journal article·2026-05Open access

Ultrafast Interfacial Engineering for Quantifiable Control of Asymmetric Configurations in Nanostructured Janus Membranes

Wenqing Zhang, Jinhui Xu, Bo Li, Yao Li, Yue Zhang, Zhishu Tang, Huaxu Zhu, Jingwei Hou

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 30

Abstract

ABSTRACT Janus membranes (JMs) promise advanced liquid separations, but fabrication speed, substrate universality, and precise configurational control remain challenging. Here, we report an ultrafast and universal interfacial engineering strategy to construct JMs with desirable micro‐nano structures. Founded on a rapidly formed tannic acid/polyethyleneimine (TA/PEI) platform, the approach utilizes highly reactive stearoyl chloride (SC) for minute‐scale hydrophobic modification. Crucially, a novel physicochemical control principle is revealed. Specifically, interfacial wettability and tension are modulated at the molecular level by phytic acid (PA). Through this modulation, the membrane's physical immersion depth is governed to provide unprecedented, quantifiable control over hydrophilic layer thickness during liquid‐liquid interface modification. This enables tailored JMs exhibiting pronounced asymmetric super‐wettability (water contact angle (WCA) difference >157°) and tunable unidirectional liquid transport. Demonstrated across diverse metallic and polymeric substrates, the resulting JMs show remarkable separation performance for challenging mixtures, alongside exceptional stability. This facile and controllable strategy overcomes previous limitations in speed, universality, and regulation of asymmetric configurations, offering a versatile platform for designing nano‐engineered functional materials for sophisticated liquid separation applications.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization · Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation · Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Jiangsu Research Center of Botanical Medicine Refinement Engineering Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine Nanjing China

School of Chinese Materia Medica Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Beijing China

School of Chemical Engineering The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland Australia

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China

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