Polyaniline-grafted Cu-MOFs via coordination-driven strategy constructs facilitated transport hybrid membrane for CO2 separation

• Published in: Separation and purification technology 2023-10, Vol.323, p.124486, Article 124486
• Main Authors: Li, Bo-yu, Liu, Jia-xiang, He, Xuan-ting, Mao, Shun, Tao, Wen-quan, Li, Zhuo, Hong, Yue-xian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CO2/N2 separation; Coordination network; Facilitated transport hybrid membranes; Metal–organic frameworks; Molecular dynamics simulations
• ISSN: 1383-5866; 1873-3794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2023.124486

The polyaniline (PANI) was assembled onto unsaturated sites of Cu-based metal–organic frameworks (Cu-MOF) via coordination-driven to form a coordination network nanoparticle, Cu-BDC-F@PANI. The Cu-BDC-F@PANI crosslinked with PVDF to fabricate Cu-BDC-F@PANI/PVDF facilitated transport hybrid membranes (FTHMs). With the fabulous microenvironment and numerous activated N-Cu(II) sites, the highly performances of Cu-BDC-F@PANI/PVDF membranes yield excellent permeance and favorable selectivity for CO2. [Display omitted] •The Cu-BDC-F@PANI/PVDF FTHMs was synthesized by coordination-driven strategy.•Molecular dynamic simulations were performed to verify the filler-matrix compatibility.•Cu-BDC-F@PANI/PVDF with even distribution filler exhibits high permeance and selectivity for CO2.•The membrane shows robust decomposition temperature and lasting sustainability. MOFs-based facilitated transport hybrid membranes (FTHMs) have shown their great potential in CO2-selective gas separation. However, rational membrane fabrication by distributing evenly and introducing functional groups in MOFs-based facilitated transport hybrid membrane is crucial but challenging. We herein report a facile coordination-driven approach to realize the integration of polyaniline (PANI) grafted Cu-MOFs onto a polymeric matrix through Cu(II)-N coordination interaction. The resulting facilitated membrane exhibited synergetic channels to process CO2-facilitated transport due to the CO2-philic nature of PANI and MOFs with low-density pore blockage observed. The even distribution of well-dispersed MOFs nanoparticles upon PANI is realized through coordination interaction between the metal center and amino and imine groups in PANI. Moreover, PANI is highly compatible with the polymeric matrix by forming hydrogen bonds, as verified by experimental characterization and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The resulting FTHMs exhibit a simultaneous enhancement of individual-gas permeance (676.6 GPU) and CO2/N2 ideal selectivity (28.3), as well as enhanced decomposition temperature up to 474 °C and lasting sustainability over 72 days (1728 h). The coordination-driven membrane fabrication paves a new and promising way for designing stable, uniform, and longevity FTHMs, thus offering a potential facile route to fabricate high-performance FTHMs for CO2/N2 separation.