Our research is mainly focused on desalination and separation processes in water treatment. We are interested in both fundamental understanding as well as technological  and material development. We use both theoretical and experimental approaches to answer interesting questions and address important challenges to push both the science and technology forward. Below are recent research areas with representative publications (some papers appear in multiple categories). The titles of the publications will give you a general idea about the research activities in the lab. We will update this page as our research evolve.
 
Membrane distillation (MD)
Membranes with special wettability
  • Wang, Z., et.al, Environmental applications of interfacial materials with special wettability. Environ. Sci. Technol, 2016, 50(5), 2132-2150.
  • Huang, Y. X., et.al, Novel Janus membrane for membrane distillation with simultaneous fouling and wetting resistance. Environ. Sci. Technol, 2017, 51(22), 13304-13310.
  • Wang, Z., et.al. Composite membrane with underwater-oleophobic surface for anti-oil-fouling membrane distillation. Environ. Sci. Technol, 2016, 50(7), 3866-3874.
  • Wang, Z., & Lin, S., Membrane fouling and wetting in membrane distillation and their mitigation by novel membranes with special wettability. Water Res., 2017, 112, 38-47.
  • Wang, Z., et.al, Tailoring surface charge and wetting property for robust oil-fouling mitigation in membrane distillation. J. Membr. Sci., 2016, 516, 113-122.
  • Lin, S., et.al, Omniphobic membrane for robust membrane distillation. Environ. Sci. Technol. Letters, 2014,1(11), 443-447.
​​Wetting detection and theory
  • Chen, Y., et. al, Probing pore wetting in membrane distillation using impedance: early detection and mechanism of surfactant-induced wetting. Environ. Sci. Technol. Letters, 2017, 4(11), 505-510.
  • Wang, Z., et. al, Mechanism of pore wetting in membrane distillation with alcohol vs. surfactant. J. Membr. Sci., 2018, 559, 183-195.
  • Wang, Z., et. al, Kinetic model for surfactant-induced pore wetting in membrane distillation. J. Membr. Sci., 2018, 564, 275-288.
  • Wang, Z., et. al, Significance of surface excess concentration in the kinetics of surfactant-induced pore wetting in membrane distillation. Desalination, 2019, 450, 46-53.
Scaling Mitigation
  • Horseman, T., et. al, Highly Effective Scaling Mitigation in Membrane Distillation Using a Superhydrophobic Membrane with Gas Purging. Environ. Sci. Technol. Letters, 2019, 6(7), 423-429.
System-Scale Modeling and Hybrid or Related Processes
  • Lin, S., et.al, Direct contact membrane distillation with heat recovery: Thermodynamic insights from module scale modeling. J. Membr. Sci.,2014, 453, 498-515.
  • Straub, A. P., et.al, Harvesting low-grade heat energy using thermo-osmotic vapour transport through nanoporous membranes. Nature Energy, 2016 1(7), 16090.
  • Lin, S., et.al, Hybrid pressure retarded osmosis–membrane distillation system for power generation from low-grade heat: Thermodynamic analysis and energy efficiency. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2014, 48(9), 5306-5313.
 
Capacitive Deionization (CDI)
  • Wang, L., et.al, Energy efficiency of capacitive deionization. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2019, 53(7), 3366-3378.
  • Wang, L., & Lin, S. Mechanism of Selective Ion Removal in Membrane Capacitive Deionization for Water Softening. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2019, 53 (10), 5797-5804
  • Wang, L., & Lin, S.  Membrane capacitive deionization with constant current vs constant voltage charging: which is better?. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2018, 52(7), 4051-4060.
  • Wang, L., & Lin, S. Intrinsic tradeoff between kinetic and energetic efficiencies in membrane capacitive deionization. Water Res. 2018, 129, 394-401.
  • Wang, L., & Lin, S. Theoretical framework for designing a desalination plant based on membrane capacitive deionization. Water Res. 2019, 158, 359-369.
  • Wang, L., et.al, Reversible thermodynamic cycle analysis for capacitive deionization with modified Donnan model. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2018 512, 522-528.
 
Nanofiltration and Reverse Osmosis
  • Shan, L., et. al,. Multifold enhancement of loose nanofiltration membrane performance by intercalation of surfactant assemblies. Environ. Sci. Technol. Letters, 2018, 5(11), 668-674.
  • Wang, Z., et. al, Nanoparticle-templated nanofiltration membranes for ultrahigh performance desalination. Nature Comm, 2018, 9(1), 2004.
  • Lin, S., & Elimelech, M. Kinetics and energetics trade-off in reverse osmosis desalination with different configurations. Desalination, 2017, 401, 42-52.
  • Lin, S., & Elimelech, M. Staged reverse osmosis operation: Configurations, energy efficiency, and application potential. Desalination,2015 366, 9-14.
 
Forward Osmosis and Pressure Retarded Osmosis
  • Lin, S., Mass transfer in forward osmosis with hollow fiber membranes. J. Membr. Sci.,2016, 514, 176-185.
  • Wang, Z., et. al, Gross vs. net energy: Towards a rational framework for assessing the practical viability of pressure retarded osmosis. J. Membr. Sci.,2016, 503, 132-147.
  • Deshmukh, A., et. al, Desalination by forward osmosis: Identifying performance limiting parameters through module-scale modeling. J. Membr. Sci.,2015, 491, 159-167.
  • Straub, A. P., et.al, Module-scale analysis of pressure retarded osmosis: performance limitations and implications for full-scale operation. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2014, 48(20), 12435-12444.
  • Lin, S., et. al, Thermodynamic limits of extractable energy by pressure retarded osmosis. Energy Environ. Sci., 2014, 7(8), 2706-2714.
 
Energy Efficiency Analysis 
  • Wang, Z., et. al, Pathways and challenges for efficient solar-thermal desalination. Science Adv. 2019, 5(7), eaax0763.
  • Wang, L., et.al, Energy efficiency of capacitive deionization. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2019, 53(7), 3366-3378.
  • Lin, S., et. al, Thermodynamic limits of extractable energy by pressure retarded osmosis. Energy Environ. Sci., 2014, 7(8), 2706-2714.
  • Lin, S., et.al, Direct contact membrane distillation with heat recovery: Thermodynamic insights from module scale modeling. J. Membr. Sci.,2014, 453, 498-515.
  • Lin, S., & Elimelech, M. Staged reverse osmosis operation: Configurations, energy efficiency, and application potential. Desalination,2015 366, 9-14.
  • Lin, S., et.al, Hybrid pressure retarded osmosis–membrane distillation system for power generation from low-grade heat: Thermodynamic analysis and energy efficiency. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2014, 48(9), 5306-5313.
 
Modeling (mostly system-level)
  • Wang, L., & Lin, S. Theoretical framework for designing a desalination plant based on membrane capacitive deionization. Water Res. 2019, 158, 359-369.
  • Lin, S., & Elimelech, M. Kinetics and energetics trade-off in reverse osmosis desalination with different configurations. Desalination, 2017, 401, 42-52.
  • Lin, S., Mass transfer in forward osmosis with hollow fiber membranes. J. Membr. Sci.,2016, 514, 176-185.
  • Wang, Z., et. al, Gross vs. net energy: Towards a rational framework for assessing the practical viability of pressure retarded osmosis. J. Membr. Sci.,2016, 503, 132-147.
  • Deshmukh, A., et. al, Desalination by forward osmosis: Identifying performance limiting parameters through module-scale modeling. J. Membr. Sci.,2015, 491, 159-167.
  • Lin, S., & Elimelech, M. Staged reverse osmosis operation: Configurations, energy efficiency, and application potential. Desalination,2015 366, 9-14.
  • Lin, S., et. al, Thermodynamic limits of extractable energy by pressure retarded osmosis. Energy Environ. Sci., 2014, 7(8), 2706-2714.
  • Straub, A. P., et.al, Module-scale analysis of pressure retarded osmosis: performance limitations and implications for full-scale operation. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2014, 48(20), 12435-12444.
  • Lin, S., et.al, Direct contact membrane distillation with heat recovery: Thermodynamic insights from module scale modeling. J. Membr. Sci.,2014, 453, 498-515.