# Tunable Hydrophilicity in PES-Based Nanofiber Membranes via Oxygen Plasma Treatment

## TL;DR

This paper shows how oxygen plasma treatment can change the surface properties of nanofiber membranes, making them super-hydrophilic and tunable for various uses.

## Contribution

The study introduces oxygen plasma treatment as a method to modify nanofiber membranes for tunable hydrophilicity and surface reactivity.

## Key findings

- Oxygen plasma treatment added functional groups like SO3H, C=O, and OH to membrane surfaces.
- The treatment converted membranes from hydrophobic to super-hydrophilic.
- Plasma engineering proved effective for creating customizable nanofiber membranes.

## Abstract

To tailor surface chemistry and wettability for advanced membrane applications, this study investigates PES-, PES–PVP-, and PES–GO-based nanofiber membranes modified through oxygen plasma treatment. The plasma process introduced reactive functional groups, including SO3H, C=O, and OH, onto the fiber surfaces, converting the membranes from hydrophobic to super-hydrophilic and enhancing their surface reactivity. This modification enabled tunable wettability, allowing controlled adjustment of the membrane’s hydrophilic behavior. Overall, the results demonstrate the effectiveness of plasma engineering in developing versatile nanofiber membranes with customizable surface properties for a wide range of applications.