Organic Solvent Membrane Separation via Conjugated Polymer Nanofilms

Material platform: Ultrathin conjugated polymer nanofilms will be developed as the selective layer. Their rigid backbone and tunable crosslinking provide excellent solvent resistance and controlled free volume, enabling high permeance and selectivity simultaneously.

Key research activities: Fabrication of nanofilms via solution processing and chemical vapor deposition (CVD); comprehensive structural characterization using SEM, AFM, FT-IR, and pore measurement; permeation tests under varied feed compositions and operating conditions to elucidate transport mechanisms and structure–performance correlations.

Background Requirements:

Essential qualifications: Solid foundation in membrane science and engineering, including understanding of solution-diffusion and pore-flow transport models. Hands-on experience with membrane fabrication (phase inversion, interfacial polymerization, or coating) and standard characterization tools (SEM, AFM, FTIR, contact angle).

Preferred background: Prior experience with chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques for thin-film growth, particularly for conjugated polymers or carbon-based nanomaterials, is strongly preferred. Familiarity with vacuum systems and control of deposition parameters is highly valued.

Additional skills: Competence in organic solvent handling, polymer synthesis, and data analysis using Python or MATLAB is beneficial. Good communication skills and ability to collaborate in an interdisciplinary team are expected.