One-Step Synthesis of Cross-Linked Ionic Polymer Thin Films in Vapor Phase and Its Application to an Oil/Water Separation Membrane

In spite of the huge research interest, ionic polymers could not have been synthesized in the vapor phase because the monomers of ionic polymers contain nonvolatile ionic salts, preventing the monomers from vaporization. Here, we suggest a new, one-step synthetic pathway to form a series of cross-linked ionic polymers (CIPs) in the vapor phase via initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD). 2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and 4-vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) monomers are introduced into the iCVD reactor in the vapor phase to form a copolymer film. Simultaneously in the course of the deposition process, the tertiary amine in DMAEMA and benzylic chloride in VBC undergo a Menshutkin nucleophilic substitution reaction to form an ionic ammonium-chloride complex, forming a highly cross-linked ionic copolymer film of p(DMAEMA-co-VBC). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the synthesis of CIP films in the vapor phase. The newly developed CIP thin film is further applied to the surface modification of the membrane for oil/water separation. With the hydrophilic and underwater oleophobic membrane whose surface is modified with the CIP film, excellent separation efficiency (>99%) and unprecedentedly high permeation flux (average 2.32 × 10⁵ L m^-2 h^-1) are achieved.