3D Printing Highly Efficient Ion‐Exchange Materials via a Polyelectrolyte Microphase Separation Strategy

• DOI: 10.1002/smsc.202400019
• Publication Date: 2024-03-10T20:04:55Z
• Authors: Kenny Lee; Jitendra Mata; Valentin A. Bobrin; Dipan Kundu; Vanessa K. Peterson; Nathaniel Corrigan; Cyrille Boyer
• Keywords: Polystyrene

Ion‐exchange materials are commonly composed of polyelectrolyte networks in which crosslinking preserves macroscopic geometry and prevents dissolution aqueous conditions. However, inherently inhibits efficient swelling mass transfer during ion‐exchange processes. Herein, a one‐step polymerization‐induced microphase separation (PIMS) approach directly using water linear polystyrene sulfonate macromolecular chain agents (macroCTAs) is developed to engineer bicontinuous nanostructured with rapid capabilities. These feature water‐swollen liquid‐like domain embedded rigid polymer network, where the spacing, as determined by small angle X‐ray scattering experiments, precisely modulated between 15 89 nm based on molecular weight macroCTA used. As nanostructure enables throughout material bulk, 3D printed PIMS able rapidly remove model charged dyes from solution, exhibiting coefficient ≈35 times higher than commercially available counterparts. This work first example demonstrating direct self‐assembly into continuous nanochannels well‐controlled manner supported time‐resolved small‐angle neutron experiments polymerization. Moreover, these readily produced printers, enabling unparalleled high‐resolution fabrication targeted complex structures, including accurately controllable macroporous geometries surface areas.