticles or a functional group on the nanoparticles. 
     
     
         24 . The membrane of  claim 23 , wherein Z is hydroxy, sulfhydryl, sulfinate, sulfinic acid, epoxy, sulfonate, sulfonic acid, disulphide, carboxyl, carboxylate, amine, amide, alkoxysilyl, halosilyl, phosphate, phosphonic acid, phosphonate ester, phosphinate, phosphinic acid, or phosphinate ester. 
     
     
         25 . The membrane of  claim 17 , wherein the porous polymer layer further includes an organic polymer and wherein the organic polymer is selected from polyolefins, ethylene-propylene rubbers, ethylene-propylene-diene monomer terpolymers (EPDM), polystyrenes, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyamides, polyacrylates, celluloses, polyesters, polyethers, polysulphones, polyazoles, polyvinylhalides, polyhalocarbons, polyethyleneimine, polymers or copolymers of ethylene, propylene, isobutene, butene, hexene, octene, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, vinyl propionate, vinyl isobutyrate, vinyl alcohol, allyl alcohol, allyl acetate, allyl acetone, allyl benzene, allyl ether, ethyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, acrylic acid, and methacrylic acid. 
     
     
         26 . The membrane of  claim 25 , wherein the organic polymer is selected from polyetherimides, polyacrylonitriles, poly sulfones, polyoxadiazoles, polytriazoles, and polyvinylfluorides. 
     
     
         27 . The membrane of  claim 17 , wherein the nanoparticles include Ag, Au, titania, zirconia, ceria, a rare earth oxide, or silica. 
     
     
         28 . The membrane of  claim 17 , wherein the nanoparticles are functionalized with a functional group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxy, a thio, an amino, and a carboxy. 
     
     
         29 . The membrane of  claim 17 , wherein the nanoparticles are surface functionalized by reaction with a second silane. 
     
     
         30 . The membrane of  claim 29 , wherein the second silane includes an amino silane. 
     
     
         31 . The membrane of  claim 29 , wherein the second silane includes N1-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)diethylenetriamine. 
     
     
         32 . The membrane of  claim 17 , wherein the functionalizing agent includes an epoxy-terminated alkoxy or halo silane and the nanoparticles are functionalized by reaction with an amino silane. 
     
     
         33 . The membrane of  claim 32 , wherein the epoxy group and the amino group react to covalently attach the functionalized nanoparticles to the porous layer. 
     
     
         34 . The membrane of  claim 17 , wherein the functionalizing agent includes glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GMS) and wherein the nanoparticles are functionalized by reaction with N1-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)diethylenetriamine. 
     
     
         35 . The membrane of  claim 17 , wherein the nanoparticles include TiO 2  nanoparticles. 
     
     
         36 . The membrane of  claim 17 , wherein the organic polymer includes polyetherimide or polyetherimide sulfone. 
     
     
         37 . The membrane of  claim 17 , wherein the membrane is an asymmetric membrane and wherein the nanoparticles are covalently attached to the porous layer.