Polymer surface for conductive membranes and methods of making thereof

A method of preventing or reducing fouling of a non-conductive pristine membrane, comprising:

• contacting a non-conductive pristine membrane with a first solution of an electrically conductive crosslinking solution comprising a surface-modified electrically conductive material bound to a crosslinking agent,
• wherein the surface-modified electrically conductive material is deposited on the surface of the non-conductive pristine membrane to form a first membrane;
• and contacting the first membrane with a second solution of an amine-containing polymer,
• wherein the polymer is crosslinked to the surface-modified electrically conductive material to form an electrically conductive layer disposed on the non-conductive pristine membrane;
• wherein an electrically conductive filtration membrane is prepared.

A method of purifying a liquid feed stream, comprising:

• allowing the liquid feed stream to filter through an electrically conductive filtration membrane comprising:
• a porous or nonporous matrix;
• and
• an electrically conductive layer disposed on one side of the porous matrix, the electrically conductive layer comprising surface-modified electrically conductive material disposed on the porous or nonporous matrix and an amine-containing polymer crosslinked to the surface-modified electrically conductive material;
• wherein a purified liquid is produced.