Dynamic modulation of separation performance in electrically conductive polyamide membranes with scalable fabrication potential

Polyamide is the most commonly used selective layer in nanofiltration membranes at an industrial scale. However, polyamide membranes lack flexibility, as their performance in terms of rejection and flux becomes fixed once the membrane is formed. Although several studies have explored during- and post-fabrication modifications of polyamide membranes, these approaches result in irreversible changes to membrane properties. Herein, we developed an electrically conductive polyamide membrane with dynamically tunable salt rejection performance by applying external positive or negative potentials. The observed changes in membrane performance were reversible, indicating that the chemical and structural integrity of the membrane is maintained. Furthermore, unlike findings from previous studies, the salt rejection performance of this membrane remains uncompromised even at voltages that induce electrochemical reactions. These results highlight the potential of this membrane for adaptive filtration systems and applications requiring electrochemical reactions without sacrificing separation efficiency.