Structure Design and Tailoring Strategy of Polymeric Materials for Fabrication of Nanofiltration Membranes via Phase Inversion

The non-solvent induced phase separation ( NIPS) method has significant advantages including easy processing and tailorable membrane structure in the preparation of nanofiltration membranes with high-flux and selectivity. Increasing attention has been drawn from the membrane field to further improve the precise separation and permeability of the membrane. In this review, the effects of the thermodynamics and kinetics on the membrane structure and properties during the NIPS process are systematically described, and the research progress is summarized to illustrate how the polymeric membrane materials including polysulfone and polyethersulfone affect the membrane structure and separation performance. Furthermore, the characteristics of amphiphilic block copolymer materials and their outstanding advantages in the fabrication of high-flux nanofiltration membranes are comprehensively reviewed. Finally, the potential research focus is proposed to inspire the membrane community to develop high-performance nanofiltration membranes via NIPS in the future.