Prestructured MXene fillers with uniform channels to enhance CO2 selective permeation in mixed matrix membranes

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2021-02, Vol.138 (8), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Guan, Weixin, Yang, Xiaochen, Dong, Chenyuan, Yan, Xiaoming, Zheng, Wenji, Xi, Yuan, Ruan, Xuehua, Dai, Yan, He, Gaohong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon dioxide; Channels; CO2 separation; Ethylene oxide; Fillers; Gas permeation; Laminates; Materials science; Membranes; Mixed matrix membranes and MXene; MXenes; Pebax; Penetration; Permeability; Polymers; Selectivity; Upper bounds
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.49895

The packing pattern of two‐dimensional (2D) sheet‐like fillers in membranes is relatively random, leading to the unfavorable permeability from tortuous diffusion pathway. A new strategy that using prestructured materials with uniform channels as fillers was proposed. In this work, Ti3AlC2 is etched to prepare multilayered MXene (m‐MXene), the channels aggregate as a whole unit, ensure the impossibility of ineffective packing compared with traditional individual sheets, largely facilitating the selective permeation. Then, the m‐MXene/Poly (amide‐6‐b‐ethylene oxide) (Pebax) MMMs are synthesized. SEM images demonstrate the accordion shaped structure of filler, which is the multi‐channels laminates. Furthermore, the results of gas permeation test exhibit enhanced performance of m‐MXene/Pebax MMMs. MMM with 0.5 wt.% m‐MXene behaved best, CO2 permeability of 86.22 Barrer as well as CO2/N2 selectivity of 104.85, transcending the Robeson upper bound (2008). Having distinct enhancement for CO2 separation, the m‐MXene/Pebax MMMs in this work offer prospective practical applications.