Membrane preparation
The membranes comprise a twilled Dutch weave stainless steel
mesh scaffold, fine and porous TiO2 (Degussa P25) and hydrophilic
polymer layer made of polyvinyl alcohol (Sigma Aldrich) and lithium
chloride (Sigma Aldrich) with a certain ratio. The wet P25 TiO2
was applied on the stainless steel wire mesh by cast-coating
method. The obtained mesh with the intermediate layer of TiO2
was dried at 80 C for 10 min and then coated with an aqueous
solution containing polyvinyl alcohol and lithium chloride using
a dip-coater. After several dips alternated with fast dryings at
80 C for 10 min, a smooth and bubble-free polymer top layer
was formed.