Reducing internal
concentration polarization (ICP) and increasing water flux are essential for forward osmosis (FO) efficiency.
Here, we use functionalized porous-single-layer graphene as a FO membrane and
study its permeation properties via molecular dynamics simulations. Our results
indicate that the ICP decreases to zero during FO processes, and that the water
flux of graphene oxide
reaches 91.5 L per cm2 per day, which is about 1.7 × 103 times higher than that of typical cellulose
triacetate FO membranes. Furthermore, no forward or reverse solutes passing
through the membrane are observed when the pore-diameter is smaller than 9.4 ?.
This work may bring potential opportunities for functionalized porous graphene
in water desalination, FO power generation and so forth.
