Enhanced gas separation through well-intergrown MOF membranes: seed morphology and crystal growth effects

Abstract

Cuboctahedral and octahedral HKUST-1 seeds were quickly prepared on a porous anodic alumina oxide support at room temperature within one hour, from water–ethanol and ethanol solvents. The cuboctahedral seeds were favourable for the synthesis of continuous and well intergrown HKUST-1 membranes. However, the octahedral seeds could not produce high quality HKUST-1 membranes. Interestingly, both the shape of the seeds and growth habits of the HKUST-1 seed and crystals in different solvents also determines the final quality of the HKUST-1 membranes. The gas separation performance of the well intergrown HKUST-1 membrane is good and beyond the Knudsen selectivity.