Abstract A novel dual pH-responsive smart gating membrane is proposed for the first time by skillfully blending poly(N,N′-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) microgels into poly(ether sulfone) membrane as functional gates via liquid-induced phase separation method. The as-prepared membrane exhibits dual pH-responsive characteristics, i.e., this novel membrane is featured with both positively pH-responsive characteristics in acidic environment and negatively pH-responsive characteristics in basic environment. The mechanism of the positively pH-responsive performance is attributed to the pH-responsive volume change of PDMAEMA microgels embedded in the membrane, while that of the negatively pH-responsive performance is originated from the pH-responsive hydrophobicity and stiffness of the microgels. As a result, the permeability of this novel membrane is increased at first and then decreased with increasing the environmental pH value. The dual pH-responsive property of the prepared membrane is reversible and repeatable. The dual pH-responsive membrane proposed in this study provides a novel gating mode for design and development of pH-responsive smart membranes, which is highly potential for myriad applications, such as sewage treatments, sensors, controlled release of drugs and so on.

中文翻译：

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双 pH 响应智能门控膜

摘要 通过将聚（N,N'-二甲氨基-2-甲基丙烯酸乙酯）（PDMAEMA）微凝胶巧妙地混合到聚（醚砜）膜中，通过液体-功能门控，首次提出了一种新型的双 pH 响应智能门控膜。诱导相分离法。所制备的膜具有双重pH响应特性，即这种新型膜在酸性环境中具有正pH响应特性，在碱性环境中具有负pH响应特性。正pH响应性能的机制归因于嵌入膜中的PDMAEMA微凝胶的pH响应体积变化，而负pH响应性能的机制源于微凝胶的pH响应疏水性和刚度。因此，这种新型膜的渗透性随着环境pH值的升高先增加后降低。制备的膜的双重 pH 响应特性是可逆和可重复的。本研究中提出的双 pH 响应膜为 pH 响应智能膜的设计和开发提供了一种新的门控模式，在污水处理、传感器、药物控制释放等众多应用中具有很高的潜力。