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Pure Power Tech and QUT Advance Polymer Membrane Research for Green Energy Applications

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  • Nov 10
  • 2 min read
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Brisbane, Australia — October 2025


⚙️ Collaborative Research Overview

Pure Power Tech has strengthened its research collaboration with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to develop next-generation polymer membrane materials for green energy and sustainable technology applications.This research aims to improve the design, fabrication, and performance of functional membranes used in energy conversion, recycling, and separation systems, paving the way for future integration into various aqueous or ion-transport energy devices.


🧪 Research Focus

Led by Dr. Xuefeng Li from QUT’s School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, the project investigates both hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer systems prepared via the Vapor-Induced Phase Separation (VIPS) method.The materials under study include:

  • Hydrophilic polymers: Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Polyacrylamide (PAM), Polyethylene glycol (PEG), and Polyethersulfone (PES)

  • Hydrophobic polymers: Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polypropylene (PP), and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)

The VIPS process enables precise control over membrane morphology, porosity, and thickness by regulating temperature, humidity, and solvent exchange rate, providing a scalable pathway to produce membranes with tailored physical and electrochemical properties.


🔬 Experimental Progress

In recent months, the research team has:

  • Verified the compatibility of hydrophilic and water-based materials in the VIPS process;

  • Conducted multiple trials with PVDF–DMF polymer films, adjusting polymer concentration (15–17%), film thickness (250–300 µm), and humidity (70–90% RH) under controlled temperature conditions;

  • Observed slight condensation and stable pore formation, confirming reproducibility of membrane structures under optimized solvent-exchange durations of 5–20 minutes.

These results demonstrate the robustness of the VIPS approach and its potential for industrial-scale membrane production.


🔍 Challenges and Next Steps

The next phase of the project will focus on refining temperature control and solvent exchange kinetics to enhance microstructure uniformity and mechanical stability.Upcoming work includes:

  • Investigating how humidity and exchange duration affect membrane porosity and thickness;

  • Testing multi-layer hybrid structures combining hydrophilic and hydrophobic components for improved ion selectivity;

  • Evaluating potential applications in energy recycling and environmental engineering systems.


🌱 Towards Sustainable Material Innovation

This collaboration represents a strategic alignment between Pure Power Tech and QUT in developing functional polymer materials that bridge fundamental science and industrial application.By combining QUT’s expertise in advanced membrane engineering with Pure Power Tech’s commitment to green technology commercialization, the partnership contributes to the broader goal of building sustainable energy infrastructure for a low-carbon future.



 
 
 

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