Enhancing gas permeability in mixed matrix membranes through tuning the nanoparticle properties

Abstract

Mixed matrix membranes containing a variety of nanoparticles were fabricated by the solvent casting method using a commercial aromatic polyimide as the base polymer. All gas permeabilities increased with increasing particle loading with no reduction in the selectivity, reflecting adequate polymer/particle compatibility. Importantly, under such conditions the permeability enhancement depended only upon the pore volume within the particle, regardless of the particle chemistry or the morphology of the membrane structure. Remarkably, despite a range of membrane chemistries and filler loadings, this permeability enhancement could be readily described with a simple free volume relationship. The re..