LAUSR

Abstract An inexpensive kind of paper-like (film) membranes was synthesized by a new simple spraying-coating method to reject ions from water. Polyvinyl Chloride/Graphene Oxide membranes resulted to be flexible films, their morphology, stability and permeation changed with GO concentration (0–40 GO wt%). Each GOM presented one smooth and one rough surface. Contact angle measurements confirmed a maximum perceptible difference of approximately 30° between both surfaces of the same GOM. Hydrophilicity and permeability of GOM were enhanced with the amount of GO as was revealed by Fourier-transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. Permeation rejection was between 82 and 97%, in the same order or better than membranes synthetized with other methods. It was found that both the diffusion coefficient and tortuosity values were 2 × 10−7 cm2 s−1 and 14, respectively, which are in the range of those reported for ion transport within a nanoporous medium with high tortuosity. These paper-like films could be cost – effective candidates for ion rejection due to its ease of fabrication at low cost and long-term stability under laboratory conditions.