Towards High Performance Metal-Organic Framework-Microporous Polymer Mixed Matrix Membranes: Addressing Compatibility and Limiting Aging by Polymer Doping

Anahid Sabetghadam; Xinlei Liu; Angelica F Orsi; Magdalena M Lozinska; Timothy Johnson; Kaspar M B Jansen; Paul A Wright; Mariolino Carta; Neil B McKeown; Freek Kapteijn; Jorge Gascon

doi:10.1002/chem.201803006

Towards High Performance Metal-Organic Framework-Microporous Polymer Mixed Matrix Membranes: Addressing Compatibility and Limiting Aging by Polymer Doping

Chemistry. 2018 Sep 3;24(49):12796-12800. doi: 10.1002/chem.201803006. Epub 2018 Aug 8.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Catalysis Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629HZ, Delft, The Netherlands.
² EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, Purdie Building, North Haugh, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9ST, UK.
³ Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Blount's Court Road, Sonning Common, Reading, RG4 9NH, UK.
⁴ Emerging Materials, Department of Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Landbergstraat 15, 2628, CE, Delft, The Netherlands.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Swansea University, Grove Building, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK.
⁶ EaStCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH93FJ, UK.
⁷ KAUST Catalysis Center, King Abdullah University of, Science and Technology, Advanced Catalytic Materials, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 29944779
DOI: 10.1002/chem.201803006

Abstract

Membrane separation for gas purification is an energy-efficient and environment-friendly technology. However, the development of high performance membranes is still a great challenge. In principle, mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have the potential to overcome current materials limitations, but in practice there is no straightforward method to match the properties of fillers and polymers (the main components of MMMs) in such a way that the final membrane performance reflects the high performance of the microporous filler and the processability of the continuous polymer phase. This issue is especially important when high flux polymers are utilized. In this work, we demonstrate that the use of small amounts of a glassy polymer in combination with high performance PIM-1 allow for the preparation of metal-organic framework (MOF)-based MMMs with superior separation properties and low aging rates under humid conditions, meeting the commercial target for post-combustion CO₂ capture.

Keywords: compatibility; gas separation; membranes; metal-organic frameworks; microporous polymer.