Novel nanohybrid polysulfone membrane embedded with silver nanoparticles on graphene oxide nanoplates

•Graphene oxide (GO) as nanoplates synthesised using natural graphite powder.•Polysulfone membranes have been embedded with silver nanoparticles on GO nanoplates.•Improved hydrophilicity and permeability for all Silver-decorated GO wt% additions.•Membranes exhibit superior antibacterial properties.

Combining silver nanoparticles with graphene oxide (GO) nanoplates may provide a more uniform distribution of silver in membranes. GO nanoplates were synthesised using natural graphite powder according to Hummers method. Silver-decorated GO was prepared by reducing silver nitrate in the presence of aqueous sodium borohydride solution. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to investigate the silver-decorated GO. The membranes were fabricated by the wet-phase inversion method and were mixed with different amounts (0.00–1.00 wt%) of silver-decorated GO. Membrane properties such as hydrophilicity, pure water flux, and rejection were enhanced for all of the nanohybrid membranes. The optimum amounts of silver-decorated GO for optimum membrane properties was 0.5 wt%, which resulted in a lower contact angle as well as higher flux and porosity. The nanohybrid membranes also showed excellent antibacterial properties, which could delay or prevent the formation of biofouling on the membrane surface and provide an opportunity for new applications in the future.