Development of hybrid membranes for carbon capture

Abstract

Mixed Matrix Membranes (MMMs) combine the benefits of both polymer substrates and fillers and have become interesting materials for gas separation in recent years. Nanoparticles can improve not only gas separation performance but also physical properties such as mechanical strength and thermal stability. Defect-free MMMs using various porous nanoparticles were prepared and the CO2 separation performance was measured. We found that a simple free volume theory can be used for explaining the gas permeation properties of these glassy MMMs. The gas permeability of MMMs in the presence of water vapor was also strongly affected by the nanoparticle hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, with membranes compo..