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Molecular Foundry

HIGHLIGHTSA New Composite Polymer Membrane for Capturing CO2
December 29, 2017

An image of the nanocrystalline phase-change MOF (upper left), a schematic of the phase change MOF (upper right), and a schematic of the mixed-matrix polymer membrane.

Scientific Achievement

Molecular Foundry users and scientists have developed a new nanocrystal-polymer composite membrane that can quickly and efficiently separate CO2 from N2 gas.

Significance and Impact

The new mixed-matrix polymer has double the separation performance compared to a plain polymer. This will lead to low-cost and efficient membranes for capturing CO2 from the effluent of coal or gas-burning power plants.

Research Details

  • For the first time, a phase-change metal-organic framework (MOF) was embedded inside a polymer, resulting in a two-fold increase in the permeability of CO2 and ability of the polymer to separate CO2from N2
  • The researchers developed a new way to synthesize Mg-based phase-change MOF nanocrystals that have the ability to reversibly take up CO2.
  • The phase-change MOF nanocrystals were coated with diamenes and then incorporated into a polymer membrane.
  • The diamene molecules line the MOF channels in the membrane, facilitating the uptake and release of CO2.
L. Maserati, S.M. Meckler, J.E. Bachman, J.R. Bachman, B.A. Helms. Nano Letters 2017 17, 6828-6832.

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