Osmosis has started discovering technical application in the developing membrane technologies like Forward Osmosis and Pressure-Retarded Osmosis. It is the natural motion of solvent through a semi-permeable membrane caused by a highly concentrated solute gradient. Such technologies use thin-film membranes supported by porous layers and scalable membrane materials which open the door to new generation membrane developments. Membrane fabrication has a strong connection with the membrane surface properties and performance such as pore structure, hydrophilicity, surface roughness and water flux. This article provides a perspective on the current efforts in membrane fabrication and application of nanocomposite membranes for water treatment. Thin-film nanocomposite membranes have been employed to tailor membrane with enhanced selectivity, permeability, internal concentration polarization, fouling and stability. The main focus of this review is on how membrane science and emerging nanomaterials have been applied for forward osmosis desalination and water purification to meet the increasing worldwide demands for water.

渗透已开始在发展中的膜技术（例如正向渗透和压力延迟渗透）中发现技术应用。这是由高度浓缩的溶质梯度引起的溶剂通过半透膜的自然运动。此类技术使用由多孔层和可伸缩膜材料支撑的薄膜膜，这为新一代膜的开发打开了大门。膜的制造与膜的表面性质和性能（例如孔结构，亲水性，表面粗糙度和水通量）密切相关。本文提供了有关膜制造和纳米复合膜用于水处理的当前努力的观点。薄膜纳米复合膜已被用于定制膜，具有更高的选择性，渗透性，内部浓度极化，结垢和稳定。这篇综述的主要重点是如何将膜科学和新兴的纳米材料应用于正向渗透淡化和水净化，以满足全球对水日益增长的需求。