Issue 22, 2018

The synthesis, chain-packing simulation and long-term gas permeability of highly selective spirobifluorene-based polymers of intrinsic microporosity

Abstract

Membranes composed of Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (SBF-PIMs) have potential for commercial gas separation. Here we report a combined simulation and experimental study to investigate the effect on polymer microporosity and gas permeability by placing simple substituents such as methyl, t-butyl and fused benzo groups onto PIMs derived from spirobifluorene (PIM-SBFs). It is shown that methyl or t-butyl substituents both cause a large increase in gas permeabilities with four methyl groups enhancing the concentration of ultramicropores (<0.7 nm), which contribute to selective gas transport. The t-butyl substituents lower selectivity by generating a greater concentration of larger, less selective, micropores (>1.0 nm). Long-term ageing studies (>3.5 years) demonstrate the potential of PIM-SBFs as high-performance membrane materials for gas separations. In particular, the data for the PIM derived from tetramethyl substituted SBF reaches the proposed 2015 Robeson upper bound for O2/N2 and, hence, hold promise for the oxygen or nitrogen enrichment of air. Mixed gas permeation measurements for CO2/CH4 of the aged PIM-SBFs also demonstrate their potential for natural gas or biogas upgrading.

Graphical abstract: The synthesis, chain-packing simulation and long-term gas permeability of highly selective spirobifluorene-based polymers of intrinsic microporosity

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Mar 2018
Accepted
10 May 2018
First published
23 May 2018
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018,6, 10507-10514

The synthesis, chain-packing simulation and long-term gas permeability of highly selective spirobifluorene-based polymers of intrinsic microporosity

C. G. Bezzu, M. Carta, M. Ferrari, J. C. Jansen, M. Monteleone, E. Esposito, A. Fuoco, K. Hart, T. P. Liyana-Arachchi, C. M. Colina and N. B. McKeown, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018, 6, 10507 DOI: 10.1039/C8TA02601G

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