The primary aim of this work is to explore the potential applications of isoporous block copolymer membranes. Block copolymers (BCPs) have demonstrated their versatility in the formation of isoporous membranes. However, application spectrum of these isoporous membranes can be further broadened by exploring the technical aspects, such as desired surface chemistry, well-defined pore size, appropriate pore density, stimuli responsive behavior, and by imparting desired functionalities through chemical modifications. We believe, by exploring these possibilities, isoporous membranes hold tremendous potential as high performance next generation separation membranes. Motivated by these attractive prospects we systematically investigated novel routes for modification of isoporous membranes and their implications on properties and performance of the membranes for various applications. In this work, polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) has been selected to fabricate isoporous membranes using non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS). We selected PS-b-P4VP since its well-defined isoporous morphology is studied in detail and it is extensively characterized. In order to further widen the application bandwidth of BCP membranes, it is desirable to integrate different functionalities in the BCP architecture through a straightforward approach like post-membrane-modification or fabrication of composite membranes to impart anticipated functionalities. The most critical challenge in this approach is to retain the well-defined nanoporous morphology of BCP membranes. We focused on exploring new routes for chemical functionalization of isoporous PS-b-P4VP membranes via various in-situ and post-membrane fabrication approaches. To date, most of the work reported in the literature on PS-b-P4VP presented different routes to fabricate isoporous membranes and their conventional performance in liquid separations. Few efforts have been dedicated to alter the chemistry of PS-b-P4VP membranes by tuning the reactivity of the chemically active P4VP block or the surface chemistry to enhance the membrane performance for desired applications. During the Ph.D. study, we primarily focused on: (i) post modification approach, (ii) surface modification and (iii) in-situ membrane modification approach for fabrication of the mixed-matrix nanoporous membranes without altering the isoporous morphology of the membrane. The membranes fabricated using the mentioned above routes were tested for different applications like stimuli-responsive separations, self-cleaning membranes, protein separations and high-performance humidity sensors.

Yes / Fluorescence spectroscopy on a series of aqueous solutions of poly(acrylic acid) containing a luminescent label showed that polymers with molar mass, Mn < 16.5 kDa did not exhibit a pH responsive conformational change, which is typical of higher molar mass poly(acrylic acid). Below this molar mass, polymers remained in an extended conformation, regardless of pH. Above this molar mass, a pH-dependent conformational change was observed. Diffusion-ordered nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy confirmed that low molar mass polymers did not undergo a conformational transition, although large molar mass polymers did exhibit pH-dependent diffusion. / Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded CASE award PhD. Part funded by flocculant manufacturer SNF (UK) Ltd.