Molecular-Level Insights into Meta-Phenylenediamine and Sulfonated Zinc Phthalocyanine Interactions for Enhanced Polyamide Membranes: A DFT and TD-DFT Study

Access to clean water is a pressing global concern and membrane technologies play a vital role in addressing this challenge. Thin-film composite membranes prepared via interfacial polymerization (IPol) using meta-phenylenediamine (MPD) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) exhibit excellent separation performance, but face limitations such as fouling and low hydrophilicity. This study investigated the interaction between MPD and sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine, Zn(SO₂⁻)₄Pc, as a potential strategy for enhancing membrane properties. Using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent DFT (TD-DFT), we analyzed the optimized geometries, electronic structures, UV–Vis absorption spectra, FT-IR vibrational spectra, and molecular electrostatic potentials of MPD, Zn(SO₂⁻)₄Pc, and their complexes. The results show that MPD/Zn(SO₂⁻)₄Pc exhibits reduced HOMO-LUMO energy gaps and enhanced charge delocalization, particularly in aqueous environments, indicating improved stability and reactivity. Spectroscopic features confirmed strong interactions via hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking, suggesting that Zn(SO₂⁻)₄Pc can act as a co-monomer or additive during IPol to improve polyamide membrane functionality. A conformational analysis of MPD/Zn(SO₂⁻)₄Pc was conducted using density functional theory (DFT) to evaluate the impact of dihedral rotation on molecular stability. The 120° conformation was identified as the most stable, due to favorable π–π interactions and intramolecular hydrogen bonding. These findings offer computational evidence for the design of high-performance membranes with enhanced antifouling, selectivity, and structural integrity for sustainable water treatment applications.