Tailored pore sizes in integral asymmetric membranes formed by blends of block copolymers

Abstract

A simple way to generate isoporous membranes with tailored pore sizes is shown. Block copolymers of different compositions are blended in solution, and membranes are obtained by solution casting followed by nonsolvent-induced phase separation. This enables the preparation of integral asymmetric membranes with a defined pore size for given sets of block copolymers just by choosing the right blend composition.

Keywords: blends; block copolymers; isoporous membranes; microphase separation; self-assembly.