Near‐Neutral Charge Hybrid Functionalized Polysulfone Membranes for Superior Permeate Flux and Antifouling Performance

We have developed an inexpensive hybrid membrane with near‐neutral surface charge that exhibited approximately 3‐fold higher permeate flux than the polysulfone (PSF) membrane along with excellent antifouling properties. The PSF membrane modified with graphene oxide, GO (M1), amine‐functionalized graphene oxide, AGO (M2), and hybrid GO/AGO (fGO, M3) were characterized using ATR‐FTIR, XRD, FESEM, zeta potential, contact angle, water uptake, and porosity analyses. GO incorporation imparted a negative surface charge with a zeta potential of −20.8 mV, porosity of 38.2%, and water uptake capacity, resulting in the highest permeate flux. In contrast, AGO modification produced a positively charged membrane at +25.32 mV with porosity of 40% and high water uptake capacity of 85.6%, strengthening dye‐membrane interactions but with lower flux. Notably, the PSF/fGO membrane exhibited a near‐neutral zeta potential of −0.23 mV, porosity of 72.5%, and water uptake capacity of 93%, indicating partial charge compensation between the GO and AGO derived functionalities. The fGO membrane effectively rejected both cationic and anionic dyes while exhibiting high flux recovery and reduced irreversible fouling. Overall, the GO and AGO hybrid provided a favorable balance between permeability, dye rejection, and antifouling performance, demonstrating its potential for dye‐containing wastewater treatment.