There have been differing views on the ability to pattern polyamide thin-film composite (TFC) membranes directly by nanoimprint lithography. The goal of this study was to understand what factors control patternability, working towards heuristics for use by the membrane community to pattern any polyamide TFC membrane. Despite completing a comprehensive set of experiments to investigate the roles played by membrane chemistry, surface properties, mechanical properties, and performance properties on pattern peak heights for thirteen commercial nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes, we found no correlation between the variables studied and patternability of individual membranes. We did discover statistically significant differences in patternability between membranes grouped by polyamide class, with those prepared by interfacial polymerization of m-phenylenediamine and trimesoyl chloride having the largest pattern peak heights. We further discovered that the humectant used for membrane preservation plays a role on patternability. Upon replacement of the original humectants used by the membrane manufacturers with a 15 wt% glycerol solution, the pattern peak heights approached a similar value for each membrane class. Tests performed to elucidate the role of the glycerol on patternability were inconclusive. Thus, while the humectant clearly contributes to membrane patternability, the reason why remains unknown.

对于直接通过纳米压印光刻对聚酰胺薄膜复合材料（TFC）膜进行图案化的能力存在不同的看法。本研究的目的是了解哪些因素控制可图案化，致力于膜界使用启发法来图案化任何聚酰胺 TFC 膜。尽管完成了一套全面的实验来研究膜化学、表面特性、机械特性和性能特性对 13 种商用纳滤和反渗透膜图案峰高的影响，但我们发现所研究的变量与单个膜的图案化能力之间没有相关性。膜。我们确实发现按聚酰胺类别分组的膜之间的图案化能力存在统计学上的显着差异，其中通过间苯二胺和均苯三甲酰氯的界面聚合制备的膜具有最大的图案峰高度。我们进一步发现，用于膜保存的保湿剂对图案化起着重要作用。将膜制造商使用的原始保湿剂替换为 15 wt% 甘油溶液后，每个膜类别的图案峰高接近相似值。为阐明甘油对图案化的作用而进行的测试尚无定论。因此，虽然保湿剂明显有助于膜的图案化，但其原因仍然未知。