Multimodal confined water dynamics in reverse osmosis polyamide membranes

Polymeric membranes are extensively used in water desalination, but the effect of membrane nanostructure on water transport is still elusive. The authors, using quasi-elastic neutron scattering and contrast variation techniques, provide detailed insight into the dynamics of the polymer network and confined water across a wide range of length and timescales. While polyamide (PA) membranes are widespread in water purification and desalination by reverse osmosis, a molecular-level understanding of the dynamics of both confined water and polymer matrix remains elusive. Despite the dense hierarchical structure of PA membranes formed by interfacial polymerization, previous studies suggest that water diffusion remains largely unchanged with respect to bulk water. Here, we employ neutron spectroscopy to investigate PA membranes under precise hydration conditions, and a series of isotopic contrasts, to elucidate water transport and polymer relaxation, spanning ps-ns timescales, and A-nm lengthscales. We experimentally resolve, for the first time, the multimodal diffusive nature of water in PA membranes: in addition to (slowed down) translational jump-diffusion, we observe a long-range and a localized mode, whose geometry and timescales we quantify. The PA matrix is also found to exhibit rotational relaxations commensurate with the nanoscale confinement observed in water diffusion. This comprehensive 'diffusion map' can anchor molecular and nanoscale simulations, and enable the predictive design of PA membranes with tuneable performance.

Automated summary

The authors use neutron spectroscopy to investigate the effect of membrane nanostructure on water transport in polymeric membranes. They find that water diffusion in polyamide membranes exhibits multimodal characteristics, including translational diffusion, long-range mode, and localized mode. The study also reveals rotational relaxations in the polyamide matrix that are consistent with water diffusion.