Electrospun nanofiber supported thin film composite membranes for engineered osmosis

► A thin film composite membrane structure employing a polyamide selective layer anchored to a nanostructured support. ► The support consists of an electrospun nanofiber nonwoven and an optional polyester nonwoven support. ► Electrospun nanofibers exhibit high porosity and low tortuosity. ► A traditional interfacial polymerization approach was used to form the selective polyamide layer. ► These new membranes exhibted higher water flux and lower salt flux when compared to a commercial forward osmosis membrane.