Issue 29, 2015

AIMs: a new strategy to control physical aging and gas transport in mixed-matrix membranes§

Abstract

The effect of controlling interactions between the components in a mixed-matrix membrane at the molecular level has been explored. A systematic series of soluble metal–organic polyhedra (MOPs) of varying external organic chain length were prepared and applied within polymer membranes to produce anti-aging intercalated membranes (AIMs). Use of a soluble porous additive allowed for intimate mixing between the polymer and the porous additive, eliminating the formation of non-selective gas transport voids at the interface, typically found in traditional mixed-matrix membranes. Moreover, the molecular interaction thus created provided a valuable tool for tailoring the physical aging rates of the membranes. Aging was slowed by a factor of three with the optimal tBu-MOP additive, and viscosity measurements revealed they held the strongest MOP–polymer interaction, confirming the utility of the AIMs approach. MOP loading was therefore able to be optimized for the maximum anti-aging effect by monitoring the relative change in viscosity. Absolute gas permeability scaled with the MOP external organic chain length, revealing solubility-driven diffusion.

Graphical abstract: AIMs: a new strategy to control physical aging and gas transport in mixed-matrix membranes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 Mar 2015
Accepted
19 Jun 2015
First published
23 Jun 2015

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015,3, 15241-15247

Author version available

AIMs: a new strategy to control physical aging and gas transport in mixed-matrix membranes

M. Kitchin, J. Teo, K. Konstas, C. H. Lau, C. J. Sumby, A. W. Thornton, C. J. Doonan and M. R. Hill, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 15241 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA02286J

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