ABSTRACT
Electric fields can be used beyond fouling to tune the performance of electroresponsive membranes in situ for enhanced control. In synthetic membranes, electrically tuned pore size mimics the behavior of voltage-controlled gates in biological cells. Many materials have been studied for the fabrication of voltage-gated membranes including graphene, conducting polymers, polyelectrolyte gels, and carbon nanotubes. This chapter explores membrane materials used to develop such electroresponsive membranes for various filtration processes. Additionally, it also delves into electrical tuning of surface temperature of hydrophobic membranes for distillation via Joule heating to increase the driving force for mass transfer. Electrically assisted heating and electrically controlled permselectivity in conductive membranes pave the way for smart selectivity and improved efficiency in desalination and water treatment.
