Abstract: A semi-permeable membrane may include a support layer and an active layer in contact with the support layer. The support layer includes a porous structure including a polymer and at least one metal (or metalloid) oxide in the porous structure. In the support layer, the amount of the metal (or metalloid) oxide present in a portion adjacent to the active layer is higher than the amount of the metal (or metalloid) oxide present in a portion farther from the active layer.

Abstract: A forward osmosis water treatment device may use a separation membrane including a polymer layer introduced with a functional group having an affinity for an osmosis draw solute present in an osmosis draw solution.

Abstract: An organic/inorganic composite membrane may include hydrophilic inorganic particles dispersed in an organic polymer matrix having finger-like pores. The hydrophilic inorganic particles may be present at a higher concentration near one surface of the membrane having a higher density than the other surface of the membrane having a lower density.

Abstract: A draw solute for forward osmosis may include a temperature-sensitive oligomer compound including a structural unit including a temperature-sensitive moiety. The temperature-sensitive oligomer compound may further include a hydrophilic functional group at the terminal end of the main chain.

Abstract: A forward osmosis water treatment device includes a plurality of forward osmosis separation membrane in which each forward osmosis separation membrane includes an active layer and a support layer, first spacers disposed between two active layers facing each other, and second spacers disposed between two support layers facing each other, wherein a plurality of the first spacers and the second spacers are included so as to form a stack structure together with the forward osmosis membranes, the plurality of the first spacers form a first flow path forming a flow of water to be treated, and the plurality of the second spacers form a second flow path forming a flow of a draw solution.

Abstract: A separator for a rechargeable lithium battery and a rechargeable lithium battery including the separator, the separator including a substrate, and a heat-resistant porous layer on at least one side of the substrate, the heat-resistant porous layer including a composite particle, wherein the composite particle includes a first particle and a second particle attached to a surface of the first particle, and the first particle is different from the second particle, and at least one of the first particle and the second particle includes an organic material.

Abstract: Disclosed are an organic/inorganic hybrid membrane for fouling resistance including a composite of a hydrophilic inorganic particle and a quaternary ammonium compound dispersed in an organic polymer matrix, a method of preparing the membrane, a separation membrane for water treatment including the membrane, and a water treatment device including the separation membrane for water treatment.

Abstract: A draw solute including an ionic oligomer having a repeating unit that includes at least two phosphonate moieties and counter ions thereof, and a forward osmosis device and method for water treatment using the draw solute and an aqueous solvent, are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a bilayer scaffold through single process comprising: preparing a first polymer aqueous solution; adding a second polymer into the first polymer aqueous solution and stirring a reactant; adding a surfactant into the stirred reactant and stirring the reactant at high temperature and high speed; freeze-drying the stirred reactant thereby obtaining a sponge; dipping the sponge in a cross-linking agent thereby rendering be cross-linked; and freeze-drying the cross-linked reactant.

Abstract: A thermosensitive copolymer may include a first repeating unit having a temperature-sensitive oligomer and a second repeating unit having an ionic moiety and a counter ion to the ionic moiety. The temperature-sensitive oligomer may be an oligomer including a repeating unit derived from a unsaturated monomer with a moiety represented by Chemical Formula 1 or Chemical Formula 2, or an oligomer including a repeating unit derived from a heterocyclic compound having C, N, O, and a C?N bond in its ring. *—C(?O)N(R2)(R3)??[Chemical Formula 1] R2 and R3 may each independently be hydrogen or a linear or branched C1 to C6 alkyl group, a C3 to C7 cycloalkyl group, or a C6 to C10 aryl group, R2 and R3 may not both be hydrogen, and R2 and R3 may be combined to form a nitrogen containing heterocycle. R4 may be a C2 to C5 alkylene group.

Abstract: A separator for a rechargeable lithium battery and a rechargeable lithium battery, the separator including a substrate, and a heat-resistant porous layer on at least one side of the substrate, the heat-resistant porous layer including an imide-based copolymer, wherein the imide-based copolymer includes a first repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 1 and a second repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 2:

Abstract: A draw solute for forward osmosis may include a copolymer including a first structural unit, where a temperature-sensitive side chain is graft polymerized, and a second structural unit including a hydrophilic functional group. The temperature-sensitive side chain may include a structural unit for a side chain including a temperature-sensitive moiety. The temperature-sensitive moiety may be represented by Chemical Formula 1, Chemical Formula 2, or Chemical Formula 3: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or a linear or branched C3 to C5 alkyl group, provided that at least one of R1 and R2 is not hydrogen, R3 is a C3 to C5 alkylene group, and R4 is a linear or branched C3 to C5 alkyl group. The draw solute may be used to form an osmosis draw solution for use in a forward osmosis water treatment device and method.

Abstract: An organic/inorganic composite compound is disclosed, which includes a core of a polyhedron of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane and at least one arm connected to a silicon atom of the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. The at least one arm includes a vinyl-based first structural unit including at least one ethylene oxide group at a side chain thereof and a vinyl-based second structural unit including at least one anti-biotic functional group at a side chain thereof.

Abstract: A hybrid porous structure may include a base template and an ionic polymer coating layer within the base template. The structural framework of the base template itself is non-porous. The base template fills the gaps among a plurality of imaginary spherical bodies stacked in three-dimensions as an imaginary stack. The ionic polymer coating layer is laminated on an inner surface of the base template inside the imaginary spherical bodies. The imaginary spherical bodies may have a pore in the center which is not occupied by the ionic polymer coating layer. The hybrid porous structure may include a plurality of necks, which are openings formed in a contact part where adjacent imaginary spherical bodies contact each other. The necks may be interconnected to the pores located in the center part of the imaginary spherical bodies.

Abstract: An organic/inorganic composite compound for fouling resistance may include a core and at least an arm. The core may be formed of a polyhedron of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. At least one arm may be connected to a Si atom of the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. The arm may include a vinyl-based first structural unit including at least one ethylene oxide group at the side chain, and a hydrophobic vinyl-based second structural unit.

Abstract: A draw solute may include a photosensitive oligomer that includes a first repeating unit and a second repeating unit. The first repeating unit includes a side chain having at least one functional group configured to undergo a photocrosslinking reaction. The second repeating unit includes an ionic moiety and a counter ion to the ionic moiety.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a membrane, a method of manufacturing the same, and a composite membrane including the same. The membrane may include a polyacrylonitrile-based copolymer that includes a hydrophobic side chain and/or a hydrophobic repeating unit. The membrane may include a skin layer and a porous layer. A thickness ratio of the skin layer relative to the porous layer may be about 0.01 or less. The skin layer may have a thickness of about 1 ?m or less. The membrane may have a relatively high water flux. When using the membrane, a water treatment module having higher energy efficiency may be achieved.

Abstract: A draw solute includes a water-soluble alkyl ammonium salt compound, the water-soluble alkyl ammonium salt compound including an ionic moiety and at least two ammonium cationic moieties, the ionic moiety including an anion selected from a carbonate anion (COO?), a sulfonate anion (SO3?), a sulfate anion (SO42?), a phosphonate anion (PO32?), and a phosphate anion (PO43?), and a cation selected from an alkali metal cation and an alkaline earth metal cation.

Abstract: A semi-permeable membrane may include a support layer and an active layer in contact with the support layer. The support layer includes a porous structure including a polymer and at least one metal (or metalloid) oxide in the porous structure. In the support layer, the amount of the metal (or metalloid) oxide present in a portion adjacent to the active layer is higher than the amount of the metal (or metalloid) oxide present in a portion farther from the active layer.

Abstract: An organic/inorganic hybrid membrane may include a plurality of inorganic nanoparticles dispersed in an organic polymer matrix. The surface of the inorganic nanoparticles may be coated with a silane compound including a cationic functional group selected from an ammonium group (—NH3+), a phosphonium group (—PR4+), or a sulfonium group (—SR3+). The organic polymer matrix may include an anionic functional group. The organic/inorganic hybrid membrane may be manufactured by a non-solvent induced phase-separation method. A separation membrane may include the organic/inorganic hybrid membrane. A water treatment device may include the separation membrane.