Versatile and efficient photopolymerization approach to zinc oxide-composed dual functional membranes for sustainable water treatment

Water contaminated with organic pollutants significantly threatens human health and ecosystems. Despite advances in water treatment membranes, challenges persist in their complex fabrication processes and limitations in handling intricate wastewater treatments. Here, we introduce a straightforward, sustainable, scalable, and adaptable strategy for fabricating superwettable membranes using zinc oxide (ZnO)-initiated photopolymerization. ZnO nanoparticles used in this approach provide spatial control for polymerization, enhance surface roughness to induce superhydrophilicity for oil removal, and catalyze photodegradation of dissolved organic contaminants. Versatility of this approach allows the fabrication of three distinct types of membranes, showcasing exceptional performance in diverse water treatment scenarios. Stratified and emulsified oil/water mixtures can be separated efficiently (>99.0%), with fluxes up to 19,700 L m⁻²h⁻¹. In addition, over 90% of soluble organic pollutants can be photodegraded within two filtration cycles, concurrently with oil removal. This membrane-fabricating strategy paves the way for the scalable production of superwettable and photocatalytic membranes for sustainable water treatment applications.