122
S. Pakdel et al.
Fig. 3 XRD spectra of PU nanocomposites. The figure is adapted with permission from Hindawi
Publishing Corporation[106]
(d) AFM Analysis
Surface topographies of the composite membranes were analyzed using AFM instrument. Quantitative information could be extracted from the AFM three-dimensional
topographies as taken in the semi-contact mode, and the root mean square (RMS)
roughness was recorded [39, 40, 107]. Yin et al. [40] used AFM measurements to
study the surface roughness of the prepared mixed matrix membranes as shown in
Fig. 4. The obtained results showed that the incorporation of GO into the TFC during
the phase inversion process has an impact on the membrane surface roughness. The
RSM values decreased at first with an increase in GO loading, due to the interruption of GO nanosheets on the growth of leaf-like structure during the nanocomposite
fabrication process, while the observed increment of roughness at GO concentration of 0.02 wt% may be caused by the surface-located clusters form due to the
aggregation of GO.
S. Pakdel et al.
Fig. 3 XRD spectra of PU nanocomposites. The figure is adapted with permission from Hindawi
Publishing Corporation[106]
(d) AFM Analysis
Surface topographies of the composite membranes were analyzed using AFM instrument. Quantitative information could be extracted from the AFM three-dimensional
topographies as taken in the semi-contact mode, and the root mean square (RMS)
roughness was recorded [39, 40, 107]. Yin et al. [40] used AFM measurements to
study the surface roughness of the prepared mixed matrix membranes as shown in
Fig. 4. The obtained results showed that the incorporation of GO into the TFC during
the phase inversion process has an impact on the membrane surface roughness. The
RSM values decreased at first with an increase in GO loading, due to the interruption of GO nanosheets on the growth of leaf-like structure during the nanocomposite
fabrication process, while the observed increment of roughness at GO concentration of 0.02 wt% may be caused by the surface-located clusters form due to the
aggregation of GO.