Selective Blocking Property of Microporous Polymer Membranes Fabricated by Chemical Vapor Deposition

Poly-p-xylylene films have been utilized as protective and barrier layers for gases and solvents on electronic and implantable devices. Here we report a new approach to create highly permeable and selective nanofiltration membranes coated with microporous poly-p-xylylene nanofilms fabricated through a dry chemical vapor deposition process by using [2.2]paracyclophanes derivatives on ultrafiltration membranes. The introduction of crosslinking points into rigid poly-p-xylylenes enhanced microporosity and mechanical strength due to insufficient packing and depression of structural relaxation among polymer chains in three-dimensional networks. Crosslinked nanofilms with thicknesses down to 50 nm showed outstanding permeability for water and alcohols at a pressure difference of 0.5 MPa and exhibited higher rejection ratios for water-soluble organic dyes than non-crosslinked nanofilms. Poly-p-xylylene nanofilms also showed an excellent blocking property for non-polar organic solvent permeation through specific interaction of hydrophilic pores with organic solvents.